THE BUILD

Brian and Kyle use clamps to hold the coaming in place














Time for the final skim coat of epoxy

The TeamRacePhotos/ CLC Boats, semi custom Triple Racer is complete. The kayak is beautiful, fast, stable and very light!! The total weight came in at an amazing 62 lbs.

It is time to race!!!!!!!

THE BUILD

Deck beams are glued together with thickened expoxy with cab-O-Sil.














Deck beams are trimed to fit the sheer clamps, and glued into place.












The string method is used to secure the deck into place. Saving the weight of the deck nails.


















veiw of under of the hull.

Kyle puts tension on string to pull the deck down into place.

The Build

It is time to stitch the hull panels. 1/16 holes are drilled into the sides . 3-1/2 in 18 guage cooper wire is used to hold the panels together.



































Applying the epoxy, wood flour fillets. Three inch Fiberglass tape is placed over the fillets, and "wetted out" with unthickened epoxy.












Hull panels are masked off for neatness. Brian finds that the best tool for spreading the peanut butter, is a plastic butter knife.












Kyle gives the hull a good sanding with 220 grit paper prior to glassing the hull.
















Fiberglass is draped over the hull, and smoothed by pushing lightly on the bias.










Dave Shuman of Team FigJam assist Kyle on wetting out the glass with unthickened epoxy.












Epoxy is allowed to cure then the second, and third coats will be added.

Wekiva River Race

TeamRacePhotos / CLC Boats

Win Wekiva River Adventure Paddle

Jeff Hunker and Brian Bills of TeamRacePhotos / CLC Boats, took 1st place in tandem division and an amazing 1st place overall at the Wekiva River Adventure Paddle Race. This race course was designed by TRP's very own Kyle Tallent, which consisted of a 18 mile paddle with brief land sections of running and orienteering. The competition was tough, but the Chesapeake Light Craft (Sport Tandem) reigned supreme. The Sport Tandem is definitely an all conditions speedster. Special thanks to CLC for a great design.

Congrats to the crew of the Condor on their victorys at the Everglades Challenge and Wekiva River Race.

Wekiva River Race for the Condor

Too much is not enough, so Marty Sullivan, "Salty Frog" and his wife Maura Smith entered the Condor in a short river race on Saturday, March 11. A one-hour paddle on the beautiful Wekiva River in central Florida earned them a 1st-in-class and second overall performance.

Everglades Challenge, the finish

We were greeted in Key Largo by five sailboat crews and one paddling crew, placing us seventh overall. We snapped a picture of Salty Frog with Muffin Johnson and Ed Engel, who paddled the Chesapeake Sport Tandem into Key Largo. We then camped on the beach site for the next few days, enjoying the sunsets and greeting those who followed. We reflected and relished the entire experience of building the boat and making preparations, executing our plan, then sharing our war stories with the other paddlers and sailors.

Everglades Challenge, the race

The first twelve hours went smoothly, crossing Egmont Channel quickly and rescuing an overturned kayak (see picture) along the way. We had a little help from wind and tide, arriving at checkpoint 1, Placida, in a rapid 12.25 hours, a pace of 5.3 mph. Continuing into the night, conditions were not so friendly. A strong east wind and a long fetch across Pine Island Sound made for a bouncy ride and, approaching San Carlos Pass, an opposing current to boot. Four a.m. brought a stop to our first day and a couple hours layover, an hour's sleep, before resuming Sunday morning at daybreak. Still bucking a strong east wind and an opposing current, we made our way across to the shoreline, took a short break for coffee and breakfast, then continued down the coast. Conditions were fair, with a mile east to northeast wind, until sunset. Wind increased out of the east as we made our way in the dark to Marco Island and the Marco River. We bucked the outgoing tide of the river up to the causeway, then around 9:30 pm we crashed on the causeway for a couple hours sleep. Back on the water around 1 a.m., we proceeded through the Marco River, into the Gulf, up Indian Key Pass, to the Chokoloskee checkpoint, arriving around 8:30 a.m. After buying water, eating a brief breakfast (with coffee, of course), we headed out Rabbit Key pass and down the coast of the 10,000 islands. Our planned course, after much discussion, was to go in at Ponce deLeon Bay, down the Jo River and Buttonwood Canal, into checkpoint 3, Flamingo. All went according to plan, arriving at Flamingo around midnight. We had covered almost 100 miles in a little less than 24 hours. A 6:45 a.m. start, after a luxurious four hours sleep, got us across Florida Bay with friendly tide and wind in about 6 1/2 hours. For once Florida Bay did not pull any of its little tricks on us. Unfortunately, the Bay saved its tricks for subsequent paddlers, with strong east to southeast head winds for those who followed us.

