Cayuco Race 2010

Thanks to Dan-Heinrichs, The American Society, and the Balboa Paddle Club for this article and the cayuco pictures.

The 2010 annual Ocean-to-Ocean Cayuco race is scheduled for March 26-27-28, 2010.  If you have not previously spent time at the Panama Canal watching and enjoying this event, you should consider taking in at least a few hours of this colorful race.  

The race is “a traditional community event that began in 1954 involving participants from the Republic of Panama, as well as participants from the United States. Frank Townsend, of the Panama Canal Company, had the great idea to take a group of explorers from the Boy Scouts of America to meet a native community on the Chagres. The youths learned the culture  and traditions of our native Indians, and how to use the cayuco, main method of  transportation of this region. In time, the competition among them intensified and they choose to have a formal race.  This was the beginning of a tradition that has lasted for 50 years.

Traditionally, the Cayucos are made from rough dug outs of national trees by the Indian natives of Panama. Subsequently they are finished  by experts of the sport. This is an art that transcends generations. The race,  organized by the volunteer race committee of the Balboa Paddle Club, offers the  unique opportunity for these participants to paddle in cayucos from ocean to ocean  through the Panama Canal.

This exciting Atlantic to Pacific race tests the endurance and character of the participants. Just completing the 50 grueling miles is truly an accomplishment for these young men and women. The race is also open to those hardy adults willing to participate. Although the competitive spirit is most evident throughout the three day event, the satisfaction of completing the race is equally rewarding and memorable.

The race begins on Friday with the first stretch, at the Atlantic entrance of the Canal in Cristobal, ending at Gatun Locks, and is approximately 7 miles. Saturday’s second stretch takes participants across Gatun Lake and ends in Gamboa, and is approximately 21 miles.  

On Sunday, race starts in Gamboa at Beacon 93 and ends at the Pedro Miguel Boat Landing. At the end of this leg, the Cayucos wait for permission to enter the Pedro Miguel locks where they are locked down to the level of the Miraflores Lake.  Once the miter gates open, the fourth leg of the race starts to end at the entrance  of the Miraflores Locks. Once again, after been granted permission to enter the locks,  the fleet is locked down to the level of the Pacific Ocean. The fifth stretch  then continues from the Miraflores Locks with paddlers coming down the Pacific  channel to the finish line at the Diablo Public Ramp. This stretch is approximately 15 miles.”

Events:  http://www.cayucorace.org/race-events.htm
Photos & Results: http://www.cayucorace.org/results.htm

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STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE 2010 CAYUCO RACE 

Phillip Critides                          APTUS
Marcos Justine                         APTUS
John Armando                         APTUS
Stephano D’Agord                   APTUS
Alejandro Arango                     MR MOST
Rodolfo Fernandez                   MR MOST
Nina Durbin                             ALMOST
Andrew Bivin                           ALMOST
Collin McMillan                        MOKULALII
Fernando Aragon                     AQUAVIT
Gabriel Kardonski                    AQUAVIT
Schyler Gilmour                        LONE STAR


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Cayuco Race 2009

Balboa Academy students participate in the 2009 annual Ocean to Ocean Cayuco Race.  Student race the native cayucos with four man crews in the male, female, and mixed youth categories. Adults race in an open category. The ocean to ocean race is proceeded by four short races, (the Amador Causeway Regatta, the Veracruz Cup, the Atlantic Cup. and the Gamboa Regatta) which prepare the teams for the final 5O mile race.  The final ocean to ocean race is staged on 3 days over the Palm Sunday weekend with over 50 cayucos participating.  Team training normally starts in November.

Cayucos in the 2009 race with crewmembers from Balboa Academy were:

APTUS
MR. MOST
RAPID TRANSIT
WAHOO
RIO CHAGRES
PLAN B
MR. DICK
UTOPIA
JUAN BATE
FREEDOM
SAE

Jennifer Wolcott and Dan Heinrichs' photos from the 2009 Cayuco Races can be viewed at:

http://dan-heinrichs.smugmug.com/PANAMA/2009-Cayuco-Races/7895031_bfPPN#512205556_D5Jbm