Mayor’s Cup 2007 – The New York City Kayak Championships Training for the New York City Mayor’s Cup Race in October requires hard work in July, August and September in Memphis. I had always dreamed of paddling around the island of Manhattan, so this summer I began preparing for the challenge. To be strong, confident and safe in such a long distance race with serious turbulent water, it was imperative to train during the record-breaking hot summer. Getting up at 5 a.m. and in the water by 6 a.m. was necessary to accomplish the 3 to 4 hour of paddling endurance I needed. As they say, “It’s all good!” Focusing on an event like the Mayor’s Cup makes for a more rewarding and fulfilling 2nd half of the summer for me. I’ve always enjoyed targeting late fall, early winter events such as cyclocross training, the Phat Water Challenge or the Rum Runner (a 100-mile kayak race from Key Largo to Key West) to keep me motivated during the doldrums of the late summer. Sunrise on the Mississippi River is always beautiful and as Brent Reitz on the West Coast in the San Francisco Bay area says in his forward stroke video, “When I paddle in the morning before work, at least one thing good happens that day.” When I was younger, I loved to race. Now at 59 ¾ old, I cherish the lifestyle of daily training. The race is just a carrot to keep me focused. On Labor Day, Brian Houston of Epic Kayak (who had also paddled the Rum Runner 3-day race in the Keys), delivered an Epic 18X sea kayak to me Apollo Beach, Florida. He along with John Radel and Greg Barton would be taking a trailer of V10 surf skis and 18X sea kayak to the New York Mayor’s Cup Race on October 14. This afforded me the opportunity of paddling and getting used to the kayak I would be racing in. I grew to love the performance of the boat after many sunrise paddles on the Mississippi River from the Memphis riverfront. Carol Lee and I flew to New York on Friday morning, Oct. 13 and on Sat. afternoon, Greg Barton, Brian Houston and John Radel arrived with a trailer stocked with boats. We unloaded the boats at the North Cove Marina where the race would start and finish on Sunday while the sun was setting over the Statue of Liberty. Race morning came quickly. There was a strong southwest breeze of 10-15 mph with temperatures in the high 40’s, predicted to warm up to the mid-60’s. With lots of pre-race nerves of racing in a spectacular venue with very challenging water conditions that included strong tides, challenging wind and an unbelievable amount of boat traffic including cruise liners, the Staten Island Ferries, container ships and scores of commercial and private boats. It was a beautiful sunny Sunday and the cigarette boat club was showing out on the water! The race started well, heading north up the Hudson River with last of the incoming tide and a beam wind. A Norwegian cruise liner was heading the same direction to our left with passengers observing the city skyline and a fit group of 90+ racers just starting the 29 mile “cruise” around Manhattan Island. At the 12 ½ mile mark, we turned from the Hudson into Spuyten Duyvil, the entrance to the Harlem River. The lush ivy and greenspace of the Columbia University recreation grounds were on our right. This northern tip of Manhattan felt very natural and park-like. The water became calm and the tide slackened, so it took more effort to maintain less speed in the Harlem River. As we approached the confluence of the East River and the infamous Hell’s Gate, I was preparing for possible 5 foot standing waves and turbulent whirlpools. I was recalling all I had read about the challenging conditions of 3 tide races coming together to what we expected to be the most serious section of the race. I’ve raced in San Francisco Bay, the San Juan Islands, Gloucester, MA around Cape Anne and the mighty Mississippi River, so I know to be respectful of tide races and swift current. Our conditions were good, producing mild turbulence and fast current. Pre-race guidance from local paddlers said either left side or right side, but I decided to paddle down the middle and read the water for myself. That day, it was a non-event. Down the East River we passed the UN building and an incredible view of midtown Manhattan’s majestic Empire State and Chrysler buildings. As we approached the Manhattan Bridge with 6-7 miles to go, the conditions started getting more challenging. First a dozen cigarette boats were speeding up the river left of us – an official outing of the New York Boat Club. With the waves and wind picking up, we crossed underneath the Brooklyn Bridge. Every imaginable type of commercial and private boat churned up the water. Even the US Coast Guard safety boats were cutting donuts repeatedly to keep the course clear for the kayaks, but also adding to the chaos in the water. Passing the Staten Island Ferry terminal on the right and Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan, a fierce headwind and out-going tide hit like a ton of bricks. I was thankful for the over-distance paddles I had endured round-trip from the Memphis riverfront to Shelby Forest Park. It was just 2 miles to the finish and the hundreds of Manhattanites enjoying the Battery Park bike and running path shouted out an occasional “Go!” Turning into the North Cove Marina finish area out of the wind and current felt great. The sum of training, a well-designed Epic 18X sea-kayak surrounded by friends from 7 countries many of whom had raced in the Outdoors, Inc. Canoe & Kayak Race in Memphis all made for an incredible experience in The Big Apple. Joe Royer 36th place, 2007 Mayor’s Cup 4 hours 19 minutes
