Race Day Timeline

We’re still putting together a plan for Friday, the day before the race. There may be some festivities on tap. Here’s what’s happening on race day, Saturday December 12^th:

8am – Park opens, check-in begins – free coffee all day from Fidalgo Bay Coffee Company! All volunteers please check in too; we need to make sure you’re there and ready, and this year we’ll get you your tee shirts before the race.

9:45am – Safety Kayakers meet with Blair. Please be ready to paddle before the meeting starts, so you can get on the water soon after the meeting is over.

10:15am – Mandatory prerace meeting for all competitors. This will be a quick review of the race course, that’s all… we heard your feedback last year about needless jabber.

11am SHARP, no delays – race starts.

11:37am – slack in the Pass; ebb starts.

12:30 (give or take) – lunch is served!

1pm – last racer off the course please. Safety crew needs to get back for burgers & a bonfire.

1:15pm – raffle begins. Please look over the prizes, and find your name on the pick order. We’ll only be giving you a few seconds to go get your prize. Your feedback from last year said the raffle took too long. And you all wanted our volunteers to be part of the raffle, not just racers. Soooo…. With record numbers of raffle participants and prizes, we’ll need to keep it moving.

Quick, cheap, easy and effective safety

Got this from racer Brandon Nelson. For a few bucks, ruddered boats can be rigged to paddle safely even if a cable breaks. Check out what Brandon sent:

“I shared one of Sterling Donalson’s ingenious field repair tips recently on YouTube, and it’s been getting a fair bit of buzz from far-off paddlers in colder regions for its solo safety aspect. It’d certainly make sense for any DP Dash boat (with a rudder) to rig it pre-race. Here’s the link, and feel free to post it on the DP Dash blog: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAknFR3-rjE”

Thanks Brandon!

