Vancouver Island Circumnavigation Record Attempt Ends

Nick Castro has ended his attempt to set a new speed record for kayaking around Vancouver Island after three days due to tendonitis. He began his attempt last Sunday, but on day 2 his left forearm began swelling up. He ended the paddle after suffering more pain on day 3.
He writes on his website, "This is my nightmare… I have developed a good case of Tendinitis on my left forearm. Tendinitis is the inflammation of a tendon due to overuse of the tendon in question. I guess we know where the overuse came from."
He told the Victoria Times-Colonist that there was little point in continuing as he had no chance of breaking the record with his injury. "Even in perfect health, it's hard to break a record," he said. Once his arm is healed, he plans to have another attempt at the record.
His website also has his daily log, and some nice slideshows from his attempt.
While Nick's attempt is over for the time being, Joe O'Blenis continues his prep for his attempt the break the record this September.
The record is 17 days, 4 hours and 49 minutes, held by Sean Morley.

Local TV Profiles Local Kayaker

Local TV station CHEK 6 ran a story tonight on Nick Castro as he prepares for his attempt to break the record for circumnavigating Vancouver Island starting this weekend.
The station doesn't provide an embed for the clip, but they do have a link here to the whole program.
(Don't worry -- you don't have to watch the whole show. Nick's segment is the first one, right after the intro.)

Nick Castro Gets Ready For His Vancouver Island Record Attempt

Local kayaker Nick Castro is getting ready for his attempt to break the record for circumnavigating Vancouver Island later this month. He plans to set off from Port Hardy within the next two weeks, depending on the weather. He told the Victoria Times-Colonist this week, "The only spot on the Island that will stop you dead in your tracks for up to four or five days is Cape Scott. At Cape Scott and the Brooks Peninsula, if the weather's not good, it's just not going to happen."
Nick's paddle is also intended as a fundraiser for the Georgia Strait Alliance.
He hopes to paddle about 80km a day. The current record, set last fall by Sean Morley, is 17 days, four hours and 49 minutes. You can follow Nick's progress here.

And Then There Were Two....

Joe O'Blenis may have been the first to announce his plans to attempt to break the record for circumnavigating Vancouver Island by kayak this year, but he isn't the last. In September, Joe will attempt to recapture the record he set in 2007 (and broken last year by Sean Morely), but he'll have some competition from Victoria resident Nick Castro who's starting his attempt on June 13.
You can follow Nick's progress here, and Joe's progress here.
The current record for the 1,120 km journey is 17 days, 4 hours and 49 minutes.