Lycian Challenge Adventure Race LC 2014 - AREC
The Race to the Finish
Rob Howard / 02.05.2014
As the Lycian Challenge entered its final night the leading teams took to the sea for the paddling stages and those further back on the course tried to work out their end of race strategies on the final coastal stages.
Once they left TA2 teams were in very inaccessible areas, paddling to the shores and islands across the bay, then back past TA2 to reach the kayak drop off point. The race Facebook page said the sea was rough, but it looked as calm as could be and the leading teams made good progress, enjoying a fine afternoon for some Mediterranean paddling.
Adidas TERREX pulled away from the shortcoursing Team Delta on the paddle, for which each team had a double and two single kayaks. They arrived at the kayak drop off first at 19.00 and it is an amazing location on a short beach in a deep coastal inlet entirely surround by cliffs. It is only normally accessible by boat, so teams were arriving in the regular way, but when they return the will abseil down the cliffs back to the boats.
First however, they must complete a final trek, then descend a deep canyon and waterfall, and that is going to take the tired teams a long time, especially at night. There is a ‘path’ teams will use to climb up out of the sea inlet, but it is steep and winds across the cliffs and at night will not be easy to find and follow. We watched the bright headlights of adidas TERREX slowly picking a way upward, right on the cliff edge, moving slowly with the lamps continually scanning from side to side.
Once at the top they followed a wooded and narrow trail around the cliffs, before beginning the climb up to the top of the canyon. Throughout the trek they had to carry their wetsuits for use in the canyon and locals say this could normally as much as 6 hours to complete. The first full course team is still expected to finish tomorrow morning, but whether it is early morning, or late morning remains to be seen.
All the teams have to be finished by 17.00 tomorrow and the ropes stages close 2 hours before that, so teams will need to plan carefully in their approach to the finish.
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