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Tips from the Pros I used Google Earth to view the rivers as they circled they island. I had never realized there were so many bridges on the Harlem, though it makes sense, it being an island. Overall, I wasn't terribly concerned about the conditions or my ability to complete the circumnavigation. I had wanted to do it for years after hearing of some other east coast paddlers having done it. The one location that kept coming up in conversation with people who had paddled around the island before or who were familiar with the waterways was Hell's Gate, the confluence of the Harlem River and Long Island Sound where it forms the East River. The tides are a critical factor in paddling around Manhattan. Several of us had the unique opportunity last fall to experience Hell's Gate at full flood. I learned that Hell's Gate is not really a singular location, but can be the gateway to a river possessed. An OC1 makes that particularly challenging. Not only was there three foot standing chop to deal with, but all the waves that pushed up to four feet plus were coming from the ama side (the ama provides stability to the OC1). This does not include extra challenges such as the cigar boat race, the tug and barge traffic and various water ferries that travel at high speed and produce large wakes. As an outrigger is a canoe and you paddle only on one side at a time, when your stability is being threatened you end up staying on one side. In this case, from Hell's Gate till pass the UN, I stayed on the left for all but about 6 strokes, taken hastily more to break up the monotony than anything else, a period of about 45 minutes. I came through upright and unscathed, better off than the top two paddlers ironically who were knocked off their boats at least once by the river demons. The paddle ended with a nice surfing session as I passed under the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges, which is always an awesome experience with an excellent view of Lady Liberty. Rounding the end of Battery where the Staten Island Ferry terminal always inspires you to paddle a little harder. The race finished with a nice surf session as we paddled up the Hudson to finish at the Marina. I developed a new sense of confidence in my ability to handle a variety of water conditions. I had never been as frightened in a boat as I was in the first few minutes of the Hell's Gate passage. There is a large, tall, metal retaining wall that at one point the waters seemed intent on pushing me into. I decided then that I wasn't going to allow anything to push me into “The Wall of Death” as I dubbed it and just set my mind and will to outwitting the river that seemed intent on bucking me off my boat. I believe everyone who participates in the Mayor's cup will come away with a sense of awe and respect for the waters of the Hudson, the Harlem and the East River, three unique rivers that surround an island named Manhattan. I look forward to outwitting the demons of the East River again this fall.
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Caroline Brosius Age: 39 In the book, "The Wind in the Willows" there is a quote which says, "There is nothing- absolutely nothing- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats." I can't remember a time when I wasn't in, on or around water and playing with boats, so it seems fitting that the majority of my sports have involved the water. I grew up sailing with my dad on the Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest and have since then rowed on rivers in Ireland; paddled through the Panama canal in a native dug out racing canoe (cayuco); and paddled across the Molokai channel 3 times in outrigger canoes. In 2005 I and several other WCC joined with the Philadelphia Outrigger CC and finished 2nd in the mixed division of the Catalina Crossing, billed as the US national long-distance championships. In August of 2006 my WCC crew won the Women's Open Koa division at the Queen Liliu'okilani Outrigger race held in Kailua-Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii. We were 11th overall and the first mainland crew across the finish line. I love both the individual challenges of facing the ever changing rivers and oceans in single boats, as well as the team aspect involved with my sprint, marathon and outrigger teams. Paddling has become a life long development of skills and techniques that draw me into nature as well as presenting great opportunities to laugh at myself as I continue to try to learn more ways to get wet and move a boat in a forward direction. I branched into outrigger as it has allowed me to train and race with many different people in a variety of locales, and it allows me great excuses to keep going interesting places, meeting wonderful people and making new friends wherever I travel. Caroline works at GHT Limited, Consulting Engineers, located in Arlington, VA as an electrical designer and assistant project manager. She has been a member of the Washington Canoe Club, located in Georgetown, DC on the Potomac river and has represented WCC in sprint kayak, marathon canoe and outrigger since 1991. After making the 1996 Olympic trials, but missing her chance for an Olympic team, she turned to marathon canoeing and outrigger where she developed her love of the water further to include OC1 and OC6 races on the east coast, California, Hawaii and New Zealand. She is a multiple national championship sprint kayaker in both single and 2 person events. She has also tested new waters, participating in adventure racing as a competitor, a volunteer and an instructor in paddling technique at Odyssey Adventure Racing Academy in West, VA and completing an off-road Ironman in 2004. |
