OAK BLUFFS, MA – Coming by kayak, paddleboard, swimming or cheering from the sand, the Oar & Paddle Regatta hosted by Island Spirit Kayak brought out ocean lovers of all ages.
“It’s really a calming experience if you’re taking it at your own pace. you can look into the water and see fish swimming around,” says Talia Young, who first participated in a double kayak with her mother Trena years ago.
A 2.4 mile race created to raise funds to protect and support Friends of Sengekontacket through their beloved waters, Island Spirit Kayak proudly celebrated 35 years of the tradition. “What’s really fun is all the people who come out here who don’t usually paddle,” explains Chick Stapleton, owner of Island Kayak. “A lot of the guys this their one time of year they come to raise money for Friends of Sengekontacket.”
Established to support the preservation of Sengekontacket Pond; the Barrier Beach and Trapp’s Pond; Friends of Sengekontacket was founded in 1988 after the pond was closed for the first time in history for shell fishing due to high coliform counts. Inspired to prevent any further detriment to their beloved wildlife and waters, the non-profit continues to protect the waterways’ natural ecosystem through a variety of means.
“We have beach cleanups 3-4 times a week, and there’s a ton of trash along State Beach and it gets in the nests and so we pick that up every day so the tourists can come down and they always have a nice, pristine beach down here,” explains Stapleton. “We also do nitrogen testing, we dredge out the canal when it gets filled in ‘to keep the water quality pretty high and we also do the carry in carry home program. We have such a delicate wildlife system here.”
As a way to have fun while supporting their larger mission, the Oar & Paddle Regatta features a feast of breakfast sandwiches and grilled lunch options, medals, raffles and the opportunity to mingle with likeminded ocean-and animal – lovers. “The biggest division is people with their dogs so it’s really a calm, beautiful, family event,” says Stapleton. “Take your time, have fun and it’s for a good cause.”
To learn more about Friends of Sengekontacket or Island Spirit Kayak, visit their websites.
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Emmalyn Reid 