2021 Virtual PADDLE FOR ACCESS IS BACK!

Thank you for joining us for the 4th annual Paddle for Access hosted by Clean Ocean Access where our mission is to inspire and educate the community to take action through environmentally responsible behaviors.

Since 2006, Clean Ocean Access has worked to eliminate marine debris, improve water quality, and preserve and protect public shoreline access. As a part of our Access Program, we monitor 50 designated rights-of-way to the shore  all year-round across the 69 miles of coastline on Aquidneck Island. To date, Clean Ocean Access has adopted 31 of these ROWs for residents and visitors alike to enjoy. Most recently adopting Marine Ave in Newport on June 10, 2020!

In celebration of our ongoing work to protect and preserve shoreline access, we will host the 4th Annual Paddle for Access event virtually for 50 days from July 2nd to August 21st in honor of the 50 ROWs here on Aquidneck Island. Each week we will promote multiple ROWs on Aquidneck Island to encourage all to get out there and enjoy these public access points.

Paddle for Access originated as a Stand-Up Paddle-Board (SUP) race around Goat Island and has since become an event for multiple paddle disciplines (SUP, prone, canoe, kayak). This year again we will go even further and encourage additional activities and challenges at public rights of way across Aquidneck Island. All activities either at or from public access points brings awareness to the importance of public access and support our work to promote and protect these vital connections to the shore.

For those who are more inclined to stay on land, we welcome the opportunity for you to enjoy these locations from the land whether that be fishing, monitoring the access point, or helping cleaning the shoreline and to document the marine debris you find. For those who want to get out on the water to participate in some challenges, we have those for you as well!

Interested in sponsoring the event, a participant, or a team?

We welcome businesses or individuals to support the cause. Please view our sponsorship packet here and contact us at pfa@cleanoceanacccess.org to learn about sponsorship opportunities!

Water Challenges – Any course welcome

Due to the nature of our event becoming virtual with no set course, our competition includes the following challenges you can register for and yes you can participate in more than one!

• Timed 3-mile race
• Timed 6-mile race

In addition to these two timed challenges, we have created the following challenges:

• Largest total miles paddled during the 50 day period
• The largest number of miles paddled in one day
• The most amount of rights-of-way’s visited over the 50 day period. Visits include launched from or paddled to.

Note: You may redo challenges as many times as you would like before August 21st and the best result will be the final counted score. Results must be received by end of day on August 21st to be considered for awards.

Race Divisions

• 12’6 And Under SUP
• 14′ And Over SUP
• Prone All Sizes
• Sea Kayak - All Sizes
• Solo Canoe - All Sizes

Here's How it Works:

1. Participate in the challenge(s).

2. Record your time and course on a GPS app. In order for us to track your results, we require all submitted results to be from GPS fitness apps such as Garmin, Strava, SpeedCoach, MapMyRun, or any other GPS apps. Example screenshot of a race path shown below. FYI this was a point to point course.

3. Enter your information in our Google Form Here                        

4. Share your results on social media/gofundme page and use the hashtag #PaddleForAccess!

Note - If you are participating in a duration challenge such as the greatest number of miles traveled in 50 days or the greatest number of ROWs visited please either wait until the end of the 50 day period to submit your total miles/total amount of ROWs visit, or submit each activity and we will add it up.

To find out where the ROW’s are on the island, please visit – this CRMC Map

Land Challenges

For those who wish to support our work on the land, we have devised a few additional challenges for you that encourage everyone to get outside and enjoy Aquidneck Island's public access rights-of-ways and yes you may compete in more than one challenge!

• Most number of cleanups hosted
• The most amount of ROW’s visited on Aquidneck Island
• The most amount of Aquidneck Island ROW site surveys

To find out where the ROW’s are, please visit – this CRMC Map

Here's How it Works:

1. Participate in a challenge(s)

2. For shoreline cleanup challenges, please fill out our tally sheet

3. For site survey challenges, please fill out our site survey form or the online version of the form

4. Enter your information in our Google Form Here                        

Don't forget to share your results on social media/gofundme page and use the hashtag #PaddleForAccess!

Notes – All information needs to be submitted by 8/15 to be considered for awards. A participant can compete in as many challenges including land or sea as they would like!

Fundraising Challenges

Our Paddle for Access race has historically been a major fundraiser that allows us to continue our work. To further support our mission, we encourage everyone on water or land to help raise funds and awareness for COA by joining our GoFundMe campaign. We encourage all participants to set a fundraising goal of $500 however for those who go above and beyond we have created additional goals.

Here's How it Works:

Fundraising will take place on GoFundMe. Each participant will join either as an individual, in a team, or create a team. Once signed up, participants will be able to share their progress competing in the water and land challenges on social media, email, or other platforms. Feel free to hashtag your social media posts as #PaddleForAccess!

Challenge Winners & Fundraising Incentives

• If you raise $250 you will receive a COA branded t-shirt, stainless steel cup, and COA bag.
• If you raise $500 you will receive a COA branded sweatshirt, t-shirt, stainless steel cup, and COA bag.
• If you raise greater than $1,000 they will receive a COA branded beach towel, sweatshirt, t-shirt, stainless steel cup, and COA bag.

What Comes with My Registration?

ln addition to supporting our mission, the first 100 participants will receive a Clean Ocean Access gift available for pickup at our office, 21 John Clarke Road, Middletown, RI 02842.

Your participation also includes an online fundraising page where you can help raise funds to support our work. Please join us and help support our work to protect and preserve shoreline access throughout Rhode Island!

Can't make the race?

You can still help support our work to protect and preserve shoreline access throughout Rhode Island by donating here: https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/paddle-for-access-2021 

A Word on Safety

All participants are required to wear a personal flotation device and leash on the water. For further information regarding safe paddling, please see here: https://paddling.com/learn/paddle-safety/

Want to know more about public access on Aquidneck Island or across Rhode Island?

Two great resources to learn more about public access is our Access page or the Coastal Resources Management Councils page on Public Access in RI.