Round Kerrera kayak race
The ninth Oban Sea Kayak Race took place on Saturday August 25 starting at 1pm from Oban Bay.
The race is the biggest sea kayak competition in the UK and attracts the top names from around the world to take part.
Forty-six kayakers took part this year in calm, sunny conditions, with the Oban lifeboat in attendance to start the race.
The men’s Champion and overall winner was Duncan Capps CBE Hants in a time of 01:41:54 and the Ladies Champion was Lizelle Kemp Dunbar with a PB of 01:52:24
Since its inaugural race in 2010, the organisers have donated more than £16,000 to Oban’s RNLI lifeboat through the continuous support from local business and the proceeds raised from entries to the event. The race wouldn’t be able to continue without the hard work of the organising team, who give their time freely to make this event the success it has become.
These include those behind the scenes making tea and home baking, organising the website and admin, facilities for the weekend and race day, ensuring emergency services and port authorities have been notified and last, but not least, the RIBs and crews that give up their time and own expenses providing safety cover for all the kayakers who take part in one of the most challenging, beautiful and exposed kayak races in the UK.
Next year, the event will have its 10th anniversary. The organisers would like this to be even bigger, but need the support of the whole town of Oban to embrace the event and really put the town on the map. Organisers ask that folk put Saturday August 24, 2019 in their diaries to help out.