Current Racer List, November 23

Revised midday today…

Harry Allen Bremerton WA

Gerardo Andaluz Blaine WA

Kim Anderson Portland OR

Karl Andersson Portland OR

Peter Babler Seattle WA

Sonya Bailey Sedro Woolley WA

Shane Baker Port Orchard WA

Marianne Banks Anacortes WA

Tom Banks Anacortes WA

Greg Bawden Duvall WA

Jeffrey Bedford Folsom, CA

Terri Bedford Folsom, CA

Darrel Bednark Seattle WA

Trista Bilmer Vancouver BC Canada

Tom Borst Marblemount WA

Andy Bridge Sultan WA

Travis Brown Everett WA

Timothy Burke Olympia, WA

Paul Clement Bellingham WA

Michael Cline Seattle WA

Traci Cole Kenmore WA

Charles Curry Bainbridge Island WA

Carl Darmer Olalla WA

John Day North Bend WA

David Desertspring Gig Harbor WA

Chris Dobrovolny Vancouver BC Canada

John Doornink Poulsbo WA

James Dunderdale Vancouver BC Canada

Greg Dutton

Daniel Elefant (2) Seattle WA

Andrew Elizaga Tacoma WA

Erik Evans Bellingham WA

David Fisher Poulsbo WA

Kevin Fitzpatrick Seattle WA

John Flynn Seattle WA

Minnie Fontenelle Seattle WA

Terry Fox Issaquah WA

Shawna Franklin Eastsound WA

Robert Freelove Everett WA

Michael Germani Tacoma WA

Larry Goolsby Ferndale WA

Alan Goto Seattle WA

Elizabeth Gould LaConner WA

Alison Graham Point Roberts WA

Mark Greengo Seatac WA

Michael Gregory Bellingham WA

George Gronseth Issaquah WA

Barb Gronseth Issaquah WA

Juliane Gust Seattle WA

Edward Hand Renton WA

Rand Harrell Seattle WA

David Harris Bellingham WA

Jeffrey Hegedus Bellingham WA

Wayne Horodowich Mill Creek WA

Adrian Inglis Bellevue WA

David Jacobson Bellingham WA

Andrew Jaquiss Portland OR

Wade Johnson Camano Island WA

Steven Jones Seattle WA

Jeffrey Kahler Wauna WA

Donald Kiesling Seattle WA

Ken Kroeger Seattle WA

John Kuntz Poulsbo WA

Paul La Pointe Woodinville WA

Roger Lamb Bellingham WA

Michael Lampi Bellevue WA

Jim Lehocky Friday Harbor WA

Andrew Losli Forest Grove OR

Dennis Malcom Bremerton WA

Ed Matkovick Issaquah WA

Christopher May Woodinville WA

Bob McDermott Seattle WA

William McKenzie Seattle WA

Chris Mitchell Bellingham WA

Heather Nelson Bellingham WA

Brandon Nelson Bellingham WA

Troy Nishikawa Redmond WA

Matthew Norton Portland OR

Alex Okerman Seattle WA

Deborah Orth Gig Harbor WA

David Ortland Bellevue WA

Ayu Othman Seattle WA

Brian Page Vancouver BC Canada

Maureen Peterson Seattle WA

Dean Peterson Seattle WA

Tyler Peterson Burien WA

William Porter Kirkland WA

Pamela Powell Graham WA

Scott Prato Aberdeen WA

David Price Woodinville WA

Bob Putnam Vancouver BC Canada

David Quasha Seattle WA

Heather Rai Bellevue WA

Glenn Rogers Gig Harbor WA

Henry Romer Olympia, WA

Gregory Routt Seattle WA

Paul Shelton Lacey WA

John Sindelar Seattle WA

Chris Smith Auburn WA

Shane Sobotka Lk Stevens WA

Leon Somme Eastsound WA

James Stanger Olympia, WA

Shaun Sullivan Ferndale WA

Torolf Torgersen Anacortes WA

Jeff Underwood Mercer Island WA

Ernest Wong Seattle WA

Jodi Wright Portland OR

Ron Wright Portland OR

Jim Zimmerman Anacortes WA

Cap Sante Inn Dash rates

Mark Lione, owner of the Cap Sante Inn in Anacortes, dropped a line to the Dash this morning, offering special rates for rooms at his place. Thanks Mark!

===============================
We would like to offer your participants a Special "Deception Pass Dash" Discount Rate if they decide to spend the Night or the Weekend in Anacortes. Our Deception Pass Dash Rates would be as follows:

One Person / One King or Queen Bed $59.00 + $6.02 Tax

Two People / One King/Queen or 2 Queens $65.00 + $6.63 Tax

Three People / 2 Queen Beds $71.00 + $7.24 Tax

Four People / 2 Queen Beds $77.00 + $7.86 Tax

All of our rooms are appointed with Sealy Posturpedic Beds, Refrigerators, Microwaves, 32" Flat Screen HD Color TV's, Hair Dryers, and most rooms have Complimentary WI-FI reception. We provide complimentary Starbucks coffee, Tea, Herbal Teas, Brita Filtered Water, Breakfast Treats and Granola Bars in the morning, Cookies and snacks in the afternoon and evenings, and Seattle Times Newspapers on Sundays.

We are in the Old Town Section of Anacortes where the majority of the Restaurants, Shops, Galleries, and Antique Stores are located. We provide a large and secure Free Parking lot in Front of each of our rooms. Our Website is under Re-Construction, but the old site with old pictures is still available at www.capsanteinn.com

Thanks again & Best Regards,

Mark Lione
Cap Sante Inn
360-293-0602

Current volunteer list

Here’s your list of safety boaters and land crew. Check back with us if you have questions. We’ll post job descriptions for each volunteer position soon. And yes, we can always use more help, so talk to us if you'd like to join this list. See you out there!

