Kayak Race Report: The 7th annual Phatwater Kayak Challenge, a 42.5 mile kayak and canoe race on the Mississippi River from Grand Gulf, near Port Gibson, to Natchez Under-The-Hill.

7th Annual Phatwater Kayak Challenge on the Mississippi River

This year, this charity event for the Natchez Adams County Humane Society, was held on October 11th 2008.

This race is a big happening, The USCG closes the Mississippi River to commerce for the Phatwater, from the start until 7 hours later. If you don’t think it’s a big deal, just wait until you see the barge traffic passing under the Natchez Bridge as the river is reopened. Our thanks to the Coasties and to all the safety boaters, staff and volunteers that made this years Phatwater a great event.

Once only a local event, 3 paddlers from South Africa were roiling the waters of the Mississippi with two fighting it out to the phinish. The 4 hour barrier was shattered with a one second difference between first and second place. Steve Woods and Bevan Manson phinished first and second, respectively, one second apart, at 3:54:00 and 3:54:01.  Mike Herbert chased Steve and Bevan down a minute later for a third place phinish, with Erik Borgnes phinishing fourth; all four top phinishers making the 4 hour barrier little more than an historical footnote, with the first solo paddler eclipsing the 4 hour mark taking home a $2000 cash prize. It just cannot get cooler then that.

But don’t let these phast Phatwater phinish times, hold you back from participating… times ranges from the phantastic 3:54:00 to 6:50:54. Completion of this grueling event is an accomplishment in itself, and many compete just to beat their own times from prior years.

The Phatwater is a BornToPaddle.com race favorite, the organizers, volunteers and competitors friendly and the event well organized. Our BTP entry missed a “Sub-V” Swiss army knife by a scant 8 minutes and 15 seconds. However, there is always next year, which by the way will be the 8th annual Phatwater Kayak Challenge and will be held on October 10th 2009.

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