Our successful race ended in 3 days and 6 1/2 hours, an average of 77 miles per day. This pace eclipsed the previous paddling record by seven hours. However, our time did not set a new record since Californians Carter and Sally ("XLXS" and "LilMonster") paddled their surf ski into the finish an hour ahead of us. But, the Chesapeake triple performed flawlessly and was an excellent boat for this event.

Everglades Challenge, the start

Saturday morning, March 4, 7 a.m. boats were lined on the beach for the start of the sixth Everglades Challenge. This was the fourth time for Marty Sullivan ("Salty Frog") and second for Rod Price ("Riverslayer"), but it was our first time as a team in the newly constructed Chesapeake triple kayak. The 270-mile route we selected would run down the intracoastal waterway to Sanibel Island at Fort Myers, then outside in the Gulf, cut through the Marco River, down the Gulf to Chokoloskee checkpoint. From there our route from Chokoloskee would be Rabbit Key Pass, down the Gulf to the Shark River, where we would duck inside and take the Jo River and Buttonwood Canal into Flamingo. Then, the route would be the tricky passage from Flamingo across Florida Bay to the finish at Key Largo.

Victory!

Paddling their recently built Chesapeake Triple, Marty Sullivan and Rod Price took first place in Class 1 of the Watertribe Everglades Challenge last week. They finished the 300 mile race in an astonishing 3 days, 6 hours, and 30 minutes. That was a full 22 hours ahead of the next boat in Class 1, which featured Expedition Kayaks and Canoes. The following is an excerpt from Al Chiodi, who covered the Everglades Challenge:

The Voyage of the Condor

The Condor departed the immaculate strand of sand called Fort Desoto Beach under a postcard perfect West Florida sunrise. As Salty Frog and RiverSlayer, relaxed and confident, packed the last of their gear into their 21’ hand-built Chesapeake Triple, a slight south wind scattered flocks of sandpipers against a tangerine dawn. A final tightening of a line here and there, then each paddler sank into the kayak that would be life for the next 78 and one half hours, give or take a few hours of fitful sleep here and there. Through four foot rollers, stiff cross winds, and a relentless sun this fine craft of okoume and fiberglass sliced its way to victory in Class 1, Expedition Kayaks, in the 2006 Everglades Challenge, a three hundred mile race past some of the most breathtaking beaches and loneliest mangrove islets in the country.

Marty Sullivan, aka Salty Frog and Rod Price better known as RiverSlayer were certainly familiar with the territory having paddled this part of the Gulf of Mexico in several previous races and, of course, just for fun many times; but as a duo this challenge was completely new. Their months of boat building and years of paddling together, each in their own kayak, would now culminate in a victory crafted from practice, care, experience, and, yes, humility. These two skilled “aw-shucksters” knew what they could do with the right boat and fortuitous weather, Chesepeake Light Craft provided the kayak and their humble determination guaranteed the victory. Congratulation Salty Frog and RiverSlayer. See you next year.
*****
Al will be providing a more detailed report, along with video, in the weeks to come...

The Build

The glued sheer clamps and hull panels are secured together and allowed to cure for twenty four hours.






Adventure Racers are often required to portage their kayaks for extended distances, from one location to another on various terrain. The overall weight of the kayak becomes a major issue, challenging builders to find ways of cutting weight without sacrificing strength. The build team has shaved off a portion of the sheer clamps to save a few ounces. Saving a few ounces in itself is not a lot, but they add up in the end result.

The Build

BUILDING THE CLC TRIPLE

Meet the Team Race Photos / CLC boats build team: Jeff Hunker, Brian Bills

and Kyle Tallent.

The scarf joints have been assemled , Kyle glues the sheer clamps to the hull panels using epoxy thickened with Cab-O-Sil.

Ed and Muffin leaving Grande Tours

Everglades Challenge starts on March 4 for Condor

The Condor team, Marty and Rod, are ready for the Everglades Challenge. Here we are finishing our workout on the Wekiva River. The Chesapeake Triple performs beautifully, and we're optimistic that we'll have a record-setting event. Our last workout before the big race was this morning; next launch is from St. Petersburg, Ft. Desoto Park at the start of the WaterTribe Everglades Challenge, Saturday, March 4, 7:00 a.m.

You can follow our progress on the WaterTribe web site, www.watertribe.com. On the home screen select "Challenge Viewer" button, top left. On the view screen select "Everglades Challenge" then select challenger "SaltyFrog". Our position reports along with flags indicating our position will be shown. Our first report will be from Placida, near Port Charlotte, at checkpoint 1 and should be posted late Saturday night, March 4. Progress reports will be posted at least every 24 hours. Additional postings and discussions can be found on the discussion forum.

