Thomas Michael O'Shaughnessy, Jr.

Thomas Michael O'Shaughnessy, Jr. (born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina on October 17, 1956) is a member of the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame,^[1] a Paddleboarder/Surfer, Adventurer, Real Estate^[2] and Philanthropist. He is currently living in Ponce Inlet, Florida

UCF Athletics Hall of Fame

A two-sport athlete for the University of Central Florida Fighting Knights in baseball and football, Michael was a defensive lineman for the University of Central Florida|UCF football team during the program’s first two seasons of play in 1979 and 1980. As a defensive end on Don Jonas’ inaugural football team, O’Shaughnessy, a Winter Park, Florida|Winter Park native, was one of the top defensive players the Knights fielded. He established a still standing school-record for sacks in a game with five against Emory & Henry University|Henry during that 1979 season.^[3]

Leading his team both seasons with 10 sacks in 1979 and 12 sacks in 1980 season placed him among UCF’s all-time best with 22 career sacks. O'Shaughnessy shows a long and continued role serving UCF Athletics. He was an Assistant Offense line coach for Football in 1981, the Founder and Founding President of UCF Letterman's K Club, the Knights Booster Board of Directors, and UCF side line radio reporter for UCF football games from 1990 through 1994. Michael was a member of the 1979 UCF Baseball team, UCF's first championship baseball team as part of the Sunshine State Conference.

Inducted into the UCF's Hall of Fame on April 16, 2010.^[1][4][5]

Paddleboarder/Surfer

• Credited with introducing the Unlimited sport of paddleboarding to the East Coast and Florida in 1997. Until then, the sport existed in the 10’6 class exclusive only to Life Guards races and short sprint races at surf contests in the 1960s.

• Created the Key West Classic – 1998 - The Original East Coast Paddleboard Championships ~ The East Coast’s longest continuing annual paddleboard race.

• Established the Florida State Paddleboard Championships in 1998 as part of the annual Easter Surfing Festival in Cocoa Beach in partnership with surfing legend Dick Catri. First participants included Tim Ritter, as well as Derek Levy and Mark Levy of the Southern California Paddleboard Club. Notable racers since include World Champion Ryan Butcher from South Africa 2003 and 8 time Molokai Winner, Jamie Mitchell from Australia 2007.

• Created the first of many “Full Moon” paddles from Cuba to the USA, in 2000, in partnership with Quicksilver. Brought what was at that time some of best paddlers in the sport together to attempt a paddle to Cuba from Key West against the Gulf Stream. Notables included World Champion Tim Gair, Gene Rink, Guy Pere, Mike Takahashi, Dale Hope and The Hennessey Expedition Team through Tim Ritter & JP Cruz. After paddling for 22 plus hours in relay with three teams, the expedition was called, in great protest, by the boat captains due to safety and fuel concerns. Derek Levy, Mike Lee and Jeff Horn, all of the Southern California Paddleboard Club and O’Shaughnessy got back on their boards and paddled back 105 miles after only a day and half of rest, they established a Guinness World Record by being the first and fastest to cross what is known as the “Florida Straits,” from Havana Harbor to the Southern-most buoy of the United States in Key West. The time of 19 hours and 19 minutes was set, which is still the standing Guinness World Record for the fastest crossing of the Florida Straits. This paddle was considered a revival of the classic Ultra Paddles.^[6]

• Only person to paddle from Cuba to USA three separate times.

• Executive Produced “BIG BLUE RIVER” a made-for- television documentary film. This was the first ever paddleboard film made which was directed by his wife Leslie (“Leslie Rules”) Windram O’Shaughnessy. A classic tale of the first Cuba to USA adventure, capturing the sport as it was transforming from the underground to the mainstream.