Safety boaters

Tom Dillard, piloting MV Base Mother

Beth Bielstein

Bob Burnett

Ken Biddle

Dan Thrush

Rhonda Schwab

Dave Mottershead

Mark Whitaker

Steve Andrews

Susan Roth

Leslie Mix

Jonathan Karuna

Racer check-in, timing, food etc

Whende Keatts

Setsuko Cox

Lynn Wang

Cathy Federici

Helaine Mottershead

Elise Mebel

Karen Scharer

Dede Chinlund

Herb Kai

Linda Sanford

Jacqueline Kahler

Hazel Simpson

Esther Andrews

Current racer list 11/17/09

Here’s the current list of registered racers. Please let us know if we made any errors, or if you have any questions.

Harry Allen Bremerton WA

Gerardo Andaluz Blaine WA

Kim Anderson Portland OR

Karl Andersson Portland OR

Peter Babler Seattle WA

Shane Baker Port Orchard WA

Marianne Banks Anacortes WA

Greg Bawden Duvall WA

Jeffrey Bedford Folsom, CA

Terri Bedford Folsom, CA

Darrel Bednark Seattle WA

Trista Bilmer Vancouver BC Canada

Thomas Borst Marblemount WA

Andy Bridge Sultan WA

Travis Brown Everett WA

Timothy Burke Olympia, WA

Paul Clement Bellingham WA

Michael Cline Seattle WA

Traci Cole Kenmore WA

Charles Curry Bainbridge Island WA

John Day North Bend WA

David Desertspring Gig Harbor WA

Chris Dobrovolny Vancouver BC Canada

John Doornink Poulsbo WA

James Dunderdale Vancouver BC Canada

Greg Dutton

Andrew Elizaga Tacoma WA

Erik Evans Bellingham WA

David Fisher Poulsbo WA

Minnie Fontenelle Seattle WA

Terry Fox Issaquah WA

Shawna Franklin Eastsound WA

Robert Freelove Everett WA

Michael Germani Tacoma WA

Larry Goolsby Ferndale WA

Alan Goto Seattle WA

Elizabeth Gould LaConner WA

Alison Graham Point Roberts WA

Mark Greengo Seatac WA

Michael Gregory Bellingham WA

Juliane Gust Seattle WA

Edward Hand Renton WA

Rand Harrell Seattle WA

David Harris Bellingham WA

Jeffrey Hegedus Bellingham WA

Adrian Inglis Bellevue WA

Andrew Jaquiss Portland OR

Wade Johnson Camano Island WA

Steven Jones Seattle WA

Jim Kahler Wauna WA

Donald Kiesling Seattle WA

Ken Kroeger Seattle WA

Paul La Pointe Woodinville WA

Michael Lampi Bellevue WA

Jim Lehocky Friday Harbor WA

Andrew Losli Forest Grove OR

Dennis Malcom Bremerton WA

Ed Matkovick Issaquah WA

Christopher May Woodinville WA

Bob McDermott Seattle WA

William McKenzie Seattle WA

Heather Nelson Bellingham WA

Brandon Nelson Bellingham WA

Troy Nishikawa Redmond WA

Matthew Norton Portland OR

Alex Okerman Seattle WA

Ayu Othman Seattle WA

Brian Page Vancouver BC Canada

Maureen Peterson Seattle WA

Dean Peterson Seattle WA

William Porter Kirkland WA

Pamela Powell Graham WA

Scott Prato Aberdeen WA

David Price Woodinville WA

Bob Putnam Vancouver BC Canada

Heather Rai Bellevue WA

Glenn Rogers Gig Harbor WA

Henry Romer Olympia, WA

Gregory Routt Seattle WA

Paul Shelton Lacey WA

John Sindelar Seattle WA

Chris Smith Auburn WA

Shane Sobotka Lk Stevens WA

Leon Somme Eastsound WA

James Stanger Olympia, WA

Shaun Sullivan Ferndale WA

Torolf Torgersen Anacortes WA

Ernest Wong Seattle WA

Jodi Wright Portland OR

Ron Wright Portland OR

Oak Harbor Coachman Inn - special rates for Dashers

Big thanks for supporting the Dash go out to Randy, General Manager of the Coachman Inn in Oak Harbor, who has offered his rooms at 20% off normal rates for the Dash. A standard room at $89, AAA rate $80, will go for $72 per night on the weekend of the Dash. Call toll-free 800–635–0043 and be sure to mention the Deception Pass Dash when you book your room.

