by Gene Boyers
Sunday, August 26, 2012. 0500hrs. SSgt. Doug Siers and I made our way in the dark to the Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race check-in table. The vibe around the pre-race bonfire was something you could feel, a ton of energy just waiting for the 0600hrs stating horn.
Siers is a member of the Marine Wounded Warrior Battalion-West (WWB), based at Camp Pendleton. For the second consecutive year, the WWB and the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation (JMMF) had been invited to enter a relay team in the 32-mile race from Two Harbors on Catalina Island to the Manhattan Beach pier. I’m a volunteer for the Jimmy Miller Foundation, which offers ocean therapy for the Wounded Warrior Battalion.
The Marines began training for the Classic at their base in April. Joe Bark and Semper Fi equipped them with paddleboards. Kas Parsons of the Oceanside Outrigger Club ran the training paddles.
Joe Clark volunteered his 58-foot catamaran New Star One, out of King Harbor, to be our escort boat.
Our plan was to have two paddlers in the water together for 20 minute intervals. Doug and I were to be the first two. John Mirassou and his Boston Whaler Sunshine would assist the Marines with the transitions in and out of the water.
Our goals was seven hours, but after the first hour we were dead last and on an eight hour pace, so we changed tactics. Instead of two paddlers in the water for 20 minutes, we went with single paddlers at 15 minute intervals. Jimmy Miller volunteers, including Peter d’Avila, and Ty Curkr alternated with the Marines. Soon, we began reeling in the back of the pack. With fresh arms and lots of encouragement we made our goal, finishing in six hours, 55 minutes. I had the honor of paddling the final leg with Sgt. David McCreary. When reached the Manhattan Beach pier the reception was overwhelming. The whole team swam into the beach for hugs, high fives, and Hawaiian leis.
I am proud to have been part of this team. Mahalo to New Star One’s Joe Clark, Lt. Col. Paul Swanson (USMC Ret), CWO3 Shaun Dunn (USMC Ret), SSgt. Doug Siers, Sgt. David McCreary, Sgt. Ryan Artuso (USMC Ret.) Cpl. Brandon Malone, Cpl. Ricky Richter, L.Cpl. Cody Snow, Kas Parsons, Ty Cukr, Peter D’Avila, April Ward, Jackie Salomon, Stephanie Siers, and Brad Fyffe. Special thanks to John Mirassou and Katy on ‘Sunshine’ for being our shoreboat and chaseboat.
Gene Boyer is a veteran, life-long waterman, two-time Catalina Classic racer and JMMF volunteer. DZ
