Rescheduled Dates
Six weeks into the UK’s COVID-19’s lockdown the race calendar for 2020 is looking pretty sparse. In fact, had things remained as expected this weekend would have seen an estimated one hundred fifty plus paddlers across ocean disciplines of ski, SUP, prone paddleboard and outrigger canoe recover from 55km of downwind paddling along the West Cornish Coast.
The Bucca Kri
The first 55km staged race of its kind in the UK saw unprecedented interest when we first launched the concept back in late January on social media with nearly twenty thousand page views and now looks set to run later in the year. Ironically, yesterday would have been perfect, with moderate south westerly winds, clear skies and warm air temps. Obviously these are pretty uncertain times with clearly serious implications for the health and wellbeing of everyone around the country but we were absolutely gutted that having put in some serious amount of groundwork we would not be able to run the Bucca Kri this weekend – not wanting to give up on everything up we have been working with our water safety crews to establish a feasible date of when we might be able to run the event this year.
The good news is that provided sufficient restrictions have been lifted in time we will aim to run the Bucca Kri this coming September on Saturday the 26th. By pushing the Bucca Kri back to late Sept, not only do we increase the chances of getting to the start line post lockdown, it gives everyone the opportunity to sufficiently prepare for this epic event and perhaps something to spark up that motivation for paddling while we are in lock down.
To make sure that, aside from conditions on the day, we are a 100% green for go we will release a statement on July 1st confirming the new September 26th date; once made the event will follow its previous timeline of online entry deadlines and weather windows (a current logistical overview can be found at www.oceansportscentre.co.uk/events ) etc.
The Celtic Cup
Meanwhile the Celtic Cup has been now been rescheduled for 2021; with the current lockdown and the likely phased lifting of restrictions, we feel that the remaining time frame to get into shape will likely reduce the numbers attending the event. We are really disappointed, having run the Celtic Cup and its predecessor, Paddlefest, every year for the last ten years at the Ocean Sports Centre on Carbis Bay Beach.
Every cloud has a silver lining, as they say, and, in the absence of what is the most inclusive paddle event on the UK calendar the Ocean Sports Centre team will run the Sea Monkeys series pushing it back into August, possibly late July depending upon restrictions at the time.
The Sea Monkeys
So what is the Sea Monkeys series? The Sea Monkeys, and its winter Equivalent, the Brass Monkeys is regional series of three events based at Carbis bay during the summer and Stithians lake in the winter, with a focus upon a less formal approach to challenging yourself out on the water irrelevant of ability. We wanted to create a series of races that keeps paddlers interested in unique individual and team formats making a departure from the traditional ‘grind’ and keeping things fresh and fast.
As with the Bucca Kri, we will base dates upon information at the time and the level of restrictions in place, we will announce dates for the series on July 1st.
We know that this is a challenging time for all and racing around on a floaty bit of foam or fiberglass needs to be put into perspective. However, once we are though this, we really hope to reinvigorate the paddling community, regionally, and nationally to help bring together a really great group of people, share our experience of being out on the water and swapping some banter over the finish line. We hope that you will all support us in keeping the buzz of ocean paddling alive.
Keep well everyone and fingers crossed we will see you in the Summer of 2020!?
