The third attempt at staging the Lilydipper Games was a rousing
success. It appears that the secret to encouraging participation in the
games was increasing the value and rarity of the prize swag.

The first event was the Solo Stern Race. The rules: One paddler, facing
the bow. Either sitting on the stern seat in a tandem, or kneeling in
the stern of a solo. Out around the marker and back. First boat stern
to touch the beach wins.

The participants lined up on the beach, spread out before the marker
buoy in the stern of their chosen craft. On your mark, get set, GO.

Shortly after "Go" one comically complicating factor became
apparent. There were no specification as to which side of the marker
buoy to round; half of the boats went to port, half to starboard. All
of the boats met in a collision of crashing boats and thrashing paddles
on the far side of the marker. Rob Powell, employing his sailboat
racing background, was the first to emerge and looked to be the winner.
Scant yards off the beach, in a comfortable lead, Rob suddenly
remembered the phrase "First boat stern to touch the beach wins"
and was forced to laboriously crank his Penobscot 180 degrees.

Frank Weichold, master of the Sawyer Champion passed him going
backwards at full steam, to take first prize (Gear bungie balls, 1st
edition Duckhead hat, Duckhead huggie).

Theresa Alexander paddled her OT Camper barge to a second place finish,
taking home a coveted purple Duckhead bottle opener. Third place took a
Duckhead bumper sticker, which was properly awarded, but in the race
aftermath no one quite remembers who placed third. It may have been
c2g, who would go on to suffer ignominious defeat in the following
races.

The second event was the Solo Bow Race. The rules: One paddler, facing
the bow. Either seated on the bow seat in a tandem, or kneeling in the
bow in a solo. Out around the marker and back. First boat to touch the
beach wins.

This was the most difficult of the three races, as bow-heavy canoes are
unpredictable. What was predictable was another confusion of colliding
Duckheads at the turn. This confab of crashing Duckheads resulted in
the familiar sight of c2g beneath the overturned hull of his canoe and
provided Cathy Poff with her first swim, not to mention a large
Duckhead-purple contusion on her upper arm.

Determined to take home the block of cheese (as well as the ZRE paddle
bag and Dock Rock Campfire Classics CD) Rob Powell was not to be denied
first place in the bow race. Patty Hale was equally determined that
Theresa should not be the only Squatter with a Duckhead bottle opener.
And Cooper McCrea demonstrated that youth and stamina sometimes defeat
age and guile for third place.

The last event was the Tandem Nathan-esque Race. The rules: Two
paddlers. In a tandem the paddlers must sit bowman facing the bow,
stern paddler facing the stern. In a solo the paddlers must sit sharing
the center seat facing in opposite directions. Out around the marker
and back. First boat to touch the beach wins.

This race is named in honor of friends Alan & Cindy Nathan, to
commemorate their unique choice of seating arrangements as novice
paddlers. Many of the participants were by now veterans of the chaotic
buoy turn and had devised a variety of strategies to ensure victory.

C2g and Canoeswithduckheads rounded the difficult buoy turn cleanly and
appeared to be charging to victory several boat lengths in the lead
until they inexplicably tee-boned the only obstruction on beachfront, a
plainly visible log mere feet from the finish line. C2g valiantly flung
himself into the water (as he is often wont to do) in an attempt to
lighten the bow, but by then the rest of the field had closed the gap.

Jim Obert and Cathy Poff took first, taking home a rare Duckhead flag,
Duckhead huggies and Duckhead bottle openers. Diane Hollingsworth and
Jane Michalski teamed their fiery-eyed determination for a clean second
place, and Tyler McCrea and Emily Obert squeaked in ahead of the
freshly saturated c2g to capture third.

Thanks to everyone who accepted the Lilydipper challenge. A good time
was had by all, especially the spectators.

As is customary in the Canoe Orienteering event I'd love to hear some
race tales told from the participant's view and suggestions for
improving the Lilydipper Games in 2006.

TommyC1's photos of the Lilydipper Games:

http://community.webshots.com/album/351792244sdAGmx?239

Tom & Nikki's Photos:

http://community.webshots.com/album/353155111AFsopI

Steffi's photos:

http://community.webshots.com/album/353611245JprmEZ