Skip Navigation

August 12, 2010, Freeport-Baldwin Leader

Freeport canoe races August 15

Thu, Aug 12, 2010

The Annual Canoe Race Fundraiser is this Sunday.

The 40th Annual PAL Great Freeport Canoe Race is on August 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sea Breeze Park at the foot of Woodcleft Avenue. Freeport PAL officials, Chamber of Commerce members, the Coast Guard Auxiliary and Freeport Water Police are at the ready. We expect hundreds of people to race and cheer the paddlers.  Racing enthusiasts will bring picnic lunches and lawn chairs and enjoy the races from the shore. Volunteers are ready to give it their all, from the canoe launchers loading boats all day; to the rescue boats staffed by Freeport residents; to coordinators signing up, setting up, or officiating race results.  

 The race is a joint effort by Freeport PAL, and the Freeport Chamber of Commerce and is sponsored by Long Island Checker Cab, with all proceeds going to the PAL.   Freeport PAL is a volunteer organization which organizes year-round team sports for the youth of Freeport. The sports include soccer, basketball, flag football, rowing, boxing and golf. Many of the local businesses and restaurants sponsor canoers and put their employees into the races.  

Some of the businesses sponsoring and racing will be:

  • Otto’s Sea Grill
  • EB Elliot’s Restaurant
  • Two Cousins Fish Market
  • Capt. Lou Fleet
  • White & Re Insurance Agency
  • Ahab’s Attic
  • Crow’s Nest Mini-Golf
  • Blue 42 Restaurant
  • Land Shark Tiki Bar

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Freeport Chamber of Commerce is an integral part of both the success of the Canoe Race and Freeport in making it a wonderful place to live and work. There will be a special race this year called the Media Race.  Newspapers and news stations will compete against each other in one heat – if they dare!

This year’s race is dedicated to Marion Knoeller for her volunteerism for every one of the past 39 canoe races.  It was her earlier efