More than 100 paddlers (117 have signed up at presstime) are expected to take part Saturday morning in a nine-mile circumnavigation of Gwynn’s Island.
The Islander Regatta is a project of the Mathews Outdoor Club, which held the first trip around the island in 2023 with 60 paddlers and immediately announced its plans for 2024. Details are at islanderregatta.com. Participation is $65 per paddler.
The regatta, for non-motorized watercraft only, starts at 8 a.m. and participants are given until 1 p.m. to make a formal finish.
Announcements said kayaks, tandem kayaks, rowing shells, dragon boats, anything human-powered and non-motorized, may take part.
Christine Johnson of the Mathews Outdoors Club said the regatta was intentionally scheduled to coincide with the Gwynn’s Island Festival. “We are promoting it as a companion event and are telling visitors they can make it an ‘Island day,’’ she said. Two rest stops will be set up along the island shoreline, with cooperation of property owners...