WATERMAN
CHALLENGE

The Waterman Challenge began in New York City! 

Click  HERE (THE JOURNEY page) to see photos of the paddle!

Kevin with his crew, family and friends in Montauk, New York.

Kevin arrived in Montauk on June 30, 2007.

To see all the images from the Waterman Challenge,  click here.

After 44 hours of paddling 175 miles, Kevin arrives back in Newport to his daughter (above), family and friends on July 1, 2007! Congratulations, Kevin! Check out all the photographs from the 4 day paddle by clicking HERE!

Harry and Kevin Horgan with Waterman Challenge supporters at The Waterman Challenge Reception in New York City on June 27, 2007.

To see all the photographs from the Reception,  click here.

THE WATERMAN CHALLENGE UPDATES...

July 2, 2007

WATERMAN CHALLENGE UPDATE…

Kevin Horgan has successfully completed the 175-mile paddle!  Kevin arrived in Newport at 7:40pm after paddling for 14 hours, with a cheering crowd of family and friends greeting him at the shoreline.  Chuck, who followed Kevin the entire way on the chase boat said, "Kevin is an animal.  He kept going, going and going."  Kevin averaged 3.7 mph even with the wind in his face, but, luckily the tide flowed with Kevin. 

Kevin's brother, Harry, proudly said, "Kevin was strong! A true Waterman!!"

The Newport Daily News published an article about Kevin on Saturday.  The article can be found on the  press page!

Congratulations to Kevin!

Congratulations and thank you to EVERYONE who has supported Kevin and The Waterman Challenge!

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July 1, 2007

At 9:30 am, after a breakfast of a couple of bowls of cereal, blueberries and a bagel, Kevin Horgan launched from the Montauk lighthouse in New York. The wind is out of the northeast blowing at 10 to 15 mph. The wind is in Kevin's face but the tide is flowing with Kevin.  Kevin has about 35 miles of paddling until he arrives at his final goal of Newport, Rhode Island.  Kevin has almost completed the 175-mile stand-up paddle.  This will mark a world record for the longest stand-up paddle ever!!

Last night Chuck (one of Kevin's "pit crew" members on the chase boat) hosted a party for Kevin at his home in Montauk. Chuck had the hot tub ready for Kevin! Kevin was stiff and tired so the hot tub was just what Kevin needed.  As per Kevin's food request, lobster and burgers were served. Chuck and his family and friends delivered a  wonderful reception and delicious meal. Nikki (Kevin's wife), Kenna (Kevin's daughter), Susie (Kevin's sister-in-law), Eli (Kevin's nephew) and Harry Horgan (Kevin's brother) drove from New York City to Montauk to see Kevin and congratulate him on his success!

This morning Bo, who is on Kevin's chase boat, asked Kevin how he was feeling.  Kevin replied "I feel OK", and Bo quickly replied, "It has gown each day from 'excellent' to 'great' to good' and now 'ok', I'm glad its the last day!" 

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June 30, 2007

Kevin Horgan arrived in Shinnecock, New York at 11:22pm on Friday, June 29, 2007 after a 12 hour and 32 minute paddle from Fire Island! Congratulations!!!

Chuck and Bo have been following Kevin in the safety boat since the paddle began on June 27th in New York City.  Kevin said, "My pit crew is the best!  Chuck is the driver and Bo Bo is the deli man!"

At 9:30am today (Saturday, June 30th), Kevin began paddling again. Today's goal is to reach Montauk, New York.  The winds are currently heading north at 5-10 mph with the wind in Kevin's face.  Kevin reported to his brother, Harry, that he is "a bit stiff but overall feeling good.  The pit crew is doing well.  Their expert knowledge of the water has enabled them to navigate the waters."

Please check the website often for all the latest news and photographs!

Thank you!!

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June 28, 2007

Dear Waterman Challenge Supporters, Friends and Fellow Watermen,

Thank you for your support of The Waterman Challenge!  The Waterman Challenge is officially underway!  The Waterman Challenge Pre-Paddle Reception was a successful, wonderful and fun event in New York City on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at Steamers Landing on the Hudson overlooking the magnificent Statue of Liberty.  The photographs from the Pre-Paddle Reception can be viewed on the RECEPTION page (click here to see the reception page). 

Thank you to everyone who attended the reception. We were thrilled that one hundred people attended this wonderful event which included appetizers, beverages (sponsored by Diageo), an opportunity to learn more about The Waterman Challenge and everyone was able to meet Kevin Horgan who even brought his special board which he will paddle on for guests to see and touch.  Thank you to everyone who purchased a specially designed Waterman Challenge t-shirt--wear it with pride and remember what a wonderful cause you are supporting!  Special appreciation goes toward John Sullivan of Merrill Lynch in New York City for reserving and organizing The Waterman Challenge reception  at Steamers Landing. 

