Blackburn Challenge 2022 Summary

This year’s Blackburn Challenge in Gloucester, MA featured one of the great head-to-head battles in the storied 35 year history of this great race. Twenty-one single HPKs (all skis but one) and four double skis participated in this classic 19.5 mile race around Cape Ann. Conditions were benign on paper, with a modest outgoing tide, temperatures in the 70s, and a 5-7 mph wind swinging from NW to SW during the course of the race. In practice, of course, the Blackburn always throws a little something at racers to keep them on their toes. This year the primary obstacle started at mile 15, where lumpy water was made more confusing by a glassy finish.

It seemed likely that Rob Jehn and Craig Impens – both traveling in from New Jersey – would be battling for the crown. Rob has been dominating the New England race circuit, but has only met up once with Craig this season – a recent match-up at Toms River in which Craig came out ahead (but second to Sean Brennan). Other podium candidates included 4 Blackburn veterans – Canadians Jack Van Dorp and Brian Heath (in the sole racing kayak) and locals Greg Lesher and Matt Drayer. Mary Beth Gangloff was looking for her third Blackburn title on the women’s side, while Bernie Romanowski was hoping to repeat as doubles champion with a new partner, Andrew Metz. In the SS20+ class (Epic V8, Stellar S18S, Think Zen, and the like) Gloucester native Janda Ricci-Munn was hoping to be the first paddler to break the 3 hour mark. Jean Kostelich and Beatrice Weinberger would face off for the women’s SS20+ title.

Although the other racers did their best to keep pace, it took Rob and Craig only a minute or two to break free from their pursuers. Craig came off the line in first, but Rob soon took command and led the pair through the Annisquam River. In pursuit, Greg, Jack, Matt, and Brian occasionally formed drafting pairs, but mostly plotted their own courses through the winding estuary – having each raced the course at least a half-dozen times, they had distinct navigational preferences. Exiting the Annisquam, Rob and Craig enjoyed a 10 length lead over Greg, who had perhaps half that advantage over Matt and Jack, with Brian slightly further back.

With increasing tidal current, the pace picked up on the trip to Halibut Point. Sticking close together, Rob and Craig steadily increased their lead over Greg. Matt and Jack fell back 10 or 15 lengths from the latter, but managed to stay in that range. Rounding Halibut Point and heading towards the Straitsmouth gap, some helpful waves joined the tidal current. Racers would enjoy their fastest speeds during this leg, but would face opposing tide and wind, as well as bouncier conditions, after passing through the gap and rounding Loblolly Point.

Rob and Craig continued to extend their lead, often right next to one another, but other times trying slightly different routes to gain the advantage. Neither enjoyed a lead of more than two or three boat lengths, however. Although Greg had held to within 90 seconds of the pair or so until Straitsmouth – roughly the halfway point – the leaders increased their relative pace, extending the gap more quickly for the remainder. Matt and Jack continued roughly 30 seconds behind Greg, but as the conditions grew more confused, Jack (in a V14) started to fall off the pace.

Paddlers could find a few small rides in the long open stretch after Lands End, but it was mostly a steady grind. As they approached land again, conditions got sloppier and difficult to read. Many struggled to find a rhythm. The glassiness mentioned above disappeared by mile 17, but the confusion only cleared up as paddlers approached the Dog Bar protecting Gloucester Harbor. Rob led Craig into the Harbor, setting the stage for a final duel approaching the finish line. Timing a wave perfectly in the last few hundred feet, Craig managed to generate enough momentum to power by Rob to take the win at 2:40:46 – his third Blackburn title. The 9 second gap between gold and silver makes this the closest full-course Blackburn ever.

Greg held off Matt to take third, roughly 5 minutes behind the lead pair. Janda was able to power his S18S through all conditions, picking off skinnier boats to finish 7th overall. In winning the SS20+ class, he smashed the old record with a time of 2:55:46. Mary Beth claimed the women’s HPK crown, but Beatrice had the fastest overall women’s ski time of 3:33:23 in taking the SS20+ title. Bernie and Andrew claimed victory in the doubles group.

Here are the full results:

You can find more detailed race results at SurfskiAmerica. You can see photos of the race at Granite State Race Services, Mike Sachs’ Gallery (from which the banner image above was taken), and John Costello’s Gallery.