WELCOME TO THE 9TH ANNUAL WICKED WHALEBOAT CHALLENGE!
WHEN: May 4th, 2024 - race day registration starts at 8:am - Race starts at 9:am.
WHERE: Pope's Island Marina, New Bedford, MA
ABOUT:
Leave the boat and trailer at home, all you need is your crew and a sense of adventure (see below). The Wicked Whaleboat Challenge is a race that not only tests the speed of the crew but also tests their skills. We've designed a course that accentuates the maneuverability of whaleboats and also incorporates a variety of skills that will challenge the coordination of the boatsteerer and the crew.
The course is a timed event with each boat staggering their start, so there will only be two boats on the course at any time.
After the row, enjoy and vote for your favorite chili or chowder for our membership's chowder competition!
The BOATS:
The Wicked Whaleboat Challenge is restricted to WCR whaleboats only. Our fiberglass replica Beetle whaleboats will be available for any teams that wish to row (if you do not have a certified whaleboat boatsteerer, one will be provided for you). If you wish to train on our boats ahead of the challenge, please contact Mark at mark@incabinated.com to schedule a training row.
REGISTRATION FORM: Find the registration form HERE
REGISTRATION OPENS APRIL 1, 2024 AT 9AM.
REGISTRATION CLOSES MAY 4TH AT 9AM.
RACE ORDER IS DETERMINED BY REGISTRATION ORDER. ROWERS MAY BE PART OF 2 BOAT CREWS MAXIMUM. RACE ORDER WILL BE PROVIDED AT CHECK IN ON RACE DAY.
Advised Skills:
Stern Stroke
Port and Starboard turns
Man Overboard Drill
A sense of FUN!
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
1. With the bow lined up with the Starting buoy, at the horn, the boat will STERN STROKE back until the bowlines up with the #2 YELLOW marker buoy.
2. Once lined up with the #2 YELLOW marker buoy, the boat may revert to a normal pull.
3. Go around the island keeping the small GREEN can and the large GREEN can to your starboard.
4. Make a starboard turn around the WHALE
5. Immediately after making a starboard turn at the #5 YELLOW marker, kick BOB overboard and continue to the #6 YELLOW marker.
6. Make a port turn around the marker. Immediately after the turn, pick the steering oar out of the water and go retrieve BOB. Once BOB is back in the boat, you may use the steering oar again.
7. With BOB back in the boat, row like a bat outta hell down the pier towards the #2 YELLOW marker. Make a sharp port turn between the end of the pier and the #2 YELLOW marker. You've finished!
DIVISIONS:
Sorry. there are no divisions.
AWARDS:
The awards given will be for 1st place, 2nd place, and 3rd place and the Drowned Captain Medal will be awarded to whichever team leaves BOB (the person-overboard-dummy) in the water for the longest period of time.
SPONSORSHIPS:
If you would like to have your crew, club, or business included on our event shirts, please fill out the following Sponsorship Form! There are three levels of sponsorship: $300 Gold, $200 Silver, $100 Bronze. Logo size is determined by level of sponsorship. Thanks for supporting our race!
2022 WICKED WHALEBOAT CHALLENGE RESULTS:
Thanks to everyone who participated in the 2022 Wicked Whaleboat Challenge; our first after Covid! It was a joy to welcome teams from Hull Lifesaving Museum, Boston Open Water Rowing, Buzzard’s Bay Rowing, Azorean Maritime Heritage Society, Dharma Voyage, and our own Whaling City Rowing. It was a windy and blustery day, with wind increasing as the race continued. Thankfully we had enough tarps to create a wind - free zone for our tables of food, merch, and for registration.