The night before Kevin's paddle, his family and friends prepared his supplies for the voyage ahead.  The supplies included first aid products (on Tuesday, Kevin cut his finger which required a few stitches), "hydromedary cloudliners" filled with pediatric electrolyte fluid,  oranges, candy bars (sugar for energy), energy bars, sandwiches, and Kevin's favorite snack for energy--Rice Krispie treats!  Everything was set to go….we just were all hoping for good weather! 

The sun was shining and the water was calm on the morning of Thursday, June 28, 2007.  At 10:00am, Kevin began his paddle at the Manhattan Sailing Club in New York City! It was an exciting and wonderful time for the spectators and an emotional, stressful and exciting time for Kevin who was ready to embark upon a 175-mile adventure on a stand-up paddle which would be a world record for the longest stand-up paddle ever! 

Nikki (Kevin's wife), Harry (Kevin's brother), Susie (Kevin's sister-in-law), Eli (Kevin's nephew), Cindy (Kevin's sister), Tracy and several tourists and bystanders watched Kevin as he leaped onto his board and start paddling away followed by a small chase boat with two boat captains.  Tourists snapped photos of Kevin as he paddled by--an interesting and unique site indeed for everyone who watched the stand-up paddle.  We got worried when two NY coast guard boats approached Kevin about 1 1/2 miles into the mission…but…after speaking with the boat captains and Kevin, the coast guard officials were VERY impressed and enthusiastically asked if there was anything they could do to help.   

Harry called the chase boat often throughout the day to keep updated on the progress of the paddle.  The paddle went well throughout the day with paddling speeds even reaching up to 5 mph (a much faster speed than expected).  At 5:00pm, Kevin reached Jones Beach in New York.  Some bad weather approached during the evening, but, Kevin stayed strong and continued towards his goal of reaching Fire Island.  At 10:30pm, Kevin called with the great news that he had successfully reached Fire Island (52 miles of paddling)!  Congratulations to Kevin on completing the first leg of the challenge!  Please keep Kevin in your thoughts as he will continue to paddle until he reaches Newport, Rhode Island (most likely in 2-3 more days). 

The Waterman Challenge website will be updated frequently with news and photographs from the paddle.  Don't miss any of the updates--check THE JOURNEY page often for the lastest photographs and news!

Thank you for your support of The Waterman Challenge.  Please remember to check the Waterman Challenge website often for all the latest news and photographs.

Thank you.

Reporting live from New York City…

Harry                                                     Tracy

Harry Horgan                                     Tracy Towle

CEO and Co-Founder                         Director of Marketing, PR and Communications

WATERMAN CHALLENGE STORY....

44 and Then There’s Shore

by: Monica "Nikki" Horgan (Kevin's Wife)

July 2, 2007

This is the short story about a long journey. The official headline would read, “Kevin Horgan, 42 Year-Old Hanalei Man, Paddles 175 Miles in a Cumulative 44 Hours for Big Brother’s Charity.” This is true. And it is fantastic. But the question on everyone’s mind is how? Why?

I am married to the man who made the journey and I don’t think I can tell you why he did it. And if I can’t tell you then probably he can’t either. That’s sort of the point about passionate behavior. No one really understands it. It bites like a beast and doesn’t let go. It creates craving and frustration and it breaks your heart when left unfulfilled. But oh the feeling. The sweet satisfaction of completion if you are able to quench it. And that’s the thing about Kevin that is really worth talking about. He doesn’t stop unfulfilled. So many people do. Kevin does not. He replenishes his cravings by satisfying them. I have never met anyone like him. The question is never, Can I? It is simply, when do We Start?

I was asked all along this crazy voyage if I was worried. The answer is no. Because I knew that the only real worry was if Kevin did NOT fulfill this hunger. And I knew that that was not an option. He simply would not stop, no matter what until he reached the goal. Normally I would be worried that he would deplete himself so badly that his body would simply stop. But he had the best support team on the planet with Chuck Weimar and Bobo Bazogé and later Kevin Maguire, the Montauk fishermen who followed him every paddle of the way in a 21-foot Mako graciously lent by Debbie Kuntz , another Montauk/Kauai surfer friend. The boat was chock full of deli sandwiches and Pedialyte, Rice Krispy Treats, Advil, Red Bull, Cliff Bars, water,  Yodels, fruit, and some good old fashioned Montauk boys with lots of warmth and maybe a couple dirty jokes.

