Lake Champlain, VT - August 16, 2003

COURSE: The course was shortened from the planned 14-mile long course and the 7-mile short course. This was because strong thunderstorms were predicted in the afternoon. Buoys were set along the planned course, making the long course 10.8 miles, and the short course 5 miles. However the thunderstorms never presented themselves, making for a sunny summer afternoon at North Beach. The air temperature was in the 80's (F), and the Lake water temperature was 74 degrees (F).

SAFETY: Several safety boats monitored the course, and were in commnication with each other and the start via VHF radio. A checkpoint boat was anchored 2.5 miles from the start, and racers were required to check in with this boat on both the outgoing and return trips.

WEATHER: Like 2002, rough conditions prevailed. Southerly winds were swinging into the west at 15 knots for the 10 am starts. Morning racers were surfing north when the wind turned to the northwest at 20 kts. This produced confused seas with waves coming from multiple directions at the halfway point buoy turn. Several kayaks and one outrigger capsized, but rescue craft were nearby, and the most racers reboarded their craft to finish the race. With the strong northwest wind, racers were able to surf the confused seas back to the finish. The early afternoon men's outrigger race times were slower than the morning times because the men had to paddle into the northwest wind all the way to the buoy turn before the surf home.

2003 Lake Champlain Challenge

Place Overall	Distance Crews (10.8 Miles)	Division + Place	Time
1	Northeast OCC - Iguana	Mixed OC6 01	1:24:37
2	Northeast OCC - Gecko	Mixed OC6 02	1:25:31
3	New England OCC	Mixed OC6 03	1:34:41
6	New England OCC	Men Carbon OC6	1:42:37
13	Vermont OCC	Mixed OC6 04	1:54:59
N/A	Vermont OCC (completed short course)	Men Open OC6	1:23:20

Courtesy: Lake Champlain Challenge. Long course results only. Click headers to sort results.

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