|
Hi and happy New Year to all from a windy Caribbean. Surfski paddling is starting to mature nicely over here and we have a full lineup of races for the year. So, here's a head's up for those who live locally, those who want to do some serious racing and for those who are planning a holiday in our area and would like to join in.
 Stuart Knaggs negotiates the surf during a 2007 race in the Caribbean
Sunday 6 January - St Maarten (FIAC)
7.5km, mostly protected waters - local race to shake out the last of the hangovers. First race in the Carib-Picante series.
Saturday 19 January - Trinidad (TSSC)
18km, Open waters of the north coast of Trinidad from Blanchissuese to Maracas. First time this race is being held - promises to be exciting, with big Atlantic swell providing plenty of downwind action. Also the first leg of the 2008 Caribbean Offshore Racing Cup.
Sunday 10 February - St Maarten (COYC)
19km, Open waters of the eastern and southern sides of the island from the French - Dutch boarder at Oyster Pond to the border at Cupecoy.
Lumpy with plenty of reflected waves for the first half, changing to easy downwind runs for the second half.
Sunday 17 February - Guadeloupe (OMS Pointe-a-Pitre)
20km, Flat waters off the northern coast and down the River Salee between the two main islands that make up Guadeloupe. Super hard pace in a beautiful setting.
Sunday 2 March - Puerto Rico
35km, Open water between Culebra and Fajardo in Puerto Rico. First of the big Caribbean events. This will be the second time the event is held, great downwind runs almost guarenteed. Second leg of the 2008 Caribbean Offshore Racing Cup and a 3 star event in "Rob's World Series", with significant prize money offered.
Sunday 23 March - St Maarten (FIAC)
8km, Protected water off the south coast of St Maarten on an out and back course. Fun local race and second leg of the Carib-Picante series.
Sunday 6 April - Guadeloupe (AFOL St Anne)
13km, Open water downwind along the south coast of Guadeloupe. Good quality local racing, with fun runs if the wind gets up.
Sunday 4 May - Guadeloupe (Molem Gliss)
18km, Open water, out and back course in rough water off the eastern coast. La Moule is one of the best known Caribbean surf spots.
Sunday 11 May - St Maarten (FIAC)
Fun event - course and distance TBA.
Sunday to Friday 25 to 30 May - Guadeloupe (CROJI)
Jeux des Iles or "Island Games" is a sporting festival aimed at youth participation. Many sports will be represented, with both flatwater and surfski events taking place.
Friday to Sunday 20 to 22 June - St Maarten (CNS-COYC)
The Quicksilver Challenge is a well established event, including windsurfing, kite boarding, beachcats and for the first time in 2008, surfski. (http://wf014.lerelaisinternet.com/sxmchallenge/index.asp)
Racing will consist of three short qualification races of around 6km each on the Friday, a 46km race around the island on the Saturday and a doubles race on the Sunday. This event is huge and the parties unbelievable. It will only get better with the addition of the new discipline. Watch this space for news about prize money and other interesting developments in the pipeline.
Sunday 29 June - St Maarten (FIAC)
3 person Sprint relay.
Sunday 17 August - St Maarten (COYC)
17km, Open water downwind course off the south coast. Good runs if the wind kicks in.
Sunday 7 September - St Maarten (FIAC)
Fun relay around the island.
Sunday 28 September - St Maarten (NACF)
24km Soualiga Challenge, Open water crossing between St Barths and St Maarten. Conditions can vary from roaring downwind to challenging quartering seas. This will be the fourth year this race is held and it is changing up a gear, becoming a must-do event. It is one of the few ICF recognised surfski events in the world and for 2008 will be offering a minimum of USD 2 500 in prize money. It will be the third leg of the Caribbean Offshore Racing Cup.
Saturday and Sunday 4 and 5 October - Guadeloupe (YCSF)
27km Defis Kayak, Open water crossing. This will be the third year of this great event. Big ocean swells in an exotic tropical setting. The second event of the Caribbean Autumn mini tour. Significant prize money has earned this event 3 star status on the Surfski.info World Series. Efficient transportation between the island means that boats can be shipped from St Maarten to Guadeloupe for this event.
Sunday 26 October - St Maarten (FIAC)
21km, Protected water off the south of the island and in Marigot bay.
Circular course around the low-lying western part of the island. Third leg of the Carib-Picante series.
Sunday 16 November - St Maarten (FIAC)
30km, Course to be a surprise - I hope it's a pleasant one. Fourth race in the Carib-Picante series.
Sunday 14 December - St Maarten (COYC)
18km, Open water downwind run in the Anguilla Channel. Hopefully there will be more wind than in 2007.
 Pristine beach, sun, sea and a trailerfull of skis - what more could you want?
All the best for 2008!
There are paddling activities on some of the other island territories and we hope that they will join in with some events in the coming years.
So, for the paddlers in the region - please support as many races as possible, for others further afield - plan your next Caribbean trip to include some of our races. If you need any more info on any of the races, please contact me on
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
and I will either answer the questions or pass you on to someone who can.
All the best for 2008
Stuart
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed