THE SA Canoe Marathon Championship will paddle off at St Francis Bay from June 15 to 17 – the biggest paddling event in the town’s history.
Over 300 paddlers will compete in a tactical race through the canals and under the narrow bridges.
Each lap is 4.2km: the men do between 18km and 30km, depending on their age category, while the ladies and junior contestants (u.14, u.16 and u.18) will have to paddle between 13km and 25km and 13km and 22km respectively.
There will also be shorter races for younger contestants (u.8, u.10 and u.12).
The 4.2km course loop is equally balanced in terms of tidal push and pull. The degree of magnitude is the only variable depending on the time of the day or how close the race starts to the midday low tide or the later afternoon high tide.
Apart from the paddling, there will be a 100m portage run at the river mouth after each lap, except for the first lap.
This is probably the best spectator spot, especially to watch paddlers struggling with the dreaded dead-leg.
There will furthermore be a ferry to take spectators across the water should they want a close-up of paddlers clambering in and out of their boats.
There are also numerous vantage points around the court.
There will be a food court at the event site right next to the finish line.
Enter online at www.eccu.co.za.
