Chesapeake Bay Paddle - hosted by Kent Island Outrigger Canoe Club

The Chesapeake Bay Paddle benefits the Chesapeake Conservancy’s efforts to designate the Chesapeake Bay as a National Park, WaterKeepers Chesapeake to help keep the waters and rivers of the Bay healthy and Oyster Recovery Partnership’s work to plant 10 billion oysters in the Bay.

100% of the race registration amount is tax deductible as a charitable donation. Bay Paddle is a registered 501c3 and all proceeds from participants are donated to Oyster Recovery Partnership, Chesapeake Conservancy and Waterkeepers Chesapeake. 

The Chesapeake Bay Paddle consists of 4 races with three race distances.

1) A 35-mile, solo and team, circumnavigation race for OC1/2s, surfskis, SUPs, and kayaks (both single and multi-person) starting and finishing at Kent Island Yacht Club, Kent Island, MD.  No support boats provided for solo/ small team paddlers. You must have land support and have completed a similar distance race prior to the race. 

2) A 35 mile OC6 circumnavigation Change Race starting and finishing at Kent Island Yacht Club, Kent Island, MD 

This is ECORA's (East Coast Outrigger Association) only change race and is worth double points for the point series! Please register as a team. To register, please have the captain register first for either the Men's, Women's or Mixed categories. Once the waiver has been signed, please have the captain click Create a New Team and enter the team's name. Subsequent team members can then register under the same team's name. There is a maximum of 9 in the Men's and Women's race and 10 in the Mixed race, with a maximum of 5 men. 

Chase boats will be provided at a cost of $400 for all OC6 teams ONLY. The $400 chase boat/ captain fee will be paid by the OC6 team on race day directly to the boat captain. For the Change Race, we will do our best to accommodate the use of canoes, on first come, first served basis for teams needing to use another club’s canoe. A $150 for spec canoes and $200 for unlimited canoes trailering fee is to be paid by the team using another club’s canoe. Canoe availability is strictly on a first come, first served basis. Please contact KIOCCmd@gmail.com to request canoes or if you know you are trailering canoes and might have extra canoes for other teams to use with a trailer use fee. All canoe rentals must go through KIOCC so they can track canoes and canoe availability. Teams cannot arrange their own rental canoes. Please reach out to KIOCC if needing to rent canoes or have canoes to rent.  

OC6 teams MUST be registered by June 30th in order to secure boat captains and support boats.  

3) A 10-mile, out and back race designed for OC1/2's, surfskis, SUPs, kayaks, OC6's (both single and multi-person) starting and finishing at Kent Island Yacht Club, Kent Island, MD. 

4) A 3-mile, out and back race designed for SUPs, kayaks, OC1/2's, and surfskis,  starting and finishing at Kent Island Yacht Club, Kent Island, MD. 

Isaiah Pule- Founder of E Ala Voyaging Academy, Hokole'a crew member, and kumu, will deliver the pre-race pule and canoe blessing. 

After the race, join us for a vibrant post-race celebration featuring food and refreshing beverages courtesy of the Kent Island Yacht Club and Hula dancing from E Ala E Hawaiian Cultural Center from Washington DC 

Registration cut off for t-shirts is June 20th. Must be registered by June 20th to guarantee a shirt. 

Schedule of Events: 

Friday July 24, 2026

4pm- April Zilg Clinic and Demos

         Race Day Performance Clinic: Speed, Efficiency and Water Reading 

https://paddlebarn.aprilzilg.com/products/race-day-performance-clinic-bay-paddle?fbclid=PAVERFWATLPU5wZG9mAmV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzEyNDAyNDU3NDI4NzQxNAABp8EcgFwDLAR_RhwCEHEKIyNAgjc72W1p73jSgKIt16vVsZXZ4k7AQU038gQt_aem_aEYJp9Z3crBRSK4uDIJXDg

5- 7pm- OC6 change race - Check in and packet pick up for 35 mile race (Food and drinks available for purchase at the Kent Island Yacht Club)

6- 645pm- Yoga for paddlers with Mike Blanche from Yoga Factory Annapolis 

7pm- Mandatory Captains meeting for OC6 change race with chase boats (team captain/ steersperson(s) and boat coach should be there)

NO Saturday morning Check-In & Packet Pick Up for OC6

Saturday July 25, 2026

35 mile race 

5:30a - 6:30am- Arrival Check in

6:45am All boats need to be rigged

7:00am Safety meeting

              Pule/ Prayer with race blessing- Isaiah Pule- Founder of E Ala Voyaging Academy, Hokole'a crew member, and kumu, will deliver the                      pre-race pule and canoe blessing. 

7:15am - all OC6 boats on the water and going to start

7:30am – 35 mile OC6 race start

10 mile Race 

8- 9:30am- Race Check In/ Packet pick up

9:30am- Safety Briefing

9:45am- On the water

10:00am- Race Start

3 mile Race 

8:30- 10am- Race Check In/ Packet pick up

10:00am- Safety Briefing

10:15am- On the water

10:30am- Race Start

Post Race Awards 

12pm- 4pm Includes food and entertainment.

2pm Awards for 10 mile and 3 mile race

2:30pm Awards for OC6