Breede River Canoe Marathon 2017 eNewsletter #1
It’s been a desperate dry winter so far as the drought bites deep into the Western Cape. The Berg, as we all know, was bitterly low, and the early season races on the Breede have been scratchy as well.
The great news is the rain chucking down at the moment as the major cold front makes landfall. We can’t predict how much rain will land up in the dams and the rivers, but we are hoping that it will saturate the lands, raise the groundwater and restore a better base level flow to all of our rivers, including the Breede.
Enter Online
The race is a month away now! Many of us were so fixated on the SA Champs at Camps Drift, and with the teams announced for the World Champs in a few weeks time, flatwater marathon racing fever is at epidemic proportions in SA!
The Breede has been moved to accommodate this, and to also make our great race accessible to the international paddlers. Entries are now open, with the entry fee for seniors set at R700.00 per paddler, R640.00 per paddler for U23 paddlers and R585.00 per paddler for Junior (U18) paddlers. Normal entries close at midnight on Tuesday 5 September.
Entering, like last year, is quick and easy. Access the online entry form by clicking here for K1s or K2s or K3s then make a payment form your full entry by EFT.
Your confirmed entry will be posted on the website here.
Keen to help out an international paddler?
With close on 400 internationals coming to SA for the World Champs at Camps Drift, there is considerable interest in doing the Breede the weekend after the worlds.
Most of these guys and girls have done little river marathoning and don’t own craft with typical river set-ups (overstern rudders, river seats and pedals).
There is a demand amongst the internationals to rent or hire a K1 or a K2 for the race this year. So if you have a K1 or a K2 (or even a K3) in good nick (ie race ready) and you want to make it available for rent for the race, please contact Russell Ikin at ikin2r@gmail.com.
Similarly, if you want to offer your services to paddle a K2 with a visiting paddler, drop Russell a line. They may well opt for an offer of a boat and partner if they haven’t done any previous river marathons!
Accommodation and camping
There is camping available at the overnight stop at Riggton Farm and at Kambati Resort as usual.
Most people choose to take advantage of the huge number of excellent farm stay, B&B or self-catering cottages available in the Robertson/Bonnievale/ Swellendam, area.
As always to good ones get snapped up fast, so if you haven’t booked your accommodation, then now would be a good time to think out it!
All the information about the race, how to enter and check your confirmed entry is on our race website!
Here’s hoping the rains keep coming!