To be honest I was more worried about his father, Paddy, who may not have slept well the past week or so until last night because Kevin is home and fine and satiated….until the hunger creeps in and we all get ready again to follow him on his next passionate journey. And we will, oh we will grumble and so forth, but we will follow him because Kevin does something that is inspiring. He faces his fears, pushes through all boundaries, doesn’t take NO for an answer, quenches his thirst and does what not enough people do. He lives.

All this is to say that no one knows why Kevin got on a surfboard on Thursday around the Statue of Liberty at about 10am and started paddling until he reached Newport, RI, some 175 miles North of Manhattan.

Yes, oh yes  there was Shake-A-Leg Miami. In a valiant push, Kevin, Harry and countless others raised over $60,000 for Shake-a-leg Miami. Not bad considering the fact they only started the fundraising about 4 weeks ago.

Here is the best detailed account I can give on what went down the past 4 days in the Atlantic….

Conditions were just about perfect when they set out on Thursday morning. This was no small miracle as the night before, Manhattan was plunged in black clouds, pouring rain and thunder and lightening. There were brown outs all up and down the island from the flash flood rains. It was hot, hotter than I can tell you in words. But Thursday dawned crisp, clear and cool. The winds were Southwest, and the current was raging in the right direction.

Kev took off with Bobo and Chuck on the boat and he was flying. We were running alongside him on the Battery Park Esplanade and literally couldn’t keep up. They were doing about 5 miles per hour + at the time which was way better than expected. The only problem in that first hour was the Coast Guard. Two boats sped after him and pulled him over, wanting to know what the Heck they were doing. When they told them, they asked, “Why?” But they let him go with well wishes and heads shaking.

The conditions cooperated beautifully for the first ten hours. Suddenly, a massive black cloud appeared out of nowhere bringing side ways 30-knot winds, thunder, lightening and choppy waters. Kevin was paddling hard, his body sideways. The fishermen, donning their water gear, were un-phased, Bobo lighting up a cigarette and Chuck shouting over the weather to Kevin, “So Kev, what’s Harry doin’ t’night?” Thankfully the summer storm blew through in about 30 minutes.

They reached Fire Island that night after 12 hours of paddling. The inlet was black dark and Kevin equated navigating like that to doing a maze blindfolded. Apparently North Eastern fisherman read Braille pretty good because the made their way without incident. As they came in late there were no cars or taxis, he saw a McDonalds and started dreaming of a Big Mac. They reached the Golden Arches and found the door locked but the drive-in was open. Kev still had his headlamp on and lit, along with two pink glow sticks on his sides (a coincidence but no doubt, helpful on Fire Island), no shirt, no shoes, and wearing a towel and his heart rate monitor chest strap. He queued up in the drive thru line, cars in front and behind, and walked right up to the window. Wouldn’t you know it, they wouldn’t help him. They asked the lady behind them to order for them, who obliged (out of fear?) but the kid working the drive thru asked “Is this for the guy in the towel?” and they wouldn’t give him the food!

He traded in his Big Mac craving for Taco Bell, who would help him.

They stayed that night at Chuck’s girlfriend, Jean’s place. She set them up nicely and they slept well that night. The next day they got up, did their calculations, restocked supplies and headed out at about 11am. They waited for a good current and wind but it didn’t come. So they set out anyway with both against him.

Day 2 was not as dreamy as the first. Another 12 hours that day but it should have taken 8. Around 3 in the afternoon, Kevin looked over and spotted a fin. Having commercial fishermen with you is great for many reasons. They can tell you on site what fish it is. They calmly said not to worry as the shark was a “Basking Shark” with no teeth. But then they took off! To go see it! Leaving Kevin there, unconvinced as to the innocuousness of this 20-foot long plankton eater. Yes, it was 20 feet long. The boat was only 12 inches longer. As it turns out, that thing really got that big eating only plankton. It left Kevin alone.

They reached Shinnecock late that night. Lovely Jean had secured them a place for the night right inside the inlet. Kevin said, “Great hotel, horrible inlet.” Getting inside the inlet was one of the most challenging parts of the journey. They were on that 21-footer and battling overhead waves. That was not enough. The waves were breaking in the middle and the backwash was slapping into the next wave in a plume of white water. Again, great to have those damn fishermen with you who navigated like it was a lake. Although Chuck admitted to me the next day that he was nervous then. I’m glad he didn’t tell anyone at the time.

When I spoke to Kev after the first day, he sounded perfect. Full of adrenaline, confidence and pride. After day 2, he said, “Today sucked.” But a good night sleep and a hot breakfast and he had it back. Day 3 was better.

The third day the weather was glorious and being half way there is a damn good feeling. Chuck took the day off from captaining that day. Bobo continued his unwavering support on the boat and another Montauk fisherman, Kevin Maguire, took over skippering. As it turns out, Chuck ended up spending the whole day prepping for the massive feast and fanfare for Kevin’s arrival into Montauk, the crew’s hometown.

