Catalina Memories

The GRPC Catalina Crossing project began in March 2008 and was coached by Brent Bagnall and Risa Greenwood. The paddlers who signed on to the project received an education in outrigger canoe paddling. Other than our coaches none of us had had any experience in open water, waves, change races or long distance Iron races.

Under the inexhaustible and patient guidance of our coaches, we learned proper outrigger technique, built fitness and endurance, learned seat responsibilities, water changes, how to rig the boats, to read water and wind conditions and adapt to them, and most important how to work as a team. 

After 6 months of hard work and training 4 times a week, it wasfinally time to head to California for the big race: Catalina Crossing 2008. We arrived in Newport Beach, California late on September 4th without a hitch. The next morning we drove to the Dunes area of Newport Beach to meet members of Pale Kai Outrigger Club who lent us a Bradley canoe for the race.  The canoe is a different design than our Advantage canoes and has an eagle carved into the front of the ama.

At the beach we worked along side the Comox women’s team who also borrowed a canoe from Pale Kai and we spent the day rigging the canoe’s, building paddle holders and taking it out for a practice spin around the lagoon. That night we returned to the Dunes to register our team and for the sterns meeting.

The energy and excitement from all the paddlers milling around was palpable. The Ohana among the paddlers was evident as new friendships were made and old acquaintances renewed.  Race day dawned very early at 5:30am. With feelings of anticipation and nervous butterflies in our stomachs we arrived at the dunes. Across the lagoon you could see all the canoe’s lined up on the beach waiting for their crews.  

We had a little hiccup in plans as our escort boat had broken down on the way to race. There was a bit of a scramble then we were introduced to our escort boat a grey zodiac named the Tiny Rhino and her captain Mark Black. Once our race food and gear was loaded, we were off to put the canoe in the water.  The crew had a 4 km paddle out to the start line to warm up before the race. It was really something to paddle out among all the other mixed and women’s crews and all the escort boats chugging along behind. There were shouts of encouragement all around and even a few "GO CANADA!" 

We reached the start area and watched the start of the women’s race. We had about 20mins to wait until the mixed started so we hung out with the seals lounging on a nearby bell can and waited while our excited grew. Then suddenly it was time to line up. It’s was a moving start line, all boats creep forward together and then the green flagged dropped and we were off!   Right of the start, the elite teams leapt out of the gates and were gone. We had a great start and had a good lead on most boats too. It would be about 25 minutes before our first change and it was a chance to put some distance in.

We had some challenging water to navigate with escort boat chop and a side wind coming in from the right that sent big swells at us at times and kept our stern very busy.  We persevered and gradually caught and passed every canoe we met. Towards the middle of the race we started catching some of the women’s crews too.

At one point those of us in the escort boat looked around and noticed how far ahead we were but we had no idea how well we were doing at that point. After what seemed like ages we started to see the outline of Catalina Island coming through the sea fog. Seeing our destination for the first time renewed our efforts and gave us a focal point as we could see our destination was getting closer. In what seemed like no time we started to see the Casino in Avalon on Catalina Island, it’s the biggest building in Avalon and acted like a homing beacon for the canoes. 

Then suddenly we could see the harbour! The last stretch to the finish line put lumps in the throats of all us in the escort boat, including the captain, as we enthusiastically cheered the crew on as they fought fatigue to make it through the last 3km to the finish line at the Casino and into the busy Catalina Harbour.  What a moment. It didn’t matter to any of us how we placed; we were all so proud of each other and what we had accomplished.

It wasn’t until later that night after getting clean, fed and enjoying celebratory drinks we finally found race results and discovered we came 2nd in open mixed, 4th over all mixed crews and 10th overall including women’s crews. We were surprised and elated at doing so well. Yeah, yeah!   Would we do it again next year? You bet!