1st Annual Penobscot River Bashabe's Run: Kayak-Canoe race

[clayton]

These are the official, preliminary details about this exciting new event:
First ever Canoe-Kayak race between Indian Island and Brewer on the free flowing, scenic Penobscot River
Sponsored/hosted by the Penobscot Nation
Sunday, August 3.
9 am start at the north end of Indian Island
Portage at Milford Dam
15.5 miles of mixed fast-water and class 1-3 rapids.
Elapsed times will be 2-3 hours depending on flow, paddler ability and boat.
Five significant rapids from class 2-3+. All with class 2 to 2+ options for intermediate or better paddlers.
French Island - Class 2
Great Works - Class 2-3
Basin Mills - Class 2-3+
Veazie Dam to Eddington Bend - Class 2-4
Bangor Dam - Flatwater to Class 3.

Finish line between Penobscot and Chamberlain Bridges on the Brewer side.

Awards ceremony at Indian Island in conjunction with Penobscot Nation Summer Pageant.

tides.mobilegeographics.com/locations/363.html link to Bangor Tide chart
waterdata.usgs.gov/me/nwis/uv?site_no=01036390 link to Penobscot River level in Eddington
Gauge ht of 4 ft and less is lower and easier.
5-1/2 ft and higher is wetter, faster, heavier current,
Historical average level is 3-4 ft for the month of August.

I encourage all MaCKRO members to try out this gem this summer and plan to participate in this landmark first race.
You wont be disappointed.
I will post a detailed river description.
Email me with any questions: [e-mail]

[Ray Wirth]

Sounds great. Thank you, Clayton for organizing this.

Will this likely be a mass start? If the level is 3 to 4 feet (as we might expect), will there be scratchy sections that would indicate a plastic boat rather than a kevlar one?

I'll try to get up there and run it sometime in the next month and will take some photos/video and post them here if I do.

[Ray Wirth]

More information on this race is now available in the form of two pdf files that have been posted to the MaCKRO site:

More information on the race at: www.mackro.org/2014_info/bashabez_run_race_details2.pdf
More information on this section of the Penobscot River at: www.mackro.org/2014_info/bashabez_run_river_description.pdf

[ericrjones]

Will it be possible to have a pit crew stationed at the portage? I realize it is only 1.5 miles into the race, but it would be nice not to have to carry our drink jugs over the portage.

[clayton]

I expect that a pit at the portage would be acceptable, as long as the food and beverage containers are traditional native american birch bark and ash strip construction ;>)

[Dan Baumert]

"Volunteers are need for the 1st Annual Bashabez Run Penobscot River Canoe & Kayak Race on Sunday August 3, 2014. Specifically needed are 1 to 4 paddlers with boats – canoe or kayak- who would be comfortable paddling down the river with or behind the group of racers. Contact Clayton Cole 285-7886 office, 944-0856 cell, or [e-mail] if you would be willing to help."

[clayton]

Great to hear from some members about running sweep.
I think we are now all set with sweep volunteers.
I would like to see as many MACKRO paddlers race as possible.
To that end for those wanting to get a taste of the river and coordinate a shuttle, I am planning to run it this Sunday 7/27, and again on Sat 8/2, the day before the race.
Probably 9am in the morning both days.

Once I can nail a time down I will post again here.
The river is steadily dropping and may end up more of a bony class 2 in many sections rather than the higher fast water we have seen for the last 8 weeks

[clayton]

1st Annual Bashabez Run POSTER.pdf (150.16 KB)

Jul 23, 2014 7:34:04 GMT -5 clayton said:

This is our event poster

[clayton]

Confirming the run tomorrow morning
Please meet at Eddington Salmon Club at 8 am to shuttle to Old Town River Park.

You will be off the river early!!

[Ray Wirth]

Nice article on the Bashabez Race in today's BDN:
bangordailynews.com/2014/07/28/living/15-mile-canoe-race-set-to-honor-penobscot-history-free-flowing-river/

[clayton]

www.pressherald.com/2014/07/27/deirdre-fleming-new-race-honors-celebrates-penobscot-river/
An article in the Portland paper

[Ray Wirth]

I'm looking to run the Bashabez course this Friday. Am somewhat flexible in terms of time. Email me at ray at touringkayaks.com if interested.

[ericrjones]

OK, no holding out on us Southerners: any additional insights after last weekend's paddle?

Also, if I'm reading the gauge correctly, seems like the Penobscot has risen almost a foot (33%) since Monday. Is it likely to stay in the 4' range on Sunday? Is there water coming from somewhere? I realize that 25% of the state of Maine drains out through the Penobscot, so maybe it's just been raining.

[Ray Wirth]

I am planning to do a run tomorrow morning and will post some photos and comments -- and possibly video -- by Saturday morning.

[clayton]

For Eric and others:
No holding out here, trying to get as much free info out as time permits.
Please read my river description above.
It remains as accurate a description as you will get without running it.
Pictures and videos are good but may not do justice: the river is so wide that the perspective can alter the appearance making it look more or less challenging.
I will ask Ray to post a picture taken Sunday at Basin Mills with two canoes, level: 3.5 ft
Knowing that you (Eric) can maneuver a Penobscot through a slalom course with a JR in the boat.... I think you will find these three class 2-2+ rapids in your comfort zone

The river will probably remain in the 3.5-4.5 ft range; what I consider a friendly open canoe/downriver level. I promise you will have a big smile at the finish!!