A paddler crosses Great Bay. The local qualifier for the Pan American Ocean Paddle Race Championship is set for Sunday morning. (Photo by Tim van Dijk | TMedia.nu.)
GUANA BAY –The Pan American Ocean Paddle Race Championship qualifier will be Sunday starting at Guana Bay. The 16-kilometre surfski paddle will go from Guana Bay, around Molly-Beday, Hen 'n Chicks and back to Kim Sha.
Paddlers must complete the course in two hours or less to qualify to race in the Soualiga Challenge Reloaded which this year also acts as the Pan American Ocean Paddle Race Championship. The Pan American Championship will be a 24-kilometre race from Isle Fourche, St. Barths to Simpson Bay.
Already 17 local paddlers have signed up for the qualifier. There will be two starts. The first wave will set out at 7:00am and the second will start an hour later.
“This weekend's is the qualifying race for local paddlers,” explained organizer Stuart Knaggs. “The paddlers must show their ability to cope with rough conditions and long distance to be eligible to compete in the main event.”
Already 30regional and international paddlers have registered for the championship. “Last year's Soualiga Challenge Reloaded winner Olivier Tanton who also won the original Soualiga Challenge in 2013 and five time winner Franck Fifils, both from Guadeloupe will be here,” said Knaggs
