November 2 Events

PaddleFest 2013 is right around the corner! Saturday, November 2nd, 10:00 a.m. Start Time. Hunting Island State Park - Lagoon - Parking Lot J!

NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION!!! We will only need you to sign your Waiver forms and purchase Raffle tickets for many items donated to this great cause - Friends of Hunting Island!

The 3+ mile race and the 6 mile race start together in the Lagoon at 10:00 AM! The 3+ milers pass under the pedestrian bridge and return to the Start/Finish Line. The 6 mile racers will continue into Fripp Inlet and turn right towards the Fishing Pier - going AROUND the Pier - and continuing under the Highway 21 bridge to Fripp Island towards Russ Point and beyond. There will be a buoy which you must go around and return to the Start/Finish Line.

The fee for each race is $40 Single; $55 Tandem. If you mail in your registration, it must be postmarked by October 19, 2013 to allow us time to process it by Race Day. We are trying to become more automated and are asking you to register as early as possible. You may also go to www.webscorer.com to register online!

And bring $$$ for great raffle prizes, too.

A new race if you are in the Darien, GA area:

Darien Fall Festival Paddle Battle.  Attention all paddlers, at this year’s annual fall festival in Darien, Saturday, November 2^nd, there will be the 1^st Annual Paddle Battle.  Kayakers, canoeists, and paddle boarders will compete to paddle a 2.4 mile course along the Darien River.  The paddle route will begin at the Darien River Bridge and end at Fort King George Historic Site.  It will take participants through some of the most historic and scenic stretches of this river, including Darien’s impressive shrimp fleet.  Prizes will be awarded to winners across various categories including tandem and single.  Applications for registration may be found at Fort King George Historic Site or the McIntosh County YMCA, or can be found online at www.darienfallfest.com.  Pre-registration cost is $15, and race-day registration is $20.   Canoe and kayak rentals will be available to those in need of one. The race begins at 10 am and all participants must meet at Skippers Seafood Restaurant parking lot by 9:30 am.             

Race Results Posted

Race Results are posted. Again, congratulations to the winners!  And congratulations to all who raced! Thanks to returning racers - please keep coming back. And thanks to first timers - hope you'll come again next year.

The winner of the drawing for the Imagine Surfer SUP/ kayak crossover donated by Half-Moon Outfitters is Karla Deal!! Karla bought the winning ticket at A-J's the morning of the race. She is from Nashville and was down visiting her sister, one of the Tybee Spades Girls, a Gold sponsor with an entry in the Race Across the River. They came to cheer for their racer and Karla said she "had a feeling about winning the board".
Congratulations, Karla!!! Enjoy your prize!

Don't forget about upcoming races. Next in the Southeast Paddlesports Series is Paddlefest 2013, Saturday, November 2 at 10 a.m., Hunting Island State Park, SC. www.sepseries.org   Proceeds from this race go to Friends of Hunting Island State Park. Another chance to paddle in a beautiful place for a great cause!!!

Also Chris Williams announced the 3rd Annual North Shore Cup, November 9, 2013, North Shore Villas & Marina, Summerton, SC. For more info go to Facebook North Shore Cup Kayak Race or contact Chris at cwrealestatesales@gmail.com or 803-707-6310.

Great race day!!!

What a great race day!!!! Thank you to everyone for being part of it. Race results will be posted in the next 24 hours, but this evening I just wanted to say thank you. It's another year of raising over $10,000 for the Tybee Island Marine Science Center. Thank you to the racers. Thank you to the volunteers. And thank you to the sponsors. It's all of us together that make this a great, fun event. Huge thanks to all.

Race is Saturday!!!

Hi Everyone,
A couple of points people have been asking about that I want to clarify.
Registration and sign in for both races is 8 - 8:45 a.m. Allow time for unloading and for parking. We will have someone directing parking, but it can be tight. Some parking is free; some not.
You have to have signed in by 8:45 even if you pre-registered. After registration closes, there will be a safety briefing that you must attend.
Then it's on-water time :)
River Race will start about 9 and the Little Tybee Challenge about 9:15.
Very excited about all the participants. Thank you all.
See you Saturday.

Races 1 week away

We are very excited to have lots of pre-registrants. Thank you all. We look forward to seeing you next Saturday.

We had fun on Thursday on WTOC's Mid Morning Live again. Thank you, Jody and Tim, for having us and for letting us bring in the NDK Pilgrim Expedition sea kayak (lent by Sea Kayaking USA) for the benefit of viewers.

