CFCA Members Take on the 2025 Blackburn Challenge

Every July, the waters off Cape Ann become the proving ground for one of the most iconic human-powered races in New England—the Blackburn Challenge. This 20+ mile open-water circumnavigation honors the memory of doryman Howard Blackburn, who famously rowed himself to safety through a blizzard in 1883 after losing his gloves—and most of his fingers. It’s a test of endurance, heart, and pure Gloucester grit.

This year’s conditions were perfect—calm seas, light wind, and sunshine that made the course a little more forgiving (but no less epic). And once again, CrossFit Cape Ann was proudly represented on the water and on shore.

Andrew, Karen, and Kara are all smiles after finishing the “Boston Marathon” of the open water racing world

A handful of CFCA athletes took on the challenge, continuing a long-standing tradition of members participating in a wide range of vessels. Among this year’s racers:

• Andrew Metz, racing with Bernie Romanowski, took 1st place in the two-person surfski division with an impressive push around the Cape.

• Donna Furse rowed as part of a crew in a fixed-seat six-oared gig boat, which also brought home a 1st place finish in their division.

• Kara Gallagher and OG CFCA’er Karen Conant teamed up in an outrigger canoe, taking on the course with steady focus, power, and plenty of heart.

  
  

For Donna, CrossFit has played a direct role in enhancing her performance as a rower:

“I’m a competitive fixed-seat rower, and as a middle-aged woman, I decided to join CrossFit to help me with strength and power development, which directly translates to a more powerful stroke in the boat. CrossFit has helped me with increased mental toughness, and it has also given me more variety and motivation in my everyday workouts.”

The benefits go beyond physical strength. As Andrew put it:

"It’s not just a muscle thing. Yes, it helps make you physically stronger. But it also helps train your mental game - the practice of pushing to a limit, and beyond it, whatever it is...sustaining, grinding through - whether it’s Murph or Blackburn or making it out of Coach Jill’s 8:02 AM class with a shred of your ego intact."

But the power of the CFCA community wasn’t just in the boats.

As always, our members showed up in full force to cheer on the racers—lining the shore, posting up on the cut bridge, and even paddling alongside to offer encouragement as racers rounded the final stretch. Whether ringing cowbells, snapping photos, or shouting from kayaks, the CFCA spirit was loud, proud, and deeply appreciated.

Thinking about doing it next year? All you need is a little curiosity, a willingness to train, and a whole lot of heart. Get on the water. And who knows? You might be writing your own Blackburn story next July.

The Blackburn Challenge is more than a race—it’s a celebration of endurance, tradition, and community. And for us, it’s a chance to live out what CFCA stands for: showing up, pushing hard, and lifting each other up.