Still time to get in on kayak races Saturday

There’s still time to register for the second annual St. Marys River Kayak Races this Saturday, July 22.

The event is a fundraiser for Sault Search and Rescue.

“It’s important to continue Sault Search and Rescue’s operations,” said Wayne Spencer, SSAR volunteer and treasurer.

The event includes a series of races, each of them starting and finishing at the dock at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre.

The 20 kilometre fast and recreational kayak races begin at 9 a.m. and go to Bell’s Point, the five kilometre race starts at 10 a.m. and goes to the Algoma Sailing Club (near Bellevue Park’s Topsail Island), and a 2.5 kilometre flat board race starts at 11 a.m. and goes to the Sault College Waterfront & Tennis Centre (on the site of the former RYTAC building).

A fourth, 2.5 kilometre race for children and youth 14 and under may be held, depending on the number of registrants, beginning at 12 p.m. 

Registration fees are $120 for the 20 kilometre race, $30 for the other races.  

Cash prizes (a portion of the registration fees, as well as other prizes) will be available, with Sault Search and Rescue volunteers holding a barbecue.

Superior East Board Shop will be on hand for anyone who wants to try out a flat board.

To register, go to the St. Marys River Kayak Races website or the St. Marys River Kayak Races Facebook page.

Sault Search and Rescue, with an office and two buildings filled with special vehicles and equipment in the Sault's Industrial Park, consists entirely of volunteers (about 50, currently), many of them on call throughout the week, should they be contacted by police and their services needed in an emergency.

Sault Search and Rescue team members have located and saved many missing people in our area since the volunteer organization was established in 1958.

Each member brings a skill set, ranging from in-the-field search and rescue know-how to administrative skills. 

The organization is not funded by any of the three levels of government.