Paddlers Escape San Quentin Under Epic Conditions

PRISON BREAK! 65 paddlers break out of San Quentin Prison in the third annual Marin Brewing Company San Quentin Breakout Paddle Race.(Pictured above the fleet breaks out with San Quentin as a back drop - all photos credited Ron Steinau)

Under azure blue skies and a balmy 75 degree zephyr the paddlers were treated to 6 miles of the best San Francisco Bay has to offer. With a 2 knot flood and ultra-flat water it was made to order racing. The action started with an impromptu surf session. As the racers awaited the starting sequence the 9:30 Golden Gate Ferry provided a bit of pitted action in the green room for a few lucky paddlers. Special thanks to the skipper of the GG Ferry for accommodating the cheering crew as they implored him to put a bit of throttle down. As the engine roared to life so did a 3 foot peeling wave and many of the paddlers hooked up for nice drop and glide. For those that don't know this wave is a regular occurrence as the ferry goes in and out. A 3ft tide sets up the perfect scenario and so the area makes for a fun training ground. Flat water – plenty of turning marks – and yes some inland surfing.(pictured below Cary Fergus on his Outrigger Canoe aka and OC1)

Special thanks to Just Add Water's Stacey Lovegren for helping with both board and people movement. Props out to San Francisco Bay Stand Up Paddleboard Tour Operator Drew Testwuide for providing on the water safety with his boat the Barbary Ghost. Drew even set up a game of SUP lacrosse for après racing fun. Dave Hook was another solid helping hand – volunteers we couldn't do it without you – THANKS. (pictured below Brian Thomas on his Bark Prone Paddleboard on San Francisco Bay)

Remember to support the businesses that support our sport. Title Sponsor Marin Brewing Company once again rolled out the red carpet with a refreshing after paddle adult beverage. With Whole Foods Market once again providing a delicious and healthy lunch it made for one nice day of paddling. Hint Water provided a bottomless bucket of hydration just as they have done all season long. Kind Bar, Mamie's Pies, and Three Twins Ice Cream all chipped in making this one well fed crowd. One more atta boy has to go out to O'Neill Wetsuits and Carve Designs for their partnership across our entire 6 race series.(pictured below the fleet rips off the starting line)

Thanks to everyone who paddled and looking forward to seeing you all again next season!

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COMPLETE RESULTS AT THE BOTTOM.

 Name(s) Craft Age Group Gender Time Rank Div Rank

Carter Johnson Surfski Single 18-49 male 00:48:44.25 1 1

Paul Macintyre Surfski Single Sr. Masters 50+ male 00:52:54.33 2 1

John Dye Surfski Single Sr. Masters 50+ male 00:52:55.12 3 2

Tim Cogliandro OC-1 18-49 male 01:00:01.01 4 1

Justin Banfield SUP 14' 18-49 male 01:02:02.39 5 1

Tom Funke OC-1 18-49 male 01:02:04.09 6 2

Pe'a Laupati OC-1 18-49 male 01:03:48.99 7 3

Keith Mcconnaughay SUP 14' 18-49 male 01:04:51.39 8 2

Grant Mcfadyen SUP 14' 18-49 male 01:06:21.74 9 3

Robert Macias SUP 14' 18-49 male 01:07:55.73 10 4

Seth Besse SUP 14' 18-49 male 01:08:06.00 11 5

Fred Andersen SUP 14' Sr. Masters 50+ male 01:08:14.90 12 1

Geoffrey Sears Sea Kayak Sr. Masters 50+ male 01:08:24.01 13 1

John Alexiou SUP 14' 18-49 male 01:08:55.75 14 6

Austin Allen SUP 14' U18 male 01:09:49.91 15 1

John Walsh SUP 12'6" 18-49 male 01:09:57.36 16 1

Helen Gallagher OC-1 Sr. Masters 50+ female 01:10:08.04 17 1

John Allen SUP 14' Sr. Masters 50+ male 01:10:23.13 18 2

Jamie Willin SUP 14' Sr. Masters 50+ male 01:11:05.43 19 3

Cary Fergus OC-1 Sr. Masters 50+ male 01:11:19.56 20 1

Michael Irete SUP 12'6" 18-49 male 01:11:50.30 21 2

Shawn Callahan SUP 14' 18-49 male 01:12:28.78 22 7

James Robison SUP 14' Sr. Masters 50+ male 01:13:18.57 23 4

Dave Hook SUP 14' Sr. Masters 50+ male 01:13:33.87 24 5

Kalia Alexiou SUP 12'6" U18 female 01:13:56.96 25 1

Shanna Upton SUP 12'6" 18-49 female 01:14:06.07 26 1

Mark Craig Surfski Single 18-49 male 01:14:06.20 27 2

Steve Smith SUP 12'6" Sr. Masters 50+ male 01:14:32.55 28 1

Charlie Banfield Prone Unlimited Sr. Masters 50+ male 01:15:04.22 29 1

Mike Crimmins SUP 14' Sr. Masters 50+ male 01:15:19.20 30 6

Jessica Fewless SUP 12'6" 18-49 female 01:15:57.69 31 2

Brian Thomas Prone 14' Sr. Masters 50+ male 01:16:40.36 32 1

Luke Allen SUP 12'6" U18 male 01:18:23.54 33 1

Andrew Crisp SUP 12'6" 18-49 male 01:18:24.19 34 3

Claire Buchanan SUP 12'6" 18-49 female 01:18:39.08 35 3

Madeleine King SUP 12'6" Sr. Masters 50+ female 01:18:54.41 36 1

Bojan Bernard SUP 12'6" Sr. Masters 50+ female 01:19:23.12 37 2

Riley Hurd SUP 14' 18-49 male 01:19:40.93 38 8

Lori Drourr SUP 12'6" 18-49 female 01:20:12.72 39 4

Jeff Patrick SUP 12'6" Sr. Masters 50+ male 01:20:30.95 40 2

Vincent Huang SUP 14' Sr. Masters 50+ male 01:20:44.12 41 7

Bruce Walters SUP 12'6" Sr. Masters 50+ male 01:20:51.25 42 3

Hilary Andersen SUP 12'6" Sr. Masters 50+ female 01:21:26.13 43 3

Julie Stevens SUP 14' 18-49 female 01:21:26.53 44 1

Geoff Schwarten SUP 14' 18-49 male 01:21:55.00 45 9

Bruce Ahlbom SUP 14' Sr. Masters 50+ male 01:21:55.88 46 8

Van Halbach SUP 14' Sr. Masters 50+ male 01:22:30.11 47 9

Tommy Durkin SUP 12'6" 18-49 male 01:22:40.15 48 4

Tom Sher SUP 14' Sr. Masters 50+ male 01:22:52.74 49 10

Janet Walp SUP 12'6" Sr. Masters 50+ female 01:23:25.74 50 4

Steven Juliani SUP 14' Sr. Masters 50+ male 01:25:10.96 51 11

Scott Amos SUP 14' 18-49 male 01:26:07.18 52 10

Frank Perrott SUP Under 12'6" Sr. Masters 50+ male 01:28:42.26 53 1

Cathy Huang SUP 12'6" Sr. Masters 50+ female 01:30:50.96 54 5

Karen Jeffrey SUP 12'6" 18-49 female 01:32:21.67 55 5

Charlie Dresow SUP 14' 18-49 male 01:34:40.20 56 11

Jack Schmitz SUP 14' Sr. Masters 50+ male 01:37:30.61 57 12

Bill Cheney SUP Under 12'6" 18-49 male 02:00:00.00 58 1