They left Shinnecock at around 9:30 Saturday morning. Light offshore side winds and a decent current helped out. Unlike Hawaii conditions, which almost always produce a little swell for riding, the Atlantic gave Kev almost no waves, which is inconvenient on a 16-foot surfboard. But Day 3 he got  to ride a few. Which was great for the confidence and motivation.

Out of unknown territory and into the waters of the Hamptons and eventually, Montauk, the boys got a homecoming buzz. The going is not as hard when there are familiar faces on the other end. Plus, Kenna (Kev’s little girl), myself (the wife), Harry, Suzy and Eli (their son) were in an SUV headed to Montauk to meet them too.

Chuck called Kevin midway through the day and asked what he wanted for dinner that night.

“Cheeseburgers, lobster and a South West wind,” said Kevin.

He got all three.

Kevin arrived early thanks to the SW wind, at Chuck’s home in Montauk to a full hot tub, warm reception from a house full of surfer fishermen friends, and more cheeseburgers and lobsters than any of us could count or recall. We made a valiant effort to eat them all. I am from California and don’t know my way around a lobster, but let me tell you, watching a hungry crew of North Easterners dig in to those crustaceans was almost poetic. Watching my sister-in-law, Susie, as she cracked, shucked, and ripped her way through that angry red shell made me think I better never meet her in a dark alley. The carnage was mountainous. I will never forget that pile of rubbish.

Kev slept with his family that night. He was well. He slept great. He ate a big breakfast and he filled up all his camel bags of potions and filled up his red bag with his needed supplies….left to waves, goodbyes, and well wishes…without the bag of stuff. We got the call about 20 minutes later…can someone please bring the red bag full of his supplies to the lighthouse, Chuck will be waiting.

I drove like Hell with the bag 7.5 miles to the lighthouse at the tip of Montauk and there was Chuck, standing on the side of the road, dripping wet in his polo shirt and shorts. He had swum from the boat to the shore to collect the bag. In a frenzy, I grabbed and drove his son Charley’s truck and in the back was a surfboard, which Chuck took and paddled back out to the boat with the red bag. When I got back to the house Charley was sun screening up on his way out for a surf, “I just need my board out of the back of the truck Nik,” he said. Ooops.

And with that, Kevin paddled away from Long Island and turned toward Rhode Island. Kevin says the official name for Long Island is now, Really Really Really Long Island.

Day four. 37 miles to go. And his hometown of Newport waiting, he headed out . Conditions not optimal but a good tide. If only the wind was behind him, but instead it was coming across the board. Kevin had Block Island in his sites. And he had it in his sites. And on and on. He had Block Island in his sites for about 7 hours. He says he never wants to see Block Island again.

Harry, Susie, Eli, Kenna and myself took a 10-seater charter plane to Newport. We left at 4:00pm and circled Kevin at about 1000 feet by 4:20. He was waving his paddle in the air as we circled. I mistakenly thought it would be good for his morale. He later said, “Seeing you guys and knowing it was taking you 20 minutes what was taking me 10 hours was a little discouraging.” But he pushed on.

Meanwhile back on the home front, the Horgans were mobilizing the troupes. The Horgans go back about 5 generations, Irish Catholic, in Newport. Their name is on buildings in town. They know a few people. We could never call exactly when they would get in, not even in the last few hours. So Kevin’s mother, Mary, managed to get about 40 people on the shore with about 20 minutes notice. IN addition, 3 additional boats met Kev out in the water. One had his brother, Patrick, his sister, Cindy, his nephews, Chris and Andy, and Chris’s buddies Oliver and Alex (who cam to see us on Kauai two years ago). Another boat had hometown buddies, Walter Mey, Ray Mey and Jeff Thompson. The fourth boat had Joe Jansen, another Newport friend. 

The kids made a sign, everyone had on their Waterman Challenge tee shirts and we brought Kenna’s Daddy in at 7:45 P.M. at Brenton Point.

I met him in the water with his one request, an ice-cold Corona. The first drink he has had since Thanksgiving last year. Funny, he only had one.

Last night we had another feast and a lot of toasting, some stories and a ton of love to spread to our Kevin, and the backbones, the men in the boat, Chuck, Bobo, and Kevin.

And now Kevin is resting. Sort of. He is asleep on his Dad’s white chair in front of me while I type. Sunglasses on, swollen red feet up on the ottoman, unread newspaper in his lap. He is twitching and jerking and mumbling. I can’t quite make out what he is saying but it sounds  like, “Must…paddle…to…Ireland…”

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