NNYP President's Column by Ed Greiner
This year’s Donald Patneaude Memorial Towpath Regatta was held on June 20th. According to tradition, it was held on the third Thursday in June. Contrary to tradition, it did not follow the old towpath to Rexford but a loop course upriver to Lock E8, around Oneida Island and back to the start at Gateway Landing. This course eliminates the shuttling of cars before the race but adds an upstream component.
We had a change of directorship this year. Geoff Moore retired from that position and Beverly and Bruce Blinn-Knapp took over the task, assisted by their friend Erin Keehan. They did a superb job, drawing from their experience directing horse shows in the past. We are very grateful to Bill and Karen Simmons, along with their friend Carl Sanner, who provided a safety boat near the lock in case anyone had trouble in the normally roiling water in that vicinity.
The weather was extremely hot and humid, with temperatures in the low 90s and the humidity so high, sweat doesn’t work. Instead of evaporating and cooling the body, it just soaked our clothing, making nearly everyone look like they had dumped over at some point. The uncomfortable weather forecast also contributed to a low turnout.
Of the fourteen entrants, twelve finished the race. There were some impressive performances including some newbies. Finding new paddlers to race and providing them with training and a fun experience is part of our mission.
Coming up in July, we have the Electric City Regatta on the 13th and the Barge Chaser on Sunday the 14th. The premier event at the Electric City Regatta is an 11-mile race from Lock 9 to Lock 10 and back. There will also be a 3-mile event for those wanting something shorter.
The Barge Chaser takes place at Kiwanis Park on Rt. 5S in Rotterdam. It will be a figure 8 race, starting downstream to turn the island above Lock 8. Racers then go upstream past the start line, twisting through the curves of the river, eventually to turn a buoy and go back down river, past the start line again for another pass around the island and back home. The distance is 10.5 miles, and it takes almost as long to describe it as to paddle it. The short course is a single lap down and around the island for a distance of 3.1 miles. We look forward to seeing many of our club members at both races.