Join the Florida Competition Paddlers Association for our annual Manatee Run in Ft. Myers Florida on Saturday, March 17, 2018.  The race has long and short course options and is open to all paddle craft.  This race is free but you will pay a $5 parking fee. 

Registration begins at 9:00 am, race starts promptly at 10:00 am at Manatee Park on the Orange River in Ft. Myers.  Long course racers will paddle at least 10 miles (could be combination downstream and upstream).  Short course racers will paddle upstream to the orange buoy and back for a total distance approximately 4 miles. 

Manatee Park, owned and operated by Lee County, charges $5/day for parking.  Payments are made with cash or credit card using one of the two pay machines.  The following advisory is pasted from the park web site (http://www.leegov.com/parks/facility?fid=0088 ): “The Paddlecraft Launch is temporarily closed due to extremely low tides and sediment deposited from Hurricane Irma.  Kayaks, canoes and paddleboards can be launched at our access on the Orange River. This access is available daily from 9:00AM to 4:30PM.  Vehicles will need to park in the parking lot and paddlecraft will need to be walked 390 feet to the launch site.”  Carts are recommended. 

Following the race, we will meet for lunch and awards at the Beef O’ Bradys (1.8 miles east of Manatee Park) 11841 Palm Beach Blvd, Fort Myers, FL, 33905.

Location of Race: Manatee Park, 10901 State Road 80 (Palm Beach Blvd.) Fort Myers, FL 33905

Registration: All competitors must register on-site 9-9:45am.  Online preregistration via PaddleGuru or Facebook is appreciated and will help us anticipate the number of participants

Race Start: 10:00 am

POC: Pat Owen  p8owen@yahoo.com 

Contact Pat Owen by email if you need help finding a nearby campground.

The FCPA was formed in 1976 to coordinate and promote the sport of canoe and kayak racing in Florida.  The FCPA hosts approximately fourteen free recreational races across the state of Florida each year.  To be eligible for the annual points championship, you must be an FCPA member which costs $10 annually.  FCPA members receive a free meal at the awards banquet and a monthly email newsletter which contains a race schedule, race results, articles written by members and member classified ads.

FCPA races are very high-stake affairs, with expensive ribbons awarded to winners in each division.  Annual points champions are awarded a coveted T-shirt during the annual meeting/awards banquet (following the Silver Springs Race) in December.  Divisions are established using the USCA age/gender designations and the following boat classifications:

1.      Paddle while standing – Paddleboard

2.      Paddle while sitting:

    a.      With two-blade paddle – Kayak

    b.      With single-blade paddle – Canoe

                     i.     Outrigger or Highkneel Canoe – Unlimited Canoe

NOTE – All participants are responsible for carrying safety equipment required by law.