Spend a day on the Brazos River! Parent-Youth Teams welcome!
Choose one of two Races on the Scenic Brazos River: A 6-mile Intermediate Canoe Race for any swimmer or a 14-mile Advanced Canoe Race for experienced canoeists only. Fee includes Boats, Gear, T-shirts, Lunch, Awards, & Dinner! Any registered Boy Scout, Venture Crew/Varsity Team/Exploring/Learning for Life member or Adult may enter. All must be swimmers.
WHEN:
Fall Canoe Race - 1st Saturday after Labor Day
Spring Canoe Race - Last Saturday in April
WHERE:
6-Mile Intermediate Race:
Worth Ranch to Dark Valley Bridge (average easy paddle time is 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 hours)
14-Mile Advanced Race:
Possum Kingdom Dam to Worth Ranch (average easy paddle time is 31/2 - 6 hours)
REGISTRATION:
Early Registration Deadline is 5:00 PM on the Wednesday before the Fall Canoe Race and the Wednesday before the Spring Canoe Race; Final Payment must be received by the Wednesday before the Fall Canoe Race and the Wednesday before the Spring Canoe Race. Full fee for all Registrations after 5:00 PM on the Wednesday before the Fall Canoe Race and the Wednesday before the Spring Canoe Race.
RACE TIMES:
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 PM 14-mile race
10:30 a.m.- 3:30 PM 6-mile race
(To avoid crowding, times are assigned for 6-mile race heats and for supper)
2:30 PM - 5:00 PM War Canoe Team Race - timed heats, the canoe race afternoon activity!
FEES: Early Registration Discount:
$25.00 before the Wednesday before the Canoe Race at 5:00 PM; $30.00 after the Wednesday before the canoe race. Fee includes boats, paddles, PFDs, race numbers, lunch, dinner, race T-shirt, medals & awards.
CHECK-IN:
6:30 a.m.– 9:00 a.m. Saturday
WHAT HAPPENS:
General Information
Any Boy Scout, Venturer, Varsity Team member, or adult who is a swimmer
may enter the 6-mile race. You’ll complete the 6-mile course in 1½ –2½ hours
with an easy paddle. The 14-mile race is open ONLY to highly experienced
canoeists with good boat control (Boy Scouts must have Canoeing Merit Badge).
The 14-mile course will take 3½ -5 hours and is NOT an easy paddle. DO NOT
TAKE INEXPERIENCED CANOEISTS with poor boat control on 14-mile race!!
Race and supper times will be assigned. Leaders are encouraged to help with
shuttle of drivers and canoe trailers (2” hitch ball) after the race.
In order to provide safety assistance on the river, each unit must provide 2 safety
boaters for every 10 youth race boats. Bring a first aid kit and your unit medical
forms to this event.
Awards go to both paddlers in the 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place boats in each division in
each race. Adults not needed as safety boaters can race in the Parent/Youth,
Men’s, Women’s, or Mixed Adult race divisions. Only experienced kayakers
may race in the kayak class. Racers are welcome to paddle their own canoes (or
kayaks). Both individual teams and unit contingents are welcome. From 3:00 -
5:00 PM groups of 4 to 12 paddlers can do timed heats in the 100-yard War
Canoe Team Race! War Canoe Finals for qualifying teams at 5:00 PM.
Racers, safety boaters, and staff will receive boats, paddling gear, race T-shirts,
snack lunch, and an awards dinner. We’ll end the event with awards for the
racers and units at the Awards supper. Participants are welcome to camp at
Worth Ranch.
Water Levels
Possum Kingdom Dam controls water levels. Race times will vary with water
levels and wind speed and direction. At low water you can expect to drag your
boat through shallow gravel bars at least once on the 6-mile race and several
times on the 14-mile section.
Teams
Each race team should be 2 paddlers from one of the following classes. Any unit
entering 3 or more teams (boats) should provide at least one safety boat to assist
in staffing the race heats their youth have entered. Except for parent/youth teams,
all unit contingents must be accompanied by at least 2 adults on the river.
Race Divisions
Awards to paddlers in the 1st, 2nd & 3rd place boats in each division:
- Boys Teams-up to 100 lbs. Female Youth Teams
- Boys Teams-101 to 150 lbs. Co-ed Youth Teams
- Boys Teams-151+ lbs. Co-ed Adult Teams
- Parent/Youth Teams Adult – Men
- Kayak – male (experience required) Adult – Women
- Kayak – female (experience required)
Registration Questions:.......................camping@longhorn.org
Safety Boaters
The race requires safety boats for each heat. Units must provide 2 safety boaters
for every 10 youth boats. Safety personnel include any adult who has received
“Safe Swim Defense” and “Safety Afloat” training or BSA Lifeguard. Online
“Safe Swim Defense” and “Safety Afloat” trainings are offered on the council
website for those who need it. Each unit entering teams in the 14-mile race must
send at least 2 adults on the river, including at least one already certified in
Safety Afloat and Safe Swim Defense (Bring your cards). If you attend as a unit
you must have at least 1 trained adult for each 10 youth. Older youth (especially
BSA Lifeguards) may safety boat with an adult. If your unit enters teams in both
races you must provide a certified adult for each section.
