Sea kayak Race Oban – Fastest trouring kayak

Great result on the Oban Sea Kayak Race – After much sweating, swearing and surfing the waves, I managed to come in seventh overall in the race with my trusty Wilderness Systems Tempest 180 pro kayak, and the first recreational \ touring kayak with a time of 2.14-09 for the trip round Kerrera.

Pretty pleased with the results and with beating all the other leading brand fast touring boats, a number or facing boats and a K2. I did manage to get past finisher no 6 in a wave ski at one point on the outside of the island with the rougher water, but fairs fair, he took me on the home run back into Oban bay. Note – must work harder next year.

Not a bad result this year for Mags Duncan in her plastic tempest 165 in the Ness Marathon either, fastest female, fastest sea kayak, beating all the composite boats and smashing the female course record by 12 minutes.  As well as the fastest female in the spey marathon proving the wee sister of the tempest range still has it.

A great race, The tempest fast and stable ? Well it beat a few full on racing boats so I guess it must be, certainly being able to put all the drive into forwards speed in the bouncy water helped. Thanks to WS for making a top boat, and to the organisers for handling a great event.

Good result to Nairn Kayak Clubs Michael Surman too in my loaner plastic tempest 170 with a time of 2-19, beating a large number of composite boats.

Looking forward to next year, hope to see you there.

Or maybe the Dee marathon in October ???????

Steve Mackinnon

Ness Marathon 2011, Wilderness Systems Tempest

Is the Wilderness system Tempest a fast boat, is it stable and can it deal with the rough stuff ? Well I raced a plastic tempest 170 down the river Ness last weekend in the annual Ness marathon 2011 short course  and managed to win, beating the other entrants and coming only 30 second slower than the course record which was set in a wild water racer, so fast yes, good for the rough stuff, also yes it handled the standing waves and rapids superbly, and almost as fast as a racing boat without needing a change in underwear afterwards, though its noted I need to put more effort in next year.  The sea kayak challenge is now set with Wilderness Systems now holding the Ness Marathon sea kayak course record, ideal fitness training for those longer journeys. See you there next year – Steve Mackinnon

Great Glen by sea kayak

Great Glen Canoe trail by Sea kayak, not just any sea kayak though, Wilderness System tempests, fast, stable and well behaved in all conditions. Enough grub to last out the whole trail without having to scrimp and save. Its not just an open canoeists paradise, its well suited to sea kayak journeys as well, no nessie shots though, sorry – maybe next time. Other photos attached, enjoy – Steve Mackinnon

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