Thanks Randy!

Weather resources for Dash racers

Looking for helpful data on just how the course will look on race day? Here’s the first word of advice…

Be ready for anything.

Your own good judgment is the most important piece of safety equipment you can bring with you.

Beyond that, here are four nice links to give you an idea what’s up.

10-day Anacortes weather forecast – For those planning waaaayyy ahead. By December 2^nd you can start visualizing the conditions on race day. Practice your mental adjustments each morning when you realize the prediction for December 12^th has changed. Hmmmmm… Temp 25 degrees or 50? Wind 8 knots SE or 30 W? Fun game if you’re a little schizophrenic, or want to be.

Cape Flattery surf report – take a look at this one a day or two before the event. Big ol’ waves, ten feet or more, heading East through the Strait, mean a lot of fun – wooo hooo! – as you exit Canoe Pass in those standing waves as they stack up against the building ebb. Remember the secret Dash treasure map? Check it again.

Smith Island Weather Station – just ten miles SW of the Pass, Smith gives you a good idea of current wind & sea conditions, plus links to detailed local NWS Marine forecasts. With 24 hours of historical data, this is the place to check out when you get home from the race wondering how hard that wind was blowing.

Deception Pass current predictions for race day – and remember, if the Skagit is in flood and there’s a strong SE wind, your ebb will start way early and you better kick butt to get through the crux.

Race day warmth: Fidalgo Bay Coffee

When you're warming up at the Dash with a hot cup of coffee, you can thank Daryl Miller and the Fidalgo Bay Coffee team.

Fidalgo Bay is a Skagit County roaster and member of our community since 1992, providing jobs, a commitment to our neighbors, and a great cup of coffee. Thanks guys!

Route map & race tips

Some deep digging through the files at DPDash Headquarters recently unearthed this ancient, hand-drawn map of the race course. We share it with you here to give a few pointers and course knowledge if you're unsure what awaits you out there. You might want to consult a REAL chart of the area for more information.

Here are the highlights of what's revealed by the map. Click on it for a larger view.

Approximate distances:

Bowman Bay - Deception Island, 1 mile;

Deception to the far end of Pass Island, 1.5 miles;

Pass to Strawberry Island, .5 miles.

Total approximately 6 miles round trip.

There’s a lot of kelp around all three islands, especially on the SW side of Deception. Tempting as it is to cut close to the islands and shorten the course, if you have a rudder you’ll be happy to stay wide of it.

When you get to Pass Island (2.5 miles) the current will be starting to build against you. There’s a narrow eddy next to the island which will allow you to get to the upstream end (marked “CRUX MOVE” on the map). Please do not stop and rest in this eddy as you’ll block the path for other racers. Rest if you must, in the large eddy at the far downstream (West) end of Pass Island.

Some racers have successfully avoided the congestion in the eddy, and the dynamic water at the "CRUX", and powered all the way past the island in the main channel, against the current. You need to be ready for a long, powerful sprint to make this strategy work. It's up to you to decide if it's worth it.

“CRUX MOVE”: For most racers, this brief, turbulent moment determines your ability to complete the course. Use the eddy as far as you can, then break out into the opposing current and go hard toward Strawberry Island. The whole idea behind this race is: The longer it takes you to paddle the 2.5 miles to this point, the stronger the current against you when you get there.

Between Pass and Strawberry islands, the water is typically calm as it's protected from wind on all sides. You'll find some mild boils and slicks that try to push you off course, so pay attention and keep going! You're nearly halfway there, and the return trip is the fun part!

Big ol’ standing waves stack up at the West end of Canoe Pass on the return loop. Paddle hard and straight, and you'll go right through it. In some conditions, ocean swell comes down the Strait until it meets the building ebb at this pinch point, and can get pretty big. On a flat day with no wind and no swell, you'll barely notice it. As some paddlers have witnessed, on the other hand, in "perfect" conditions you may get slapped in the face by a wave, or even paddle right under it to get through... wahooo!