Remember that you can still get drawing tickets for the Imagine Surf SUP/ kayak crossover and paddle we are giving away during the Award Ceremony after the race. Half-Moon Outfitters (donated the Imagine Surf), Papa's BBQ, and the Tybee Island Marine Science Center all have tickets to sell. Or you can get them the morning of the race at A-J's.

One more reminder: If you want to support the Marine Science Center, but don't care to race, be a casual paddler in the River Race (like a walker in a running race).

See everyone Sept. 7!!!

Kind offer from Beachview B&B

We would like to invite you to come stay with us at the Beachview Bed and Breakfast.  We are one block away from the back River and have very nice accommodations, plenty of room for your trailors & vehicles with free parking and we serve a hot homemade breakfast every day!  Mention you are with the sea kayak Races and receive 15% off your rental.

Karen kelly, Owner

Beachview Bed and breakfast

1701 Butler Avenue

Tybee Island, GA  31328

www.beachviewbbtybee.com

Karen@beachviewbbtybee.com

Thanks, WTOC

Thanks to Jody and Mike on WTOC's Mid Morning Live. We had fun on the show this morning playing show-and-tell with the Imagine Surfer, an SUP/ kayak crossover, that Half-Moon Outfitters donated for part of the drawing at the Awards Ceremony following the 3 Tybee kayak races. The Imagine Surfer is an SUP that you can also use as a sit-on-top kayak. The single blade SUP paddle can convert to a two bladed paddle for kayak use. Very cool. It will be a great prize.
You get a ticket for the SUP/ kayak drawing just for entering a race. You can also buy drawing tickets. They are available at Half-Moon Outfitters on Broughton Street in downtown Savannah, at Papa's BBQ & Seafood on Hwy 80, Whitemarsh Island, and at the Tybee Island Marine Science Center.
Huge thanks to all these businesses for their support.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!

Less than a month to the Tybee races

Only 3 1/2 weeks left until Sept. 7 when the (rather obnoxious) air horn blows to start the races!!!! There's still plenty of time to get in on early registration.
Looking forward to seeing everyone here.

Sponsors signed on so far

We have so much support for which we are very grateful. We could not raise the funds we do for the Tybee Island Marine Science Center without our sponsors - both businesses and individuals. Thank you all very much.

If you haven't signed on yet and you'd like to be a sponsor, you have until Friday 8/16 to sign on. We'd love to have you join us.
I just wanted to share our sponsors to date (soon to have logos and links posted on the sponsor page too) . Again, thank you all sooooo much.
Platinum: Tybee Island Tourism Council
Gold: North Beach Grill, Tybee Spades Girls, Half-Moon Outfitters, Savannah Canoe & Kayak, A-J's Dockside, WRHQ 105.3
Silver: Tybee Teeth, The Breakfast Club, Bernard Williams & Co., Sting Ray's Seafood, Fortune Recycling, Bonnie Gaster Prudential SE Coastal Properties, Savannah Psychotherapy Center, Tybee Weedwackers
Bronze: Mermaid Cottages, The Georgianne Inn, Thomas J. Sheehan Insurance Inc., Royal Palm Motel,
TS Chu Dept. Store, XYZ Liquors, SouthEast Adventure Outfitters, Steve & Kathryn Williams, Papa's BBQ & Seafood, Judy & Frank Ouzts,  Captain Mike's Dolphin Tour, The Bluebird, Tybee Vacation Rentals, Sandy McCloud Century 21 Fox Properties, Coastal Angler Magazine

Please support our sponsors and tell them thanks for supporting the Tybee Kayak Races.

Happy 4th of July!!!!

Happy Fourth of July!!!!

Hope everyone is having a great fourth. Hope you're getting in lots of race practice - only a little over 2 months to the Tybee races!!!

Sign up now - on-line or download the form here. If you've raced at Tybee in the past, you can expect a hard copy of the registration form in the mail very soon.

We are also seeking sponsors (see sponsor tab). 
Thanks for your interest in the Tybee kayak races (SUPs too) and in supporting the Tybee Island Marine Science Center.

Paddle Bender June1, 2013

The following is a note about the Paddle Bender, the next race in the SouthEast Paddlesports Series. Let's support this great effort. Thanks, John and Karen, for all your hard work.

