, May 10th, 2012 at 2:32 AM
Photo credit: Jim Bryants
Ideal SUP conditions were on hand for paddlers on Saturday, May 5 for the 2nd Malibu SUP Cup at Brewers Bay. The Elite race was underway at 10:30 with 22-paddlers charging off the beach on their way to the tip of Rough Point on Brewers Bay East side.
St Thomas paddler Colin Butler led the way around the first mark with Tortola’s Adam Cole sliding into 2nd followed by St Thomian Dean Dunham and Andy Morrell also of Tortola. St John paddler Gary Francis rounded out the top five.
The paddlers turned West and traversed the wide opening of Brewers Bay then tucked under the cliffs of Martin Point as they ground their way around to Cane Garden Bay. Cole squirted ahead of Butler while Morrell faded from 4th to 8th. Top women Adrianne Baird from St Thomas was grinding away in 9th followed by another Tortola paddler Gareth Thomas.
Cole stayed ahead of Butler as they turned and paddled back up to Brewers Bay. A comforting breeze opposed them. They negotiated the 90 degree turn back into Brewers for the final mile to the beach. Butler made his move with a few hundred yards to go. He jumped to the side of Cole and made an effort to pass but slipped and fell allowing Cole to coast to the finish with a time of 47 minutes and 44 seconds.
Dunham was 3rd followed by Gary Francis with St Thomas paddler Jim Rosebury in 5th.
Top women paddlers were Adrianne Baird in 9th followed by Tortola racer Becky Rowlette in 16th and Julie Lonski from St John in 18th.
Following the Elite race the Open class paddler prepared for their beach start. The racers charged into the water and took off for the same buoy off the Eastern point of the bay. Tortola paddler Jim Bryant was first around but Rusty Henderson, also from Tortola was hot on his heels. Rusty, paddling with his sons Ollie and Danny worked his way past Jim as the boys threw out trash talk like “we’re going to pass you” and “but you slow misson”.
Team Henderson negotiated the 2nd buoy on the West side of the bay and coasted to the beach for the win. Second went to Jim Bryant with Jane Thill from St John in 3rd. Tortola SUPer Argyro Olympitos was 4th while Brodie Farragher, also of Tortola, took 5th.
The kids race was an all-Tortola affair with Jude Kinkead in first while William Adamson was 2nd and Nick Chomiak was 3rd.
The relay race was won by the team of Josh, Erin & Gary from St John and Dean from St Thomas. They won a case of Red Stripe beer for their efforts.
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