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Another island record attempt

"Hey guys, many thanks for the comments and concern - I injured my shoulder when coming ashore in Hesquiat in the dark of night lifting my boat over the awkward slimy basketball rocks in the bay. I couldn't find the beach proper in the dark and got whacked by a wave at the worst possible moment. Took me a day to limp down to Tofino and then another to arrange a transport. I've just returned this afternoon to Bellingham. A bitter blow, but I can only say that the island experience was transformative and I walked away grateful and inspired."

Hey Rand, I agree. A beast in every sense of the word. I was able to make a pretty decent pace, often averaging 6 to 7mph, but I had a host of small to large issues that became a major burden / distraction to actually being on the water. The biggest was trying to go unassisted. That just made everything so much harder on a trip that is already insanely hard. Trying to fit 100k calories in a surfski is no small trick, and then you add in ten days worth of camping gear and the suddenly my lightweight surfski is 130 pounds, which is ultimately why I was injured trying to lift that over the rocks. My other major issue was water was very hard to find. I brought a desalinator which was very effective for the first three days, and then broke suddenly leaving me in a really tough spot. I agree, and think the island will go in ten days, but that assumes an athlete can manage the physical breakdown that happens with that many hours / days paddling in salt water. I did a lot of preventative work to toughen up my hands, and they did great, but the sea rash (salt water abrasions) grew just a little bit everyday becoming very painful by the end of my attempt. Doing that unassisted would take miraculous conditions, something I didn't have either! The trick is going for a speed record in a way that doesn't nueter the beast and does the island justice. Not sure what that is, but think Russells' record clearly sets a high standard in both speed and self sufficiency of the attempt.

http://www.fasterfarther.com/journal/20 ... ation-2015
 
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