CANCELED ... Saturday, September 2nd 2006
Register for the 4th Annual Grand Marais International Outrigger Regatta !

Join Paddlers from Duluth, Thunder Bay and the region who have brought
Outrigger Canoeing to Lake Superior....... Paddlers and Volunteers wanted.
Form your own Team of 5 to be lead by a 6th experienced OC paddler.

Regatta Registration is $25 per person ~ All participants receive a Regatta T-Shirt
Prizes will be awarded to all team members in the top 3 boats of each Class
Volunteers will receive Regatta T-Shirt & Appreaciation Gift Certificate

During the winter of 2001-02 ...Superior Coastal Sports, with a new concept in mind of exploring a more diverse variety of coastal recreation beyond kayaking... become intrigued with outrigger canoeing and subscribed to Pacific Paddler to see what it was all about. We dreamed of having a 6 person Outrigger Canoe for Grand Marais....but with constuction of a new beachfront store this would have to wait. However, after hearing paddling groups in both Duluth, Minnesota and Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada had recently obtained used OC-6s...it wasn't long before we all began to plan for a Grand Marais Regatta in the summer of 2003. It was decided Saturday, August 9th would be good date for this first event. That first Regatta was a casual tour~race from the beach of the East Bay...out around Five Mile Rock and back....about an 8 mile round trip. We all remember the smell from the accumulated sea gull and cormorant guano on Five Mile Rock as the boats made the turn and passed by downwind !!   
Jump Down to Last summer's 2004 Regatta.

Putting on an Outrigger Regatta is a big production. The OC-6's are over 40 feet long and weigh over 400 pounds. They are transported from Duluth and Thunder Bay on huge trailers....then a cart is used and about 15 people haul each one down to the beach. The 8 mile race distance of the 2003 event was typical of Regattas. However, when planning the 2004 Regatta we decided to run a series of race heats over a shorter distance and plan the route for more visibility with hopes of promoting more interest in this new to Lake Superior paddle sport. Another change for 2004 was the date of the event. The first Annual North Shore Dragon Boat Festival was organized for 2004 with the 2003 Regatta date preferred so the Outrigger Regatta was switched to Saturday, September 4th in 2004.

The weather was warm, fairly calm and hazy. There were 4 six person outriggers...2 from Duluth and 2 from Thunder Bay. We had about 32 Regatta participants mostly from Duluth and Thunder Bay with a few locals..The Regatta Course was a 2 mile round trip starting at the beach of the East Bay...out around Artist's Point....into the Grand Marais Harbor...around the bouy and back. We ran several heats of 3 or 4 boats each with classes of men's, women's and mixed boats. It was decided the first Saturday in September...on Labor Day Weekend would remain the best date available for the 2005 Regatta...this year's Regatta will be held on Saturday, September 3rd. After the 2004 Regatta...loading the boats...and awards ceremony... about 25 of us went to Naviya's Thai Restaurant. We talked about next years...2005 event and anticipated an even bigger turnout. If you are interested in being a part of bringing this new paddle sport to Lake Superior...sign up. Don't want to paddle? Volunteers are always needed and will receive a Regatta T-Shirt and Gift Certificate for Superior Coastal Sports & Neptunes Cyber Cafe. Contact us with questions, comments, to volunteer or sponsorship details.

Just as we did the last 2 years, this summer's Regatta will be run with multiple heats over a fairly short approximately 2 mile round trip course. The start & finish will be just off the beach on the East Bay...in front of Superior Coastal Sports Store where restrooms and changing rooms will available for participants. The short round trip course will allow better visibility for the event than a longer distance would. It will also enable participants to race in several heats....and hopefully encourage those not already involved with serious canoe racing to give it a try. Anyone interested can give it a try. Come alone...or organize a group of 5 paddlers together who would be matched with an experienced "steerer". The "steerer" is like the captain of the boat. In 6 person outrigger canoes...all seat positions are named and each paddler in addition to paddling has a specific task to keep the 40 foot plus canoe....on course or initiating turns.  To a large degree...the participants of the Grand Marais Regatta are going to be from Duluth and Thunder Bay Canoe Clubs and have already learned a fair amount about outrigger canoeing. Hopefully some curious beginners have happened upon our Regatta Website as well. For more OC Lingo and descriptions of OC-6 seat positions...check out KanuKultures.com Frequently Asked Questions Webpage. In coastal areas around the world, Outrigger Canoeing is becoming increasingly popular. Like most paddle sports it will likely become increasingly popular around the Great Lakes as well. The Regatta Registration Fee is $25 and includes a 2006 Regatta T-Shirt. Merchandise prizes will be awarded to all team members of the top 3 boats in each class. There will be classes in OC-6 men's...OC-6 women's...OC-6 mixed. Hopefully we will have some OC-1 paddlers this summer. I have been asked about adding a kayak class(es) to the event? At this point we will permit kayakers to race the course but will not promote the event as having a kayak class. Comment on Kayak class
The canoes will arrive early Saturday morning and after lashing them together we will have a practice session from mid to late morning....lunch break...race heats in the early afternoon. Tentatively we will have morning paddling sessions around 9:00 or 10:00 AM.... Regatta it self at 1:00 but this event...in it's 4th year is pretty informal and more about promoting Outriggers than getting too serious. Find Grand Marais & the Regatta Location

Grand Marais, Minnesota is located about 2 hours north of Duluth on Hwy 61 and about 40 miles down from the Canadian Border or an hour and a half south from Thunder Bay. Email us if you need more directions. To find Superior Coastal Sports....come into Grand Marais from either direction and turn down toward the Lake onto Broadway Avenue at our towns only stopligh, immediately look east...your left....you will see our store across the large city parking lot. Broadway Avenue is the north/south running route leading out to the Artist's point. Have a look at the Regatta Course Map above for further assistance....