Lone Star Legacy Kayak race & Exhibition
The Lone Star Legacy Kayak race and exhibition held in Port Aransas last 19 and 20 Oct weekend, was the gathering place for about 100 kayakers of all skills and levels. Some attended guided tours, some attended lessons, many rented mostly plastic boats and some outfitters and manufacturers exhibited their products.

Our team participated in the 15.5 mile race, from Rockport to Port Aransas, ( modified due bad weather in open water section). We meant to enter with two singles and one double, but finally one tandem member failed to show up.

The race is very spectacular because there are singles, rowing boats, doubles, SOT´s and long 6 paddler Hawaiian outriggers. The great friendship and traditional Texas hospitality framed the event and we Mexicans were warmly welcome.

The result was good for us. Two outriggers entered first, then a surfski (Futura) and a Tandem. After those came our mexican colleague Juan Luis marking second place (2 hours, 50.5 minutes 5.4 mph average) in singles over all and first in sea kayak, paddling a Performa. Behind him entered Ken Johnson (70) for a third position paddling a Performa II.

My frustration was big when I paddled with my 10 year old son alongside the plastic winning Tandem 2 miles before the end line in our double Tabasco, because we were ahead for a while with fair effort. If my partner had shown up, I think our chances of winning or giving a good fight would have been pretty good. The winners were strong and paddled evenly but our boat was by far faster.

We´ll try to attend similar races in the West Coast and see how we do.

STATISTICS:

David Bartell in a surf ski 2hrs 39min 44 sec 5.81 miles per hour average speed
Erin McGes in a racing kayak 2hrs 48min 26sec 5.50 mph
Juan Luis Del Valle in a Performa 2hrs 50min 30 sec 5.45 mph
Ken Johnson in a Performa II 3hrs 7min 34sec 4.96mph
Paul Penning 3hrs 22min 50sec 4.58mph
Scott Cartier in a Nighthawk 3hrs 33min 22sec 4.36mph
Donna Kowe 3hrs 38min 39sec 4.26mph
Mark Arnold in an Elan 3hrs 43min 2sec 4.17mph
Jim Polenchak in a Dagger 3hrs 47min 26sec 4.09mph
John Gruber in a Quest 3hrs 52min 20sec 4.00mph
Rafael
    El cayuco chief
    www.mayanseas.com
Georeg Miller: Rafael failed to mention that not only did Ken Johnson place third with a Performa kayak averaging nearly 5 MPH, but he is over 70 years old. Amazing or what? So, Ken, was it man or machine?
Ken Johnson responeded: Hey George... Unfortunately, Rafael doesn't have to mention my age if you look at the picture of the first 3 winners of the race at (page 2, Port to Port Album). Should have had my shirt! You can tell it must have been the machine... Ken (P.S. Pictures are accumulation of all Performa Team members)
Submitted on October 27, 2002