East End Race Series

Orange = Parking; Yellow = Unloading Zone & Bath House; Green = Race Start; Blue = Portland Paddle

We suggest arriving between 5:00pm and 5:15pm to allow time to park, unload, and check in. You may need to park up the hill if the main lot is full, so account for a few minutes of walking. If you are renting a boat, or would like to change your racing class, please arrive on the earlier side.

There are no limits or fees on daytime parking in the lots circled in orange, or in the residential neighborhoods at the top of the hill (indicated by the orange arrow), as long as no signs indicate otherwise. Check-in is by the East End Beach entrance, near the bathhouse and Portland Paddle shipping containers (yellow and blue on the map respectively).

Race start location is on the main beach at East End Beach past the bath house, indicated by green on the map.

Overview

During the East End Race Series we will rotate through several different courses. Each course will be raced 1-2 times, unless weather dictates otherwise. Each course will range from approximately 3-5 nautical miles in length (exact length constrained by available landmarks). Every race will start and end at the main beach at the East End Beach in Portland, Maine. Races start with boats floating on the water behind the start line, indicated by anchored buoys. Jockeying for a good start position is considered part of the racing challenge!

We select courses with the intention of making racing accessible to beginner racers, while also challenging to more experienced racers. Wind, current, waves, shallow water, rocks, mud, and other factors may all pose additional challenges to racers during a race.

Course Descriptions

Detailed written course descriptions can be found here. Each description includes waypoints (such as navigation buoys or landmarks) which racers must pass by in order to stay on course. It is strongly advised that racers study the Casco Bay nautical chart before race start time in order to familiarize themselves with the general area, potential hazards, and relevant landmarks.

2025 Course Schedule

1. Fort Gorges Sprint (~3nm, Dark Red)
2. Race to Nowhere [Green Can 9] (~4nm, Dark Yellow)
3. Back Cove (~4nm, Green)
4. The Brothers (~5nm, Blue)
5. Martin’s Point Sprint (~3nm, Purple)
6. Little Diamond Shoreline (~4nm, Pink)
7. Presumpscot River / Gisland Farm (~5nm, Light Yellow)
8. Fort Gorges Sprint (~3nm, Dark Red)

Overview of race courses

Maps, nautical charts, and descriptions of that week’s race will be available on this webpage, in person, and in the prerace email. It is the racers’ sole responsibility to stay on course!

Start and finish lines will be indicated by a pair of small orange buoys floating on the water. Turning points will be marked by fixed features (islands, coast guard navigation aids, etc) or by a large race buoy placed and clearly described before the start of the race.

Weather Procedures

Severe winds, thunderstorms, torrential rain, thick fog, or other weather events might delay or cancel a race. We strive to make the go-no go decision by 3pm on race day, but sometimes mother nature requires a last minute cancellation. If wind or fog conditions still allow for racing but constrain course choices we will either race an alternate course from the above list or the “Mooring Field Disco”, an obstacle course of navigation aids which sticks close to the shore of the East End Beach.

Mooring Field Disco

Races involve paddling on the open waters of Casco Bay, where currents, tides, wind, waves, cold water, wildlife, commercial and recreational boat traffic, rocks, shallows, and other hazards may be present. All crafts and their paddlers must be adequately prepared to handle these conditions, be responsible for their own safety, and to follow Coast Guard regulations. This includes wearing a life jacket at all times, and by keeping noise signaling and communication devices on their person. Individual paddlers are solely responsible for their decision to go out in whatever conditions present themselves.

• Sit-inside vessels  must have appropriate features and equipment to provide flotation, and allow paddlers to use established self rescue practices. SUPs, surf skis, and other sit-on-top vessels must be connected to the paddler by a leash or tether.
• Each craft is expected to have at least one paddler who has the prior training and experience to perform an established self rescue appropriate for the craft and venue, to help other members of their boat if necessary, and to carry the necessary equipment for said rescues. We strongly recommend wearing a wetsuit in case of immersion.
• Please note that racers are expected to look out for each other under a common adventure model. Should someone become in distress, other racers are asked to assist them. There will not be a motor boat or sweep paddler on course.
• Race management will be monitoring racers from shore with binoculars, will contact racers if they do not return on time, and will have both cell phones and maritime VHFs on their person at all times, but will be limited in their capacity to provide assistance.
• Racers are advised to bring a nautical chart and compass for navigation, both in case of an emergency and to help ensure they stay on course. Each race will begin with a map briefing from race management, and course description will be available ahead of time via this webpage and a pre-race email. A headlamp or flashlight is also recommended in case of a late return.
• Racers must be off the water by 8 oclock. If finishing the race is not possible within this time limit racers are asked to get to shore as quickly as is safely possible and check in with race management via phone or VHF.

Sea Kayak rescue skills and Navigation skills trainings are available through Portland Paddle. Rescue equipment and wetsuits/drysuits may also be available for rent on a first come, first served basis.

Participants should bring their own boat and equipment unless they have arranged for a rental from Portland Paddle as part of their race registration. Please see the safety parameters above and the race classifications below for information on appropriate types of vessels.

Racers will be asked to place themselves in a race class at registration based on three criteria: vessel type, experience level, and gender identity.

Vessel Types:

Touring K1 – Any typical sea kayak meant for touring and other recreational paddling. Generally 14 – 18 feet long, and made of plastic, wood, or fiberglass.

High Speed K1 – Any kayak meant for going FAST! Generally 17+ feet and made of fiberglass, kevlar, or other high performance materials. Includes surf skis. Also appropriate for OC1/Va’a.

Touring SUP – A typical SUP, meant for casual paddling, yoga, surfing, etc.

High Speed SUP – Long, skinny SUPs meant for racing or otherwise going FAST!

K2 -Any 2 person kayak with appropriate safety features for the ocean. Also appropriate for OC2/Va’a. K2 teams do not have to be the same experience level or gender as each other. K2 racers must both register, but it is okay to mix a series pass racer and a single entry racer.

Other – If you have a seaworthy, human powered vessel which does not fit into another category. Examples include rowing boats, canoes with sufficient floatbags/deck covers, 3 or 4 person kayaks, etc. We will contact you to confirm the appropriateness of the boat for this style of racing.

Experience Level:

Beginner / Recreational – for the casual or first season racers!

Advanced / Competitive – for any paddler who wants to go head to head with the fastest competitors!

Gender Identity:

Racers can choose from male, female, or nonbinary.

The Points Series is a fun way to track your progress over the season, compare to fellow racers, and motivate yourself to race regularly! Each race of the series you accumulate points based on where you finished, which are added up at the end of the season to determine your total score. Your best 7 races of the season count towards the point series.

We use a 10 point system each race of the series. First place receives 10 points, second place receives 9 points, etc. down to 10th place. Everyone who finished 10th and below receives 1 point. Not racing is of course 0 points.

Results

View results from the 2023 series!

Photos

View photos of the series!