Hey everybody,

 
After kicking off our paddle sport series in Charleston, SC and Jacksonville, FL in April we are now gearing up for the 3rd event in mid-state South Carolina.  On June 1st we are holding the 2nd annual paddle sport event at Dreher Island State Park.  This event is open to kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards.  

Some of you have already signed up, but if you have not please considering registering today. 

 

WE WILL NOT HAVE RACE DAY REGISTRATION THIS YEAR, so you will need to preregister online or by mail.  Instructions for either option are available atwww.paddlebender.org.  What we have to offer:
 

- a great cause (all net proceeds go to Carolina Wildlife Care)

- 4 and 8 mile courses open to all ability levels (over half of participants are casual paddlers)

- Z93.1 "The Lake" will be broadcasting live and serving as emcee for the event.

- an excellent group of raffle prizes from our 14 sponsors, well over $1000 in value

- unique awards to more categories than you can shake a stick at

- meal included from Mathias Sandwich Shop (pasta bake)

- athletic wicking t-shirt (gauranteed only for the first 100 registrants)

- fun course and great spectator viewing area

- live animals from Carolina Wildlife Care will be visiting the event site (that's a hit with both kids and adults).  CWC rehabilitates and releases injured wildlife.  They do all work without any government funding and almost entirely with volunteer efforts 24 hours per day.

- great deals on hotels for anyone traveling in from out of town.  (Take advantage of those now.  Some deals are not gauranteed after May 5.)

Please consider participating, volunteering, or we could probably squeeze you in yet for sponsorship if your business or employer would like to get involved.  Please check out our list of sponsors.  We greatly appreciate them all. 

I'll be on 107.9 FM  at 9:30 am this coming Tue for the program called "Healthier Lexington".  A representative from CWC and I will be disussing their service and the upcoming paddle event.

Please let me know if you have any questions and feel free to like Paddle Bender on Facebook.

That is all, thanks for reading.  Now please take 2 minutes to sign up for the Paddle Bender! :-)

 

John Wellens

Paddle Bender

paddlebender@gmail.com

www.paddlebender.org

www.facebook.com/paddlebender

www.sepseries.org

www.twitter.com/sepseries

Charleston Patriot Challenge

THE PATRIOT CHALLENGE IS APRIL 13!!!! See below for info from the Southeast Paddle Sport  Series director. Lots of fun in Charleston! C'mon, Savannah/Tybee. Let's support this great series.

** It’s time NOW to register for the Patriot Challenge **

Secure your spot this weekend.  The late registration fee will kick in soon.

Registration for Patriot Challenge:

- available online at http://www.active.com/outdoors/charleston-sc/the-patriot-challenge-2013

- or attached is a mail in registration form if you prefer that.

There are three and six mile course options. The Patriot Challenge is the week before the East Coast Paddlesports and Outdoor Festival (formerly East Coast Canoe and Kayak Festival which is held on April 19-21). There are many classes being held the week prior to the Festival so paddlesport lovers will benefit by coming to the Challenge.

Simply by participating in the Patriot challenge you will be entered to win valuable prizes - including an Epic Kayak, kayak and SUP paddles and many more wonderful prizes - over $3,000 total. Your BIB number is your entry for drawings. There is nothing that compares to paddling out into Charleston Harbor.

Get involved in the Southeast Paddle Sport Championship which kicks off with races in Charleston, SC and Jacksonville, FL. Aside from individual race competition you can 1) Compete for series awards in your category for either short or long distance courses and/or 2) Earn points toward raffle tickets at our year end banquet just for participating in series events. Five raffle tickets per event completed!

The Southeast Paddle Sport Series: Learn more here - www.sepseries.org

First up for the 2013 series -- Charleston Patriot Challenge, Sat, April 13

 

Series schedule:

April 13 - Charleston, SC -- www.charlestonpatriotchallenge.org

April 27 - Jacksonville, FL -- www.rivercitychallenge.org

June 1st - Dreher Island State Park, SC -- www.paddlebender.org

Sept  7 - Tybee Island, GA -- http://tybeekayakrace.blogspot.com/

Nov 2 - Hunting Island State Park, SC -- www.paddlefestsc.org

We hope to see y'all at these amazing events! 

Happy paddling everybody.

2013 Tybee Sea Kayak Races

Happy 2013, Everyone! Even before changes to the rest of the blog can be made, we want to post the date for this year's Kayak Races at Tybee:  SEPTEMBER 7, 2013.  Hope we will see all of you here. More info, updated forms, and so on will begin to appear (as if by magic?) in the next couple of months.
Happy Winter :)