Organizers of the “gruelling” annual Round Bowen Challenge are hoping the weather co-operates for the big race on Saturday.
Seventy-plus participants in kayaks, surf skis, outrigger canoes and on stand-up paddle boards are gearing up for the Half Island Challenge (13-19 kilometres) and the showcase Island Challenge (33 km) - our coast’s longest one-day, open water paddle race.
The Island Challenge starts and finishes in Snug Cove - with stand-up paddlers and standard kayaks starting at 9:30 a.m., followed by fast sea kayaks an hour later. A new addition since 2015, the half-island race starts at 11:30 a.m. in Tunstall Bay on Bowen's west side and ends in Snug Cove.
Bowen Island Sea Kayaking hosts the annual race with support from a variety of sponsors. Round Bowen ends with a dock party, awards ceremony, and the now famous, post-race salmon barbecue in the Bowen Island marina.
