Overview
New in 2024 Paddle 45 is adding an 11 mile point to point downwind race on Grand Traverse West Bay
Registration:
Please go to Paddle Guru to complete registration before Wednesday June 19th.
More details about the overall event weekend and other races can be found at Paddle45
Safety
- All paddlers are required to wear a PFD
- All paddlers must be able to remount their craft in rough water conditions. No exceptions.
- Wear appropriate clothing for the conditions. Water temp should be in the high 50s to low 60s on Race Day. Depending on air temps, wind, and experience level, racers could be in shorts and short sleeve tops up to 1.5 mm neoprene pants and tops.
- All paddlers are required to have a leg or waist leash to their craft or a paddle leash attached to the craft
- All paddlers must wear a high visibility shirt and/or PFD
- All paddlers must carry a fully charged cell phone in their PFD and/or attached to them in some way (not attached to the craft). Phone numbers of the on the water safety team must be preprogrammed into the phone.
- We will have at least one boat and one jet ski on the course throughout the race
Timing
- All paddlers will start together in a deep water start
- Numbers will be taped onto the bow of the boat and/or written on arms/legs. Please call out your number when you cross finish line
- Finish time will be recorded when you take your first step onto the beach (Omena finish) or when your bow crosses the channel marker (Hilltop Boat Launch Finish)
Race Course
The course direction will be confirmed by 12:00 on Friday June 21st. The total distance will vary slightly based on chosen lines, but should between 11 and 11.5 miles.
South Wind: If the wind has any southerly component, the course will start at Hilltop Boat Launch and finish at Omena Beach. From the start, you’ll aim for Lee Point. Once around Lee Point you’ll head straight North for the next ~ 9 miles. After the first 5 miles you’ll pass Stony Point and start crossing the outside of Suttons Bay. Once you have crossed the bay, you’ll continue heading north and into Omena Bay. It is very common for the wind to have some westerly component. If this is the case, you’ll have to make a strategic decision whether or not to go a bit further off shore when you come around Lee Point to get into better waves, or stay closer to shore for a straighter line.
North Wind: If the wind is North, the race will start in Omena Bay and you will head south cutting across Suttons Bay. Once across the bay, you continue straight south from Stony Point to Lee Point. This area can be very shallow if you get within 100 yards of shore. As you near Lee Point, you will pass a big red buoy about a 1/4 mile offshore. Once you come around the point you’ll make a slight right turn and it is just under 2 miles to the boat launch. Look for Hilltop Road and a big barn. At the start, any north wind will be blocked in Omena Bay, but the wind/waves will gradually build as you go. You may want to consider going further off shore at the start to get out of the protection of Omena Bay and into the wind/wave line.
Awards / Post Race Dinner
Awards for the top 3 male and female finishers will be handed out at the post race dinner starting at 7:00 PM at Hop-Lot Brewing in Suttons Bay (recently ranked #2 beer garden in the US). In this first year there will not be awards for age groups or other boat/board classes. Attendance is not mandatory. Each racer will be responsible for their own dinner/drinks, but this will be a great opportunity to share war stories from the race in a casual and fun setting.
Spectator Activities
There is a lot to do and explore along this downwind course route. Starting in Omena, Knot Just a Bar is a great restaurant and bar that overlooks Omena Bay. If you like sweet wines, you’ll want to check out Leelanau Cellars just outside of town. Heading south out of Omena you follow M22 into downtown Suttons Bay with lots of shops and restaurants to choose from. Continuing south from Suttons Bay you’ll go past Black Star Farms and 2 K Farms both great wineries worth checking out. Almost directly across from the Hilltop Boat Launch and up the hill is Suttons Bay Ciders, Ciccone Vineyards, and Mawby Wines. With so much to see and sample, you’ll be excused for not making it to the finish line in time.
