Course Description


The race courses are on a stretch of the Penobscot River that has been recently

restored to preindustrial free-flowing condition through the removal of two

dams (the Great Works and Veazie dams). The river has been essential to people

here for thousands of years, for sustenance, traveling, and industry. Now, with

this stretch returned to a more natural state, this large river can again

support a vibrant ecosystem and exciting recreational opportunities. The

Penobscot River is an industrial river and remnant industrial debris exists in

and along the river  in the Great Works,

Basin Mills, and Veazie rapids.

The

Penobscot Nation and ACA New England hosted the 1st Annual Bashabez Run on

this stretch of river, re-tracing the route of Chief Bashabez from Indian

Island to Brewer. Photos from the 2014 race are online.

Photos

from the 2016 Regatta with great shots from the river: 2016 Regatta Photos.

Course Maps: http://penobscotriverwhitewaternationalsregatta.com/course/

Downriver

Courses:  Downriver races (for Open Canoe, SUP and Kayak downriver) will start

at Old Town’s Binette Park (map location B) and finish at the Eddington Salmon

Club (Map location I) covering about 9.4 miles. There are five significant

rapids on the racecourse and are separated by varying lengths of quick water.

All five of the rapids are of class II-III+ whitewater, depending on flow

rates, and each extends over a significant distance. The rapids are: French

Island Rips (map location B) (class 2, ~100 yds), Great Works (map location C) (class

2 to 3, ~700 yds), Basin Mills (map location F) (Class 2-3, ~250 yds), an

un-named class 1-2 rapid of about 200 yds, and Veazie Rapids (map location H-J) (Class

2-3, ~800 yds). 

At normal flows, there are no mandatory portages, but the

rapids can be portaged if a racer so chooses. Any portage chosen should be

scouted since the terrain of the banks varies and industrial debris

exists in places. Racers are unlikely to encounter non-racing recreational nor

commercial rafting/boat traffic. Starts for the downriver race will be mass

starts by class. With good current the whole way, times for the downriver races

should be 60-80 minutes depending on the craft and paddler

ability.

Youth Downriver Course:  Competitors 10-12 and 13-15 yrs. will start at the Orono Town Boat Launch (map

location G) downstream of the Basin Mills rapid to the finish line in Veazie (map

location H) upstream of the Veazie Eddington rapid.   This course will be quick water nearly all

the way and would include one un-named class 1 or 2 rapid.  Approximately 3 miles.

Sprint Course: The sprint races will start upstream of Great Works rapid (map location C) and will finish at the end

of Great Works rapid (map location D). 

Length: approximately 0.4 miles.  Starts

for the sprints will be on one-minute intervals.

USA Wildwater Sprint Course:  The USA Wildwater Sprint will start upstream

of Great Works rapid (map location C) and will finish at the end of the Great

Works rapid (map location D). 

Approximately 0.4 miles.

USA Wildwater Classic Course:  The USA Wildwater Classic

(downriver) will start at Old Town’s Binette Park (map location B) and will finish at the end of the Great Works rapid (map location D).