SIMPSONN BAY--Stuart Knaggs won the 16-kilometre Surfski paddle from Guana Bay, around Molly-Beday and Hen 'n Chicks then down to Simpson Bay and finish at to Kim Sha Beach.
Knaggs completed the course in 1hour 26 minutes 16 seconds. Juan Pablo Piscione was second with a time of 1:29:58.
The race was a qualifier for local paddlers to the 2020 Pan American Ocean Racing Championships March 28. The competition will be hosted by The St. Maarten Canoe Federation and will run alongside the Soualiga Challenge Reloaded.
In order to qualify for the Pan American race, paddlers had to complete the course in under two hours.
Fifteen paddlers qualified. They were Stuart Knaggs, Juan Pablo Piscione, Lars Klische, Jolyon Ferron, Garth Brewer, Lidwien Weitenberg, Pieter Soons, Sebastian Barrett, Chris Cilliers, Michael Bacon,
Mikevan Galen, Bart Van Der Meijden, Dick Luttekes, Angel Alonso and Sebastiaan Hoendervangers.
“Overall the race was less technical than usual, making it easier and more favourable for the less experienced paddlers,” said Knaggs from the Canoe Federation. “because of the light wind and smaller waves there were less "free rides" to be had, and everyone had to work harder for what they got.”
Entries have also been confirmed from St. Barths, Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guyana and Brazil.
Saturday’s warm up featured Light winds from the east, with small waves made the upwind off the beach at Guana Bay to Molly Beday less demanding.
“Most paddlers made it in under the two hour limit, and for some it highlighted areas of race preparation and training that need to be worked on in the next few weeks before the main event at the end of the month,” said Knaggs.
