Blackburn Challenge

Race Report

Blackburn Challenge 2023 Summary

As always, the Blackburn Challenge in Gloucester, MA lived up to its name. With moderate, but persistent, tide, wind, and chop working against competitors, this was one of the slowest Blackburn’s in recent memory. Twenty single and a half-dozen tandem surfskis lined up for the 19.5 mile race around Cape Ann. They’d be fighting a […]

Race Report

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, […]

Race Report

Blackburn Challenge Summary

This past weekend saw 74 boats attempt the annual 19.6 mile circumnavigation of Cape Ann in the Blackburn Challenge. Among this fleet were 22 surfskis. Although the 2021 running of the race looked questionable at times due to COVID restrictions, the host Cape Ann Rowing Club (CARC) and the City of Gloucester ultimately settled on […]