The Race
6 MILE RACE: Designed to be a fun challenge or just a fun river paddle. You’ll
paddle 6 river miles from Worth Ranch to the Highway 4 bridge and race for 1 to
2½ hours. Race times will be assigned at check-in, along with matching supper
times (to avoid dining hall crowding). Equipment can be checked out from 10:00
A.M. to 12:30 PM. Boaters who check out gear early may practice on the river at
the put-in until race time (must follow Safety Afloat rules!). You must be at the
Worth Ranch put-in, lined up and ready to go at least 30 minutes BEFORE your
scheduled race start. Racers will depart in heats that include adults. Plan a nice
easy paddle or paddle hard and fast. Either way: enjoy the race!
14-MILE RACE: This is designed to be a difficult river challenge – racers
MUST be strong canoeists! Weak or inexperienced canoeists will be very hard
pressed to do the 14-mile race. You’ll paddle 14 river miles from Possum
Kingdom Dam to Worth Ranch and race for 3 ½ to 5 hours. You must be at the
Dam put-in, lined up and ready to go by 8:00 A.M. for equipment checkout and
race start.
Each team will have race numbers to wear. Start and finish times will be
recorded for each boat. All decisions by race officials are final. If your boat is
damaged in the race you must seek help from a safety boat. Teams may carry one
extra paddle and must use the same boat throughout the entire race.
Equipment
BOATS: The camp will have 300 canoes available. Boats are available on a first
come-first served basis by order of signup. Experienced kayak paddlers can
request camp kayaks. Personal boats may be used with approval from the race
director.
LIFE JACKETS & PADDLES: Provided to all participants. Any personal
single-bladed canoe paddle (including bent shaft and curved blade paddles) may
be used. Personal PFDs must be U.S. Coast Guard approved and checked by the
race staff. Kayak paddles can be used in kayaks only.
PERSONAL GEAR: All participants must wear shirt, pants/shorts, shoes, and a
USCG approved PFD at all times while on the water. Bring hand bailers,
sunscreen, and kneepads! No bilge pumps.
WATER: Teams are required to carry at least two liters of water in the boat. The
race staff will provide drinking water/safety stops along the river.
Transportation and Driver Shuttles
Boat and Driver shuttles will be run all afternoon to take drivers from Hwy. 4
Bridge at the end of the 6-mile race back to Worth Ranch. Troops/Crews should
plan to transport their participants from the bridge back to Worth Ranch – it’s a
short 6-mile shuttle. Vehicle keys should NOT be taken on the river. Units
should set their own shuttle vehicles for the 14-mile race. ALL units are
encouraged to help with shuttle of drivers after the race! Units that can help
with shuttle of canoe trailers (2” hitch ball) during or after the race
War Canoe Team Challenge
Challenge everyone in the war canoe team race. Timed heats. Run from 3:00 to
5:00 PM – whenever you get back! This is a flat out speed and/or survival race
on 100-yards of flat water at Worth Ranch. Any group of 4 - 12 race participants
(from one or more units) may enter. Teams may race more than once to improve
their heat time. Teams must cross the finish line without being sunk in order to
receive a time.
Race Awards
Each participant will receive a Paddle the Brazos Canoe Race T-shirt. Awards
will go to the top three places in each division. Unit awards will go to the top
units (3 boat minimum) based on the average of each unit’s total race times.
Schedule
6:30 a.m.–7:00 a.m. ...............................Check-in for 14-Mile race at Dining Hall. Pick up
driving directions maps, lunches, and Race Wristbands
7:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m. ...............................Check-in for 6-Mile race at Dining Hall. Pick up
driving directions maps, lunches, and Race Wristbands
8:00 a.m. ..............................................14-Mile race - boat and gear checkout
8:30 a.m. ..............................................14-Mile race start
10:00 a.m. .............................................Boat and Gear checkout starts at WR put-in
10:30 a.m.–1:30 PM ...............................6-Mile Race starts (Assigned times)
3:30 PM ................................................6-Mile and 14- Mile river races end
3:00-5:00 PM ........................................War Canoe Races. Timed heats.
4:30-6:30 PM ........................................Supper (Assigned times) followed by Awards
7:30 PM ...............................................Award