Ocean to Ocean Cayuco race the weeks best free sporting event

The big spectator event for the upcoming week will be the annual Ocean-to-Ocean Cayuco race which runs Friday through Sunday ( March 26-28).

The race involves competitors of both sexes and many age groups competing in teams, but they have two things in common: endurance and their craft, traditional dugouts hollowed out from trees. One hundred crews who have qualified for the finals after months of training will paddle the Panama Canal for 50 miles from Colon to Panama
The event first took form in 1954 when a group of Boy Scouts were taken to meet an indigenous community The youths learned the culture and traditions of the indigenous people particularly the use of their chief means of transportation the cayuco. From friendly local challenges the paddling grew into a formal race andthe beginning of a tradition that has lasted for over 50 years.

 Today Cayucos are made from rough dug outs hollowed out from national trees by the Indian natives of Panama, and finished by  construction experts addicted to the sport.
The race, organized by the volunteer race committee of the Balboa Paddle Club, offers a unique opportunity for participants to paddle cayucos from ocean to ocean through the Panama Canal.

The challenging Atlantic to Pacific race tests the endurance and character of the participants who have gone through months of training and qualifying events. The competitive spirit is strong over the three days but, like marathon running to reach the finishing line is a rewarding and memorable experience.

The race starts Friday with the first stretch from the Atlantic entrance of the Canal in Cristobal, ending at Gatun Locks, approximately 7 miles. Saturday’s second stretch takes participants across Gatun Lake and ends in Gamboa, a 21 mile challenge.
On Sunday, the competition resumes in Gamboa at Beacon 93 and ends at the Pedro Miguel Boat Landing.
At the end of this leg, the Cayucos to enter the Pedro Miguel locks where they are locked down to the level of the Miraflores Lake. And the race is on again to the Miraflores locks where the the fleet is descends to the level of the Pacific Ocean.

The fifth and last stretch continues from Miraflores Locks to the finish line at the Diablo Public Ramp. This stretch is approximately 15 miles.
Gathering to watch the scores of cayucas make their final run has become an annual tradition for hundreds of local citizens, and the Balboa Paddle Club sets up refreshment stalls. The time to arrive is around 2 p.m.

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