.....the RESULTS by order of launching..(BWT is Bob Water Time, or how long he was in the water)
Estrela do Mar — 16:10 (BWT 1:50)
Son of a Gunwhale — 14:51 (BWT 1:03) — FIRST PLACE
Tidal Bores — 15:56 (BWT 2:25) — DROWNED CAPTAIN
Ship Happens — 15:11 (BWT 1:10) — SECOND PLACE
Seas the Day — 16:46 (BWT 1:13)
Whaley Coyote —19:16 (BWT 1:35)
Azoreans — 16:48 (BWT 1:41)
White Caps — 15:15 (BWT 0:53) — THIRD PLACE
Bow Wow! — 17:50 (BWT 1:31)
Bitchin’ Baleines — 23:03 (BWT 2:17)
Row Aways — 20:19 (BWT 1:33)
DV Whaleboaters — 17:13 (BWT 1:10)
Crabalots — 16:40 (BWT 1:26)
A HUGE thanks to our volunteers…
Mark Hurley and Jenna Ellis, who coordinated and ran the race as well as timed the boats.
Greg Ruf who worked hard on the docks to keep the race moving and get crews safely in and out of the boats.
Bridget Greenwood who managed our merch tent and helped with race day setup and take down, as well as serving food.
Lauri Bissonette who manages the Wickedest Best Chili Competition coordination every year and who makes sure our crews and volunteers are well fed.
James Bonahan for supplying our delicious coffee!
Chuck Green for his photography and filming skills
Barbara Moreira, Ed and Alice Deluca, Dan and Colleen Cox, Larry Almeida, Jim Mello for race day setup and take down, dropping markers, moving boats and general support throughout race day.
The crews from all of our participating clubs for their help after the event with retrieving markers (thank you Jodi!) and taking down all of our tents, tarps, and tables!
Our sponsors this year include…
The Black Whale, who supplied their amazing chowder
Spill the Tea Psychotherapy, who provided race support donations
WCR Teams Sirenes and Shivering Timbers
Acushnet Manufactured Homes
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SEE WHAT 2023 BRINGS!
2019 WICKED WHALEBOAT CHALLENGE RESULTS:
Thanks to everyone who participated in the 2019 Wicked Whaleboat Challenge. 16 teams participated this year! We seem to grow a little every year. We couldn't be happier to welcome teams all the way from Westport, Hull and Boston to participate in our most prestigious event.
.....the RESULTS by order of launching..(BWT is Bob Water Time, or how long he was in the water)
A Whale Oiled Machine ----- 12:36 (BWT 2:23)
Dharma Mamas --------------- 13:20 (BWT 2:36)
Ship Happens ----------------- 13:23 (BWT 2:20)
Whale Oars -------------------- 13:02 (BWT 2:32)
Miller HiLites ------------------- 13:42 (BWT 2:19)
Ocean Maidens ---------------- 13:06 (BWT 2:05)
Dharma 2 ----------------------- 13:11 (BWT 2:13)
Defying Gravity ----------------14:15 (BWT 2:50)
Sirenes -------------------------- 13:05 (BWT 2:31)
Sails of Portugal -------------- 11:47 (BWT 2:42) FIRST PLACE
Crab-a-Lots ---------------------15:09 (BWT 2:24)
Hooligans ------------------------15:53 (BWT 2:14)
Rosy Cheeks -------------------14:20 (BWT 2:21)
May the 4th Be With You---- 12:16 (BWT 2:11) SECOND PLACE
The Shiverin’ Timbers ------- 15:06 (BWT 2:53) DROWNED CAPT’N AWARD
The Gray Buzzards ---------- 12:21 (BWT 2:01) THIRD PLACE
and CONGRATULATIONS to Nancy Astepen (sp?) for winning the coveted Wicked Best-est Chowdah apron and Joanne Chase for winning the Wicked Best-est Chili apron! DELICIOUS!!
Thanks everyone!
Special thanks to Lauri Bissonette for coordinating the food and chef competition. Thanks to James Hayes-Bohanan for the delicious coffee, Kristin Carvalho for manning the merch tent, and Jenna Ellis and Brenda DuFresne for registration. Thank you's also to our hard working volunteers, Jenna Ellis, Jim O'Dowd and Alice DeLuca for their patience and diligence as well for timing the race, and and thank you to Greg Ruf for working the docks and getting everyone safely in out out of the boats in such a chaotic atmosphere, and finally a huge thank you to the Fairhaven and New Bedford Police and Fire Dept’s for keeping the course clear and everyone safe on the water (and replacing a drifting race marker)!
