Course Info


We are only letting 100 people into the kayak race this year. Keep in mind, this is a point to point race. You cannot race  without at least one (preferably two) helpers. Please read SUPPORT INFO before you sign up.

 

1st Leg  1.75-mile Sea Kayak leaving the Eliot Boat Basin and traveling inland up the side of the Piscataqua River out of the current. Kayakers follow the counter clockwise course marked by orange buoys.
 

2nd Leg  25-mile Bike Ride through Eliot and South Berwick terminating at the base of Mt. Agamenticus - Bike Course: Leave Eliot Boat Basin via Hammond Road, Left on Maine St., Left on State Street, Right on Depot Rd (cross 236) continue on Depot Road, Left on Route 101, Right on 236, Right on Route 91, quick left onto Witchtrot Rd, Right onto Emery's Bridge Road, Right onto Ogunquit Road, Right onto North Village Road, Right onto Clay Hill Road.  In a half mile the course will make a right onto  Mountain road, then another quick right at the next stop sign (still on Mountain Road).  The transition area is 2.7 miles on your right. (base of Mt. Agamenticus parking lot)
 

3rd Leg  3-mile Trail Run - Finishing on top of Mt. Agamenticus.
 
 Course Time Limit: 3:30 minutes
 Previous Years Results:  2009 Results | 2008 Results | 2007 Results | 2006 Results
 Course Records: 
  Male Course Record: Jeff Donatello 1:40:00 2007
  Female Course Record: Chessell McGee 1:53:35 2007

 

NO KAYAK EXPERIENCE NECESSARY: For those with minimum or no kayak experience, no need to worry. This is an easy course with very little current that took the slowest person under 30 minutes last year. Many people in the race were new to the kayak last year and everyone came out of their boats smiling. Even if you don't have a kayak, you can rent one, but reserve it soon as the number is limited. Rent with Portsmouth Kayak Adventures and they will drop your boat off at the start and pick it up after the kayak leg is over with.


 
You cannot leave your kayak and go back and get it after the race and your support must set up your bike at the mountain.  The finish line is 15 miles away from the start, so make sure your support knows how to get there (see directions)

Kayak Race Rules:

It should be noted this is a point to point race and the athletes must have help transporting their kayaks to and from the water entrance.  Volunteers will be there to help but should not be relied upon as a primary means of kayak transport.

No racing kayaks are allowed.  The boat should be a sea kayak 20 feet or shorter in length with a width no slimmer than 20 inches at the seat.  No winged paddles are allowed. Kayakers should be experienced but do not need to be expert paddlers as the section of the Piscataqua River in which we are racing is off to the side of the main current.  We anticipate a two knot current pushing back on the racers for the first mile then a two knot current behind them upon returning back to the dock.
 
Alternate Course: The race director reserves the right to turn the race into a Duathlon should weather not permit the use of kayaks. This would only occur if the tidal conditions were too turbulent or there was a fog bank that diminished viewing of the racers to the point of being dangerous. If its too dangerous, the kayak would be substituted with a 2 mile road run starting and ending where the bikes will be stored in transition at the Eliot Boat Basin.