Returning around Deception Island and racing the final mile into Bowman Bay, be aware that the building ebb current will be pushing you from South to North. There are gnarly, submerged rocks throughout the north half of the bay, so you really want to enter on the South side. Watch where you're going, angle your bow to the right, and make sure your course is taking you straight to the pier.

The finish line is right next to the end of the pier, where the timers can look down and see your boat number. We'll only be able to get your time marked accurately if you finish where we can see you.

Surfer Dave puts up cash Dash prizes!

For the first time in our short history, we at the Dash are honored to announce that Surfer Dave Agnew, distributor of Mega Surf Kayaks, has put up his sponsor's fee in CASH, rather than raffle goods.

Your host OAC crew has agreed with Surfer Dave that his prize money will be awarded, $50 each, to the winners of the top 6-most-populated racer categories. Dave wil be on hand at the race to award the prizes to the winners in person.

Thanks Surfer Dave!

SUPs test run successful!

The question was inevitable, and it was posed about two months ago… “Will SUPs be allowed in the Dash this year?” Hmmm… the minds of the Dashmasters had no idea what to think. Tall, susceptible to wind, maybe not fast enough, can they maneuver eddylines, all those cool questions balanced against the solid evidence of the growth of this awesome sport… 100+ racers in Mercer Island’s “Round the Rock” in September… whaddya going to do?

Have a test run, of course.

Sunday November 1 on Bowman Bay were assembled 7 SUP boarders, 2 prone boarders, and ten safety kayakers who just had to be there to see the spectacle. And a perfect spectacle it was. After a briefing on the course, we took off from the starting line at 1:27pm, exactly 37 minutes before slack, just like on race day. Wind speeds were not what we might see on race day, evidenced by data according to the Smith Island weather station a few miles to the Southwest:

1:00 pm SE 8

2:00 pm SSE 5

3:00 pm SSE 8

Dueling for the lead, and pulling far away from the pack off the line, were Beau Whitehead on his 18’ SUP and Don Kiesling and his buddy Darrell on their prone boards. These guys paddle with their hands, on their bellies. What a couple stud bolts. The rest of the field trailed behind, but all nine boards completed the full course. Beau nipped the other two at the finish in about an hour 14 minutes. We’ll see how it looks on race day, but it’ll be another sweet twist on this spectacular race, having our SUP family join in the action.

Thanks to all the intrepid SUPrs who eagerly posed as course guinea pigs, and thanks also to Dave, Sonya, Marianne, Leslie, Mark, Wade, Jim (& your wife’s name was… oh I’m spacing that one) who got out there with radios, tow ropes & helmets to shepherd the group safely through the course.

Post race, the paddlers hung out, cooled off in the chilly water, and swapped boards for a few test runs. We debriefed the test run, congratulated all the boarders for making it through, and headed home to care for the unexpected sunburns we got on the first day of November.

Brandon and Heather Nelson put a nice writeup on their blog. These two adventurers have spent a big part of their lives pushing the envelope with outlandish experiences including a circumnavigation of Lake Baikal, a victory in the Yukon Challenge, and a spot in the Guiness World Record book for 24-hour paddling distance. Now they're racing SUPs and we're thrilled to have them talking up this very cool sport.

Great fun and sweet times on a beautiful day!

Epic Kayaks steps up as Dash sponsor

Dash HQ received an email this morning from Chris Laughlin at Epic Kayaks, letting us know that they’ve committed to “Major Sponsor” status for the Dash. Already grateful for the support, we read on to see what some lucky racer is going to take home from the raffle… a Carbon Mid Wing Length Lock paddle.

This is an amazing stick, and big props go out to all the team at Epic including co-founder and Olympic Gold Medalist Greg Barton, who is back home living in the Seattle area and plans to race the Dash this year as well.

Many thanks Epic for your support!

Olympic Gold Medalist Greg Barton