3 Island Paddle
May 31, 2000
It was great night for a race, cool and calm, and the racers were looking for a long one to help prepare for the upcoming marathon.

Jug Island, Raccoon and Lone Rock Point. The Big Square promised to be about an hour in paddling time.

For me it was the first night racing the Speedster. I didn't know what to expect. Its a tippy boat which makes you expend most of your effort maitaining balance. After gaining speed I realized I was in no mans land. Probably a good night to just survive. Not fast enough to catch the leaders and just ahead of the front doubles. I stopped to adjust the feather on my paddle and the second group caught me. Tom Hoskins in his down river boat was in a heated battle with 2 doubles and Babe on her surf ski


We rounded Raccoon Island and with Rod Hope and Marcia not far back, when some big wake waves played havoc with my balance. I decided to take the line of least resistance and ride the waves which took me in the wrong direction. It was fun though. Marcia and I stopped to give moral support to a fellow neo-phyte surf skier who succumbed to the wake. He managed to get back on with no problem. Mean while Tom, Babe and crew had escaped. I started to feel like a slug on this nice Speedster so I tried to make up the growing gap between myself and Tom. I could see the paddles flashing ahead and could tell there was a serious duel for the leader of the second group. Tom held of the advances of the doubles and was the first closed boat across the finish line. Good Effort!!
1 Greg Inkster Speedster 40:33
2 Kevin & Matt Double 40:37
3 Brian & Daryl Black Think 40:44
4 Greg Robertson Speedster 41:27
5 Tom Hoskins DR Kayak 48:40
6 Andew & Ryan Double 48:40
7 Ken & ?? Double 48:52
8 Babe Carel Surf Ski 49:12
9 Bob Putnam Speedster 49:56
10 Marcia Urdang Surf Ski 50:17
11 Caroline & Glenn Double 50:29
12 Rod Hope Single 50:34
13 Chris & Denis Canoe 51:22
14 Jim Single 51:52
15 Joanne Single 52:05
16 Dave & Nancy Canoe 52:24
17 Kathy & Arlenne Double 52:38
18 Nicky Surf Ski 52:41
19 Mark Simpson Single 55:28
20 Ross Colter Single 53:42
21 Kristen & Chris Canoe 55:25
22 Ron Carmichael Surf Ski 55:28
23 Gordon Single 55:37
24 Mike & Ty Double 56:03
25 Cherly Single 56:54
26 Bill Harbord Single 57:30
27 David M Single 57:38
28 John Single 59:42
29 Steve Single 59:50
30 Keith Nicoll Single 1:01:35
31 Linda Single 1:03:33
32 Lynn Single 1:04:22
33 Daphne Single 1:04:22
34 Johanna & Jennifer Double 1:06:16
35 Barton Pietras Single 1:06:32
36 Faramarz Single DNF