Distance: 14 Miles (12.2 Nautical Miles)
Difficulty: 3
Pre-race meeting: 9:30 a.m.
Race start: 10:00 a.m.
The Shaw Island Race made its informal debut in 1978 when Don Cameron & Nick Fahey challenged sailors in a circumnavigation of the island and won. The following year, 1979, a dozen kayaks and rowing shells raced the loop, marking the official beginning of what is now the longest running people-powered boat race in the Pacific Northwest. Since then, participation has ranged from a handful to a hundred.
This year, in celebration of the Shaw Island Race’s Thirtieth anniversary, we will offer three separate races, one for each decade.
Catch the Island ferry at Anacortes (get in the line for Shaw, of course). From the dock head south to Indian Cove. Ferry schedules can be found at www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries.
Race ONE, Saturday at 10am, is the classic Round Shaw, a world-class 14 mile race course around Shaw Island which will present a challenge for even the most accomplished open water racer. There is nearly always some rough water and strong tidal currents during the race. The starting time of 10am is "loose" in order to accommodate the Island Ferry Schedule. Direction (clockwise or counter-clockwise) is the racer's choice.
Race TWO, scheduled for Sunday morning at 9am is for kids of all ages. We will have two six-person outriggers and will divide kids into competitive boats for a race around Canoe Island. The race will take about 20 minutes. Please bring kid life jackets if you have them. No experience necessary. Adult steerpersons will be provided.
Race THREE, on Sunday immediately following Race TWO, is for those who didn’t get enough of the local beauty and bounce in race ONE. This informal race will be from the beach at Shaw, around Turn Island and back. It may take an hour. Turn Island is just off San Juan Island, southwest of the Shaw campground.
All three races start and end at the State Park at Indian Cove.
We encourage everyone to come Friday afternoon and camp out for the weekend. There is a big grassy area at the end of the park near the boat launch which has traditionally been used for camping out the night before if all 9 regular campsites are full. The facilities at the park are very primitive with only cold running water (no sinks or restrooms) and only pit toilets. The grassy area is famous for possessing the largest stampeding herd of horse-sized slugs in the entire galaxy, possibly the entire known universe.
Rob O’Brien/Jeff Knakal, 1:39:45 in 2003 in a 2X.
Boats of 1 or 2 competitors:
$8 per person for: members of Sound Rowers, Juniors (18 and under).
$18 per person for non-members, non-Juniors
Boats of 3+ competitors:
$8 per person
Ribbons. Flipbooks for the kids. A pineapple for the fastest outrigger. Something (don’t know what yet) for the best combined time from race ONE and THREE.
Shaw Island County Park, reservations taken only by website: www.sanjuanco.com/parks/shaw.aspx. The first day to reserve a campsite at Shaw County Park for August 7 is Saturday, May 9. Those who are not successful making a campsite reservation will need to plan other accommodations, perhaps at Odlin County Park on Lopez Island (www.sanjuanco.com/Parks/Lopez.aspx).