Progress of the other Chesapeake team, Joe and Ed, can be viewed by selecting Challenger "Tyro".

Team Race Photos / CLC Boats

Check out TRP's adventure racing article on the USARA Nationals. The article, "It's a Swamp Thing", written by Brian Bills, can be found in the premier issue of Navigation Games at www.navigationgames.com This month's issue of Navigation Games, a new adventure sports magazine, Also has a great article on the Everglades Paddling Challenge. Check out some awesome pictures from the nationals by Mark S. Miller & Janie Handlin TRP photographers .

Launching the Condor

Rod Price and Marty Sullivan launched the Condor. The day was windy and rainy, but it didn't dampen our spirits. We took the boat on a 2-hour run and were pleased with its performance. We were able to use a kayak paddle and a canoe paddle at the same time. We're on track for an excellent run in the 300-mile Everglades Challenge, starting March 4.

Joining us in their CLC Sport Tandem to celebrate the launch were two Team CLC members from the adventure race Team Racephotos, Brian Bills and Janie Handlin.

We used the center cockpit for free rides for some who have helped us with the boat; Maura Smith (Marty's wife) and Pete Knocke. After the launch we all celebrated with champagne and snacks.

The boat is now back in dry dock getting its coats of varnish and final fitting out.

TEAM RACE PHOTOS / CLC BOATS

TRAINING FOR THE 30 HR NORTH GEORGIA ADVENTURE RACE

(March 24-26, 2006)

Team Race Photos (www.teamracephotos.com) is made up of a group of athletes and photographers in the Central Florida area with a common interest in adventure racing. The sport of adventure racing is sweeping the nation at a phenomenal rate. The new challenges presented to these racers are a driving factor that has caused the sport to grow by leaps and bounds daily in popularity. This is one of the few sports where just completing a race is often considered a victory. Another driving factor is the emphasis that is placed on teamwork, rather than individual achievement. Adventure races can vary from 2-person to 4-person teams. The disciplines can also vary from race to race. The races can include mountain biking, orienteering, wilderness navigation, running and hiking. You will find yourself paddling on flat water, open-ocean, or ripping down rapids in a kayak or canoe. There might be a chance you will be rappelling off a 100-ft rock face. The races often include special team tests, which could be anything, limited only by the imagination of the race director. Race directors will often not disclose the specific race site until the day of the race. The races can last a few hours or several days and can cover 10 - 300 miles or more! During the 2005 season, Team Race Photos built and raced a CLC sport tandem with amazing results.

So when we decided to compete in the North Georgia race as a 3-person team, our obvious choice was the CLC Triple. Much to our delight, CLC graciously provided us with a triple to build and compete in. Join us on the blog over the next two months and follow our team training efforts as well as our progress building the kayak.

Porcupine boat

Installing the coaming spacers.

The detailed picture shows how we used a block across the middle to keep the spacers even.

Glassing the Condor deck

Blue masking tape allows for a clean, smooth transition from deck glass onto hull. When epoxy is partially cured, glass is trimmed and tape is removed.

Decking the Condor

The deck is held on with screws for gluing. Screws are then removed and the holes filled.

Planing the deck to size.

Condor ready for decking

See the foot rest for the forward paddler? That's so feet don't slide off the pegs.

Distance Training

These are from the two day paddle we did. We started in Placida and headed south to Pine Island, then down the east side of Pine Island to Picnic key. The distance was 32 miles. The saying goes if you can do 32 you should be able to do 64. We have about a month and a half to go until the start. We'll just keep paddling.

-- Joe

Now where do we go?

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Training Clip

This is a short clip of Ed and I out yesterday. We're working on our stroke and checking out our new rudder. -- Joe

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Condor hull glassing

Here Marty and Rod are rolling, then squeegeeing for strongest fabric/wood bond and lightest weight.

Marty and Rod

Rod (at right) and Marty will paddle a Chesapeake Triple in the March 4 Everglades Challenge, the 300-mile St. Pete to Key Largo small boat race. We've both done the race before, so here's hoping for another fast, safe event.

John Harris of CLC offerred to lend us a boat or to provide us a kit. We opted for the kit, and the boat is rapidly coming together. The kit will allow us to set up the boat as we like for the event. Boat name: CONDOR, as in the movie "Three Days of (in) the Condor." Our goal is 3 days (weather permitting, of course). Difficult weather is common that time of year. We're anxious to get on the water and do some tandem training.

Ed and Joe

Ed and I are really looking forward to the Everglades Challenge 2006. We started training in the beginning of November. Thanks to the generosity of Chesapeake Light Craft, Ed and I will be paddling a CLC Sport Tandem. No doubt we will far exceed our 2005 Challenge time. We look forward to seeing you cheering us on.