An "Epic" Challenge

An “Epic” Challenge

By Brian Barnett

I had been paddling a custom wooden sea kayak for several months in the late spring and extended the distances to over 20 miles in preparation for a challenge that November. The kayak and the custom wood paddle were heavy though, becoming very apparent after 4 hours in the water. Once I arrived home one August day, I started to research what I wanted in a replacement boat. I researched numerous models and types, but once I tested the Epic surf skis, I purchased both the V8 and the V10 Sport and an Epic wing paddle.

The V8 was steady and the V10 Sport was something I could definitely grow into with practice. Best of all, the surf skis allowed me to use my legs to optimize my stroke and were much easier to get in and out of than the sit in kayak. I paddled both surf skis with the wing paddle on a local lake and the Banana River in preparation for my first race, the fall Causeway to Causeway (C2C) Challenge. I would be turning 47 a few days before the C2C and could think of no better way to celebrate than with a personal best for the distance.

The day before the race, I debated between the V8 and the V10 Sport for the 22 mile challenge. The winds were predicted to be 25 knots out of the north, so I figured the V8 stability would be welcome. I am glad I went that route. I arrived early to register with the sun still down and a mild breeze out of the north. With all 56 boats in the water, we started at 8AM. I shot off, slipped into a rhythm and never looked back. The winds were out of the north now lightly at 5 – 10 knots but it was definitely starting to build.

The course had us all heading south to the turnaround at 11 miles and by 9:55, I was doing well being the second single person boat to reach that point. Two 4 person Cayuco race canoes had taken the lead and beat us all down. On the downwind run, the wind had increased to 15 knots steady and the following seas were peaking with two foot swells. This was the first time I had been in these conditions and I loved it. The swells were literally pushing me as though a hand had given me a nudge forward on each swell. The V8 was really in its element. I passed a three person race canoe two miles before the turnaround and almost caught a racing two man dory powered by pro lifeguards. The V8 was very steady and so much faster than the wooden kayak I had been paddling to date. Wow, what a thrill!

Then the fun started. Out of 56 entrants, most quit at the turnaround, with only 15 of us rounding the buoy to paddle north for the second half of the race. The dory was dead ahead and the two 4 person race canoes had dropped out. Soon after starting north into the wind, it started to rain as the front washed over. The temperature dropped a bit and the wind started to gust with the waves getting bigger by the hour. I looked over to the shore every now and then and noticed flags extended straight by the breeze. Unlike the downwind leg, my progress was slowed considerably as I watched the two man dory fade slowly in the distance with the gap steadily increasing after each wind gust. The wind picked up to a steady 25 knots out of the NE and the swells were consistently now at 4 feet.

I was passed two hours later by the three person race canoe and their support boat and they finished just shy of six hours total. At the 20 mile point after 6 hours and 15 minutes of hard paddling, I found myself going nowhere and out of water so I packed it in at the one 50 foot wide sandy portion of shore that was not covered in boulders piled 5 foot high. Although I did not finish, and only 6 boats did, I did feel great about the downwind leg and the fact that I never felt the least bit tippy. I had the greatest confidence in that surf ski the entire time on it, even in those conditions. Hell of a great surf ski and paddle. Fantastic! Now, I just want to get back on the water and tune the “engine” for next year. I can’t wait, and with the V10 Sport, I’ll be even faster!