The most grueling canoe race in the world, the Texas Water Safari, will start at 9 am on June 10, 2006 in San Marcos, Texas. This year, a class has been added to allow boats, not just canoes, to compete in the Safari. Solo entrants are also allowed.

Since 1963, thousands of canoeists have started the 260+ mile race. The course of the Texas Water Safari (TWS) begins in the headwaters of the San Marcos River, flows past the confluence of the San Marcos and Blanco Rivers to the convergence of the San Marcos and Guadalupe Rivers, and then follows the length of the Guadalupe River to the Gulf coast.

Safari entrants must pack all provisions–food, equipment and items of repair–in their boat or on their person before the start of the race. Nothing may be purchased or delivered to a team during the race except water and/or ice. Teams must arrive at mandated checkpoints by specific times to remain competitive and finish within 100 hours to win the coveted Safari patch.

This is not a race for beginners. It is a tough, dangerous, exhausting world-class race of up to 100 hours. The Texas Water Safari is the grand finale to several marathon canoe races held in Central and Southern Texas each year.

Keep your provisions dry,

Eileen