Paddle Round The Island 2025

I paddled the Paddle Round the Island race yesterday, in Williamsburg, VA. I wasn’t planning on it, but it was a last minute decision because my schedule changed quite abruptly in the past two weeks so I was able to put this race back in play.

This is a fun race with great people. It is a 6.2 mile race up the Chickahominy River, around Gordon Island, and back to the start/finish line at Chickahominy Riverfront Park. There is also 2.25 mile option for those who prefer a shorter distance.

I paddled my West Side Boat Shop Marauder kayak, which is almost impossibly skinny at 17″ wide at its widest point, with a length of 21′ and a waterline length of, also, 21′. Early in the week I thought I would paddle my Stellar SEL surfski, but then I looked at the weather forecast and decided to take a decked kayak to protect my legs from the sun and also have more space in the cockpit to use my hydration bag, full of electrolytes. It was supposed to be ~hot~, and the forecasters indeed got this one right.

I had to brace a couple time through some sideways boat wakes, but otherwise was able to pretty much paddle my race.

The lead pack surfski guys were amazing and jumped out to quick, early lead and I was never able to narrow the gap, so I fell behind the lead pack yet well ahead of the middle of the pack, a place I like to call “no man’s land.” I place I have become with familiar with over the years at kayak races.

Go check it out next year.