WICKED WHALEBOAT CHALLENGE 2018 RESULTS
Thanks to everyone who participated in the 2018 Wicked Whaleboat Challenge! Despite some confusion of the actual course, and some adjustment questions, (our fault, it will be remedied in the future. As punishment, we have thrown Mark from the highest cliff we could find. He won't be bothering anyone anymore), a fun time was had by everyone. 14 teams participated this year! We couldn't be happier to welcome some new teams this year all the way from Westport, Hull and Boston to participate in this prestigious event.
.....the RESULTS by order of launching..(BWT is Bob Water Time, or how long he was in the water)
Polar Oartex ------------------ 10:39 (BWT 1:48) FIRST PLACE
Duall Dharma ---------------- 10:54 (BWT 1:54) THIRD PLACE
Crab-a-Lots ------------------- 13:57 (BWT 2:20)
Sirene's ------------------------ 12:07 (BWT 2:01)
Seal Whisperers -------------- 13:09 (BWT 2:02)
Hull Life Saving Museum -- 12"31 (BWT 2:02)
Sea Warriors ------------------ 16:25 (BWT 3:06) DROWNED CAPT’N AWARD
Os Remadores ----------------10:49 (BWT 1:56) SECOND PLACE
Ekam Dharma ---------------- 15:06 (BWT 2:49)
Miller High Lites ------------- 12:43 (BWT 2:56)
No Cinco de Boat -------------12:55 (BWT 2:45)
The Grey Buzzards ------------11:51 (BWT 1:53)
The Hooligans -----------------14:41 (BWT 2:38)
Boston Rowing Club --------- 11:29 (BWT 1:53)
and CONGRATULATIONS to Nancy Astephen from BBRC for winning the coveted Wicked Best-est Chowdah apron of 2018 and Allison Francisco from the AMHS for winning the Wicked Best-est Chili apron of 2018! DELICIOUS!!
Thanks everyone!
Special thanks to Lauri Bissonette for coordinating the food and chef competition. Thanks to James Hayes-Bohanan for the delicious coffee, Sarah Innes for manning the merch tent, and Nancy Carliss for registration. Thank you's also to Susan Athaide, Jim O'Dowd and Alice DeLuca for their patience and diligence as well for timing the race, and and finally, a huge thank you to Stephanie Garde and Greg Ruf for working the docks and getting everyone safely in out out of the boats in such a chaotic atmosphere.
WICKED WHALEBOAT CHALLENGE 2017 RESULTS
Thanks to everyone who participated in the 2017 Wicked Whaleboat Challenge! Between the torrential rain and the 19mph winds, it lived up to it's name. The fact that 12 teams participated in those conditions, is a testament to your indomitable spirit. But enough of my ramblings...the RESULTS by order of launching..(BWT is Bob Water Time, or how long he was in the water)
The Crab-A-Lots------ 12:41 (BWT 2:21)
Kevin's Buzzards-------10:37 (BWT 1:47) THIRD PLACE
AMHS Men's------------9:55 (BWT 2:09) FIRST PLACE
BBRC Pick Me Ups---12:33 (BWT 2:21)
Miller Highlites--------12:10 (BWT 2:43)
AHMS Women's------17:09 (BWT 6:51) DROWNED CAPT'N AWARD
The Oar-E-O's---------12:32 (BWT 2:03)
The Sirines--------------11:03 (BWT 1:39)
Polar Oartex------------10:20 (BWT 1:55) SECOND PLACE
Dirty Oars---------------12:29 (BWT 2:52)
Seal Whisperers---------11:37 (BWT 1:55)
Louie's Buzzards------- 11:54 (BWT 1:58)
also congratulations to Ryan Dwelly for winning the coveted Golden Ladle for the Wicked Best-est Chowdah of 2017 and Lee-Ann Ruf for winning the cherished Golden Spork for the Wicked Best-est Chili of 2017!
Thanks everyone!
