Celebrating the beaches and waters of Virgin Islands National Park, the Friends of Virgin islands National Park is pleased to host Paddle the Park, a standup paddleboard race. Below is general information about the race. All competitors are strongly urged to review the Course Description, Competition Rules and Course Maps in preparation for the race.

Paddle the Park SUP PADDLEBOARD RACE 2014

will be held on Sunday, November 2nd, 2014 at Maho Bay on St. John.

  • Check-in for registered participants will start at 7:30 am
  • A pre-race briefing will start at 8:30 am
  • The races will start at 9:00 am.

There will be three courses:

  • Short Course from Maho Beach to the NPS floating fee station and back – about 1 mile
  • Open Course from Maho Beach to Whistling Cay and back – about 3 miles
  • Elite Course from Maho Beach to Whistling Cay, then to and around Cinnamon Cay, back behind Whistling Cay and back to Maho – about 5.5 miles

Both races will start and finish on the beach at the Maho Bay Pavilion. Please see the detailed Course Description for more details.

  • Registration opens September 2, 2014
  • Registration fees are:
  • Early Registration (September 1-October 24)
  • Adults $60
  • Youth (under 18 years of age) $30
  • General Registration (October 25-31)
  • Adults $70
  • Youth (under 18 years of age) $35
  • Late Registration on Saturday, November 1 from 9am to 2pm in the Friends of the Park Store only
  • Adults $85
  • Youth (under 18 years of age) $40

 Advance registration only — There will be no registration on the day of the event!!

Participants may register:

By phone at: 340-779-4940

In person at:

  • Friends of the Park Store or office in Mongoose Junction, St. John
  • Connections in Cruz Bay or Coral Bay, St. John
  • Caribbean Surf Co. in Havensight or Red Hook, St. Thomas
  • There will be no registration after 2pm Saturday November 1st, and no registration on race day.

Registration fees include:

  • Event entry
  • Race jersey (a water-friendly rash guard that must be worn during the race)
  • Event “goodie bag”
  • Lunch at awards ceremony
  • Awards will be given to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place male and female finishers in each race.

Lunch at the awards ceremony will only be available to competitors, volunteers, and those who have purchased a lunch voucher in advance. Regrettably, lunch vouchers will not be available on race day at the awards ceremony.

Course Description

Paddle the Park will consist of three courses: Short, Open and Elite.

Knowledge of the course is the complete responsibility of each participant. Each competitor must understand that navigation is their responsibility and they should study the instructions and the maps carefully.

Each participant is responsible for their own safety during the event. Each racer is urged to train and prepare for their event; then race within their ability.
The course may be changed due to adverse weather or sea conditions on the day of the event.
Instructions given at the pre-race briefing will take precedence over any other instructions.
All courses will start and finish on the beach in front of the Maho Bay Pavilion.

Short Course SUP RACE – 1 mile

  • The short course is a strait-forward out and back course. Nevertheless, paddlers should review these instructions carefully and study the animated Short Course Map (currently under development).
  • Paddlers will start on the beach with board and paddle in hand.
  • At the starting signal, paddlers will enter the water and head to the NPS floating fee station just off Little Maho Beach.
  • The floating fee station will be the turnaround point.
  • Go around the fee station, make a right shoulder turn (keeping the fee station on your right) and return to Maho Beach.
  • Head towards the red and green buoys at the northern, or left-handed side (as you approach the beach from the water) of Maho Beach and turn left into the dinghy channel.
  • Paddle between the red and green buoys located just off the beach and turn right at the orange triangular buoy.
  • Paddle parallel to the beach towards the pavillion.
  • make a left-shoulder turn around the orange buoy in front of the pavillion and head to the beach.
  • Exit the water and run to the finish line on the beach (there will be board handlers in the water to get your board on the beach as you run to the finish line).
  • Please note that your time ends when you cross the finish line on the beach.

Open Course SUP Race – 3 miles


The Open Course is a relatively straight-forward triangular course. Never the less, paddlers should review these instructions carefully and study the animated Open Course Map.

  • Paddlers will start on the beach with board and paddles in hand.
  • At the starting signal paddlers will enter the water and head to the western point (the far side) of Whistling Cay.
  • A boat (to be described at the pre-race briefing) will be positioned at the far end of the island; this will be the turnaround point.
  • Go around the boat, making a right shoulder turn (keeping the boat on your right) and return to Maho Beach.
  • Head towards the red and green buoys at the northern, or left-hand side (as you approach the beach from the water) of Maho Beach.
  • Paddle between the red and green buoys located just off of the beach and turn right. (Ignore the lone red buoy located further offshore. Navigation is based on the red and green buoy pair closest to shore.)
  • Paddle parallel to the beach towards the pavilion.
  • Make a left shoulder turn around the orange buoy in front of the pavilion and head to the beach.
  • Exit the water and run to the finish line on the beach (there will be board handlers in the water to get your board on the beach as you run to the finish line).
  • Please note that your time ends when you cross the finish line on the beach.

Elite Course SUP Race – 5.5 miles


The Elite Course is a challenging course in terms of navigation and likely sea and weather conditions. Paddlers are strongly urged to review these instructions carefully and study the animated Elite Course Map.

 

  • Paddlers will start on the beach with board and paddles in hand.
  • At the starting signal paddlers will enter the water and head to the eastern point (the near side) of Whistling Cay.
  • Go through the channel (Fungi Passage) between Whistling Cay and Mary Point and turn left (keeping Whistling Cay on your left).
  • Paddle along the northern shore of Whistling Cay
  • At the end of the island turn left and head across the channel towards the western, right-hand side of Cinnamon Cay
  • Continue past Cinnamon Cay and make a left shoulder turn around the orange buoy near the beach. (Ensure that the race official on the beach gets your bib number.)
  • Continue past Cinnamon Cay and then back across the channel to the western, left-hand side of Whistling Cay.
  • At Whistling Cay turn right along the north shore of the island and back through the channel between Whistling Cay and Mary Point.
  • Continue paddling towards the northern, or left-hand, side of Maho Beach, towards the red and green buoys
  • Go through the red and green buoys located just off of the beach and make a right shoulder turn.
  • Paddle parallel to the beach, heading towards the pavilion.
  • Make a left shoulder turn around the orange buoy in front of the pavilion and head to the beach.
  • Exit the water and run to the finish line on the beach (there will be board handlers in the water to get your board on the beach as you run to the finish line).
  • Please note that your time ends when you cross the finish line on the beach.

Competition Rules

  • Paddlers must wear a USCG-approved personal floatation device (PFD) at all times during the race.
  • Paddlers must wear the race jersey provided at check-in with their bib number attached at all times during the race.
  • Boards must be equipped with leashes and they must be used during the race.
  • Paddlers are advised to stay well-hydrated during the race.  It is strongly advised that competitors wear hydration packs or have another means to carry water with them. Water will be provided at the start.
  • Both races will start on the beach in front of the Maho Bay Pavilion.
  • Paddlers will start on the beach behind the start line with board and paddles in hand.
  • All races will finish on the beach in front of the Maho Bay Pavilion.
  • At the finish, paddlers should dismount in shallow water and run to the finish line on the beach.  Please note that your time ends when you cross the finish line on the beach – not when you stop paddling or when you beach your board.
  • Paddlers must round buoys and turnaround points as described in the Course Description.  Failure to do so may result in disqualification.
  • There are no restrictions on board size or design.
  • Drafting is permitted.

For additional information, check out Friends of the National Park website or send an e-mail to jkessler@friendsvinp.org or call 340-779-4940.