By Kyle Terwilliger
Variety News Staff

SATURDAY proved to be a record day as the OC1/OC2 Relay Race saw a new course record set. The previous record was 2:01:06 and a Stingray OC2 crewed by Brian Quichocho, Rick Appleton, Tom Strohmeyer and Colin Smith not only set the new course record but was the first team to finish the event in less than two hours. With an overall time of 1:54:30 the team would beat the old record by 0:06:36.
This year the race would play in reverse due to the near hit of Typhoon Kong-Rey. Quichocho and Appleton would go in the first leg of the race and would have to go against not only the winds but also the current. Something that, in past races, was always the case on the return trip.
This would give Tom Strohmeyer and Colin Smith the ability to ride the current and the wind on their way to the record. Quichocho and Appleton would finish the first leg which was from Umatac Bay and would run north along the coast past Ceti and Cella Bays, around Faci Point, inside Anae Island to the change point on Nimitz Beach in Agat in 1:01:45.
Each leg is a six mile trek and upon the switch between riders Strohmeyer and Smith would finish the six miles in just under 54 minutes giving the team not only the win but the record as well.
Carl Aguon and Scottie Ishizu on a Polaris OC1 would come in second with a time of 2:06:24, followed by another OC2 crew of Brad Villacrusis, Sean Pangelinan and JoeJohn Mantanona. Four of the first six canoes were in fact OC2’s. Catia Garel and Shuka Landin would win the Mixed OC1 heat with a time of 2:25:07.
Sara Callahan and Leilani Appleton would take first in the Women’s heat with a time of 2:46:26. Veteran Guam OC1 paddlers Joe Perez and Dick Soriano easily captured the Masters OC1 M/M in 2:20:09. This event proved to be a great opener to the OC1 offshore season.
The next event will be the Cocos Challenge on Sunday April 15th and will include a ‘short’ course from the Malesso Pier to Cocos Island and back (4 miles) and a ‘long’ course around Cocos Island, starting and finishing at the Pier.
The back side of Cocos is known for some of the best down-swell surf runs on Guam and is a test of paddlers’ strength, endurance and paddling skills.
RESULTS:
1. Quichocho/Appleton/Strohmeyer/Smith; 1st M/M OC2 1:54:30
2. Aguon/Ishizu; 1st M/M OC1; 2:06:24
3. Villacrusis/Pangelinan/Mantanona; 2nd M/M OC2; 2:12:28
4. Eckert/Cruz/Datu/Kakas; 1st W/W OC2; 2:18:20
5. Perez/Soriano; 1st master M/M OC1; 2:20:09
6. Calvo/Gayle/Cerizo/Gawell; 2nd W/W OC2; 2:21:59
7. Garel/Landin; 1st Mixed OC1; 2:25:07
8. Callahan/Appleton; 1st W/W OC1; 2:46:26
9. Schroeder/Landin; 2nd M/M OC1; 2:57:13