• In 2001, an O’Shaughnessy lead team went back to conquer the BIG BLUE RIVER, paddling 112 miles in relay, escorted by Hawaiian Tropic’s 80-foot sailing yacht “The Princess Sterling.” That team consisted of all-Florida paddlers; Rob Delaune and Craig Snell of Key West and Jim McCrady of Fort Lauderdale. At that time, this was considered the longest relay of its kind in the sport of paddle boarding. Time on this paddle was 20 hours and 2 minutes.

• Organized the Millennium Woman Paddle in conjunction with a four- team relay from Cuba known as the “Full Moon Cuba Paddle.” This included an International team from England with David Smart, Jason DeGroot, Jimmy McKenzie and Monty Young; The Leslie Rules Team from Clearwater Beach with JP Atherholt, Skip Maxwell, John Sedely and Jack Hunsucker ; The Millennium Woman Team of Aline Patterson, Hayley Bateup (Australia), Nikki Mocke (South Africa) and Jenna Worlock (South Africa); and the Hurricane Team of Brian Bencie (Delray Beach), Jay Mays (Ormond Beach), Ryan Butcher (South Africa) and O’Shaughnessy. This paddle was done in 8–14 foot, wind-swept seas. GPS readings counted 142 miles with a rum-line distance of 112. The International/English Team did not finish.^[7]

• Founder of the Key West Classic annual paddleboard race held annually around Key West.
• Created and maintains the Annual EAST COAST PADDLEBOARD CHAMPIONSHIPS in Key West - now Ponce Inlet, Florida - as of 2010, in its 13th year.
• Created the Trinity Paddle - English Channel, Loch Ness and Irish Sea - paddling 3 bodies of water in nine days, 2006.
• Holds the Guinness World Record on the English Channel of 5:08 (Five Hours and Eight Minutes), 2006.^[8]
• Holds the Unofficial World Record on Loch Ness of 5:47 (Five Hours and Forty Seven Minutes), 2006. (3 AM start - 40 degree water 40 degree air temp)
• Holds the Unofficial World Record on the Irish Sea from Fair Head Ballycastle to The Mull of Kintrye, Scotland in 2:39 (Two Hours and Thirty Nine Minutes), eclipsing the old record by over 3 ½ hours set by Hennessey Expedition Team, 2006.
• Created Olde Daytona Beach Ocean Festival, 2005.^[9]
• Created the “Poor Man’s Catalina” – a first ever in the sport, paddling solo no escort from

Abalone Cove – Palos Verdes to White’s Beach - Catalina (22 miles) and back the next day from Abalone to Torrance Beach (28 miles), 2001.

• Cape Canaveral Paddle - paddled 28 miles from Playlinda Beach to Cocoa Beach - Pre 9/11.
• Paddled Alcatraz / San Francisco Bay, 2000.
• Introduced the first Unlimited paddleboard to Ireland, 1998.
• Introduced paddle boarding to the Cuban media June, 2000 Marina Hemingway, Cuba^[10]
• Created and Designed & Maintained www.paddleboards.com for ten years, which later merged with BARKOCEAN to form www.paddleboard.com.
• Established Leslie Rules “One Hundred Fools” Paddling Club and The Leslie Rules Label, 1998.
• First person from Florida to paddle in the Catalina Classic, 1998 & 1999.
• Created The Daytona Beach Surf and Paddle Club, 1998.
• Six time Overall Winner of the Florida State Paddleboard Championships.^[11]
• Four time Overall Winner of East Coast Paddleboard Championships.

Notable Finishes:

• 2000 Velzy - Stevens Pier- to - Pier Paddleboard Race 1st - 40 + Division.
• 2000 US Paddle Board Championships 4th - 40 + Division and 5th Overall.
• 1999 US Paddleboard Championships 3rd - 40+ Division and 7th Overall.
• As of 2008 participated in over 53 paddleboard races, taking 1st in all categories 30 times, 7 times Second Place, 4 Third Places and 3 Fourth Place finishes.
• Creator of the East Coast and Florida State Paddleboard perpetual Trophies.
• Founder of East Coast Paddleboard Association, not for profit 501C3.

References