Portland Paddle Guide Kayaks the Entire Maine Coast in Four Days

Joe Guglieletti Paddled from Portsmouth to Eastport in 4 Days, 7 Hours and 17 Minutes, Setting a Record Speed

Portland Paddle instructor and guide Joe Guglielmetti proved he can paddle fast when he won first place in last year’s Paddle for the Promenade 10-mile race. This summer he took his speed-paddling up a few notches and departed from Portsmouth, New Hampshire on August 10 with the intention of reaching the Canadian Border as fast as he could. His traverse of the Maine coast in 4 days, 7 hours and 17 minutes is the fastest recorded.

The 230-mile route Joe paddled is not one that anyone regular kayaker should attempt to follow. Joe is an expert paddler and he took extensive precautions and preparations to minimize the risk of taking long open-ocean crossings. But his expedition is inspiring to paddlers of all backgrounds, and we hope it will lead others to find a Maine paddling adventure that suits their experience level.

Below are some photos of Joe’s expedition. He’ll be making a free online presentation on the journey on October 14, 2020 in partnership with the Maine Island Trail Association. Details are here.