Patagonian Expedition Race 2012: Day Two -

Top teams turn up the heat!

February 15, 2012

After the dark zone on Dawson Island was opened at 6:30 this morning, all the teams which had been held at PC 4 set off together (actual times will be adjusted later in the race), to maximise the more settled weather conditions that prevail in Patagonia in the early part of the day. Going into PC 5 there was little to separate the leading teams. In a race where the kayaks are one-design, maximum boat speed doesn’t give any team a particular advantage, it’s great paddling technique, clever loading (teams have to carry all their trekking equipment at all times) and being confident in all sea conditions that gives teams an edge and saves energy.

The route from PC 5 to 8 is characterised by a mix of the dense and wild forests carpeted with fallen trees and branches which are typical of Southern Patagonia, along with strength sapping turba and pampa. Confident navigation and the courage to take the most direct route, rather than trying to go round difficult areas is critical to making good progress. Many teams have trained specifically for these conditions and it was no surprise to hear that Adidas Terrex Prunesco came into PC 6 at the run, commenting that they knew GearJunkie Yogaslackers were hot on their heals and were going keep pushing hard. Surprisingly, the next team to reach the PC, which is also a food resupply point for teams, was EastWind at 12:20, who checked out in just 23 minutes, just as the Croatian team Ad Natura arrived soon to be followed by Vaucluse - Lafuma in the space of just 8 minutes. We’re pretty excited here, waiting for the next official call in from PC 6, when we expect the leader board to be more certain and to have real news on the rest of the field.

The next stage from PC 6 to PC 7 at Lago Escondido then through to the mountain bike transition at PC 8 at Rio Grande will cover a further 59 km of ground, with few paths or trails, except those left by the native guanaco and the wild horses for which the island is famous.

News from further along the course is that CP 11 in the stunning Vallee Profundo, where the main ropes section will be located, is that 30 cm of snow fell overnight, and that it’s still falling.

Tierra del Fuego : Get to Know the Route

February 15, 2012

Not just one island but a whole bunch, Tierra del Fuego is an archipelago that leads right down to the infamous Cape Horn – and the racers will covering a fair bit of it on this year’s route.

The main island, Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, covers an area bigger than Switzerland and is split down the middle between Chilean and Argentine territories (the race, of course, will travel through the Chilean side).

The area was named after the fires lit by the Slk’nam and Yaghan natives, spotted by Ferdinand Magellan when he passed by the area in 1520. Europeans only settled there in the gold mining and sheep farming booms of the late C19^th.

The region is one of the growing tourism sectors in Chilean Patagonia – and this year’s race will showcase some of its spectacular wilderness scenery, which includes rolling hills, thick forests and mighty mountains.

Click here to read more about Tierra del Fuego, maybe one day you too can experiance the adventure of Chilean Patagonia!

Day Two: Teams reaching the Tierra del Fuego

February 15, 2012

Day two of the Patagonian Expedition Race 10th Anniversary has kicked off with blue skies and a mild wind. The temperatures outside are mild for these parts, but the southern chill is ever present.

For most, day one of the race was a success. The pack was led in by Adidas Terrex and Yoga Slackers, who biked to the kayak section with wind on their backs in times faster than we anticipated in even the best-case scenarios. This confirmed the belief that this year's field of athletes is incredibly well-trained and incredibly prepared for the event.

The leading teams were off their bikes and in the water in under 40 minutes, and paddling off towards the first light of dawn. Across the sea we could see their strobe blights rapidly receding toward Dawson Island. Like tiny fireflies in the distance they disappeared into the morning. The last team to hit the water was team Discovery & Research, who had a hard paddle across the strait as the winds picked up.

Adidas Terrex and Yoga Slackers reached CP 2 first, just minutes apart from each other. If ever two teams wanted a win this bad, these guys are it. They are setting a grueling pace and applying a strategy well-known to expedition racers: Go hard and fast for the first three days and then let the race carry you. It is almost impossible to make the checkpoints without that sort of intense drive.

As the day wore on, teams crossed the water and began their challenging portage into Dawson Island. In a network of creeks and dense forest, they dragged, hauled, carried, schlepped their kayaks toward the next coast line. Checkpoint 3 had limited communications, forcing headquarter offices to wait in nervous anticipation for arrival news from CP 4.

In the afternoon we began receiving news that all but one team had made it safely to CP 2 and the Chilean Armada had spotted Brazil's GoCrazy off the coast some distance from the checkpoint. Still very far from a landing and well over the checkpoint cut off, the team was withdrawn from the competition. This reality of expedition racing is always present, but it does not lessen our disappointment for them as we were so hopeful for their success this year.

Knowing all remaining teams were safely on the island, a Dark Zone was implemented for all teams reaching CP 4. This means that no boats are allowed to enter the water until dawn the next day, when winds are calm and crossing the channel is safer. Teams having made it to CP4 could rest and regather, suggesting that Day Two will start off with a break-neck charge into the next sections of the course. If ever anything recharged the batteries of an adventure racing team, it is a few hours of sleep.

Other teams still navigated the island over the night, some teams stopping to camp out at CP 3. By nightfall, almost all teams had reached further CPs and were accounted for. This morning news of Discovery & Research also reached us as they continue to make their way to CP 3 - a task made much easier by the rising of the sun.

Once teams reach CP 5 on Tierra del Fuego, they have a food bag and new equipment waiting for them. They will begin their first trekking section of the course. Rested from the night, we expect them to be moving very fast and very efficiently across the island. The 75 kilometer trek should keep even the fastest teams occupied until the wee hours of tomorrow morning.

As the days wear on, further teams are expected to withdraw, either by choice, injury, or failure to meet checkpoint cutoffs. The gap between the leading teams is expected to spread. Teams will struggle onward through the biking section and then the extensive final trek. With swollen feet and chapped lips, the remaining few will make it to the Beagle Channel for their last miles of paddling and at long last, the jubilation of a finish line.