By Eric Heinz
The second day of Ocean Festival provided a first for the Marine Raider Boat Challenge, which stole the show in the afternoon on July 22.
Competitors from the U.S. Army Special Forces, Marine Raiders, Marine Reconnaissance, Navy SEAL Team 5 and more. The Marine Reconnaissance team won the first challenge at the San Clemente Ocean Festival. The objective was to have the best time paddling amphibious boats in teams of six, flip the boat at the midway point and then paddle in as fast as possible.
Participants raced on behalf of their respective charities, but from Ocean Festival all donations were given to a World War II veterans’ reunion that took place during the weekend.
All events were made even more dramatic as a south-southwest swell headed for California was making its arrival, putting up 3- to 5-foot surf that made matters difficult for the stand-up paddleboard races toward the end of the day.
There were more events at this year’s Ocean Festival compared to last, but with calm weather and mostly manageable surf, all events were completed. A full list of results will be provided in the July 26-Aug. 1 edition of the San Clemente Times in the Sports & Outdoors section.
Photo recap of Day Two at the San Clemente Ocean Festival (Click individual photos to enlarge).
Photo Gallery
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The Marine Raider Boat Challenge pitted competitors from various U.S. Special Forces against one another in timed races on Sunday, July 22, at the San Clemente Ocean Festival. Photo: Eric Heinz
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Jeanne Trimm, a participant at Ocean Festival for years, brought up the end of the competitors and was greeted with a human tunnel at the finish line on Sunday, July 22. Photo: Eric Heinz
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Sand-sculpting contests brought out artists of the granular medium on Sunday, July 22, at the San Clemente Ocean Festival. Photo: Eric Heinz
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The men's and women's one-mile swims bring out large crowds each year, as they look like little orange dots on a mission from the view of the Pier. Photo: Eric Heinz
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The Marine Raider Boat Challenge pitted competitors from various U.S. Special Forces against one another in timed races on Sunday, July 22, at the San Clemente Ocean Festival. Photo: Eric Heinz
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Waves 3- to 5-feet in size or larger put an extra spin on the stand-up paddle board races at Ocean Festival on Sunday, July 22. Photo: Eric Heinz
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Dane, left, and Tanner Gudauskas of San Clemente get started on the open ocean paddle races on Sunday, July 22. Photo: Eric Heinz
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We all need a little help from our friends, from time to time. A competitor is cheered on by the emcee as she crosses the finish line of the stand-up paddle board races. Photo: Eric Heinz
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Waves 3- to 5-feet in size or larger put an extra spin on the stand-up paddle board races at Ocean Festival on Sunday, July 22. Photo: Eric Heinz
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Waves 3- to 5-feet in size or larger put an extra spin on the stand-up paddle board races at Ocean Festival on Sunday, July 22. Photo: Eric Heinz
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Early on Sunday morning, July 22, the 5K beach run/walk took place on the San Clemente beaches as part of Ocean Festival. Photo: Eric Heinz
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Waves 3- to 5-feet in size or larger put an extra spin on the stand-up paddle board races at Ocean Festival on Sunday, July 22. Photo: Eric Heinz
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The Marine Raider Boat Challenge pitted competitors from various U.S. Special Forces against one another in timed races on Sunday, July 22, at the San Clemente Ocean Festival. Photo: Eric Heinz
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The Groms Rule surf competition took to the rising surf on Sunday, July 22, at the San Clemente Ocean Festival. Photo: Eric Heinz
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Sand-sculpting contests brought out artists of the granular medium on Sunday, July 22, at the San Clemente Ocean Festival. Photo: Eric Heinz
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The Marine Raider Boat Challenge pitted competitors from various U.S. Special Forces against one another in timed races on Sunday, July 22, at the San Clemente Ocean Festival. Photo: Eric Heinz
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The Marine Raider Boat Challenge pitted competitors from various U.S. Special Forces against one another in timed races on Sunday, July 22, at the San Clemente Ocean Festival. Photo: Eric Heinz
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The Marine Raider Boat Challenge pitted competitors from various U.S. Special Forces against one another in timed races on Sunday, July 22, at the San Clemente Ocean Festival. Photo: Eric Heinz
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Mermaid Kelley and King Neptune perused the Ocean Festival on Sunday, July 22, welcoming young children to the festivities. Photo: Eric Heinz
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Waves 3- to 5-feet in size or larger put an extra spin on the stand-up paddle board races at Ocean Festival on Sunday, July 22. Photo: Eric Heinz
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The Marine Raider Boat Challenge pitted competitors from various U.S. Special Forces against one another in timed races on Sunday, July 22, at the San Clemente Ocean Festival. Photo: Eric Heinz
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This little guy couldn't wait to grow up to be big and strong, but he settled for being fast during the run-swim-run relay competitions on Sunday, July 22, at the San Clemente Ocean Festival. Photo: Eric Heinz
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The men's and women's one-mile swims bring out large crowds each year, as they look like little orange dots on a mission from the view of the Pier. Photo: Eric Heinz
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Run-swim-run relay competitions were a family affair on Sunday, July 22, at the San Clemente Ocean Festival. Photo: Eric Heinz
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The Marine Raider Boat Challenge pitted competitors from various U.S. Special Forces against one another in timed races on Sunday, July 22, at the San Clemente Ocean Festival. Photo: Eric Heinz
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Run-swim-run relay competitions were a family affair on Sunday, July 22, at the San Clemente Ocean Festival. Photo: Eric Heinz
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Sand-sculpting contests brought out artists of the granular medium on Sunday, July 22, at the San Clemente Ocean Festival. Photo: Eric Heinz
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There's something obsessive about Ocean Festival's annual Rubber Duck Race that has people eager to grab up the colorful mallards. Photo: Eric Heinz
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Sunglasses provided at the San Clemente Times booth were used by humans and animals, apparently. Photo: Eric Heinz
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Volunteers helped not just with the annual Rubber Duck Race but all throughout the San Clemente Ocean Festival, which took place July 21 and 22. Photo: Eric Heinz
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There's something obsessive about Ocean Festival's annual Rubber Duck Race that has people eager to grab up the colorful mallards. Photo: Eric Heinz
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The men's and women's one-mile swims bring out large crowds each year, as they look like little orange dots on a mission from the view of the Pier. Photo: Eric Heinz
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The Marine Raider Boat Challenge pitted competitors from various U.S. Special Forces against one another in timed races on Sunday, July 22, at the San Clemente Ocean Festival. Photo: Eric Heinz
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Sand-sculpting contests brought out artists of the granular medium on Sunday, July 22, at the San Clemente Ocean Festival. Photo: Eric Heinz
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There's something obsessive about Ocean Festival's annual Rubber Duck Race that has people eager to grab up the colorful mallards. Photo: Eric Heinz
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Waves 3- to 5-feet in size or larger put an extra spin on the stand-up paddle board races at Ocean Festival on Sunday, July 22. Photo: Eric Heinz
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The Marine Raider Boat Challenge pitted competitors from various U.S. Special Forces against one another in timed races on Sunday, July 22, at the San Clemente Ocean Festival. Photo: Eric Heinz
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Tens of thousands of people are estimated to patron the San Clemente Ocean Festival, as seen here on Sunday, July 22. Photo: Eric Heinz
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There's something obsessive about Ocean Festival's annual Rubber Duck Race that has people eager to grab up the colorful mallards. Photo: Eric Heinz
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The Marine Raider Boat Challenge pitted competitors from various U.S. Special Forces against one another in timed races on Sunday, July 22, at the San Clemente Ocean Festival. Photo: Eric Heinz
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