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2022
Sites and Scenes

Thank you to our photographic partners: the City of Portsmouth Department of Marketing & Communications, which provided two roving photographers; and Renee Russell, official Friends photographer.

Getting the Boats, Boards and Boaters Ready
 

Eda Wu, 1st Place, Beg-Int 20-35 y.o. SUP Class

Heading Out to the Start

Katie Roberts, 1st Place, Adv. 41+ y.o. SUP Class (pink shirt)

Portsmouth Mayor Shannon Glover and friends head to the Start Line

David Mitchell, Racer and Sponsor (MD Lock Doc)

Waiting for the Start

Emily Pauler

And They're Off!

Racing at Last

CAPT Nelle Linz, MC, USN, rounding at the Hammer Head Crane on her way to winning the 1st Annual Challenge Cup

Finishing and Relaxing -- at Last

Eda Wu, 1st Place, Beg-Int 20-35 y.o. SUP Class

Emily Pauler

Keep digging Mayor Shannon Glover

High 5!

A relaxed Mayor Shannon Glover

Doing it Safely

From the first planning meeting for the first Portsmouth Paddle Battle, running a fun and unique event safety has been a primary concern.

This is a unique event in so far as we share our Race course with very large Navy and commercial ships

This year saw us share the water with the 600' Texas Harmony bulk carrier (right) add the 480' Nordic Mari chemical tanker (below).

Planning with the Coast Guard and with the maritime industry begins in January and February to ensure that the commercial maritime community is aware of when Paddle Battlers will be in the water and to coordinate use of the Elizabeth River.

This year we had 2 Coast Guard boats, 1 Portsmouth Fire Department boat (with EMT aboard),1 TowBoat US boat and 4 private boats on the water throughout the Race to provide a buffer between the Race course and non-Race traffic and to stand by to assist if needed.

A huge Thank You to the US Coast Guard (including Aux. Flotilla 05-08), the Portsmouth Fire Department, TowBoat US, the Portsmouth Boat Club, Freedom Boat Club and all of the individual on-the-water volunteers!

And there is Fun on the Land Too

This year Paddle Battle added two corn-hole toss stations (above) and face-painting (right) -- both of which were hits.

And the Tidewater Maritime Living History Association re-enactors are always a popular land-side event.

And then there is the Music, once again Featuring Soul Intent (right)...

and Dan Rosnato (left and below).

Plus Race watching (right and below) ...

and just strolling and hanging out.

Thank you to Our Volunteers

Race Committee (from left to right): Joe Locke; DeBra Locke; Gary Bahena (Paddle Battle Chair); Matt Arel; Mary Arel; Ingani Franklin

With some starting at 6 AM and others not leaving until 6 PM, it takes over 60 land-side Volunteers working three shifts to put on the Portsmouth Paddle Battle -- manning the beer tents or the Registration Desk ...

assisting with off-loading and re-loading Kayaks and SUPs from Racer vehicles (a service popular with Paddle Battlers), assisting with launching and landing Kayaks and SUPs, answering questions and just offering whatever assistance is requested -- and that is in addition to the 15+ on the water Volunteers.

Renee Russell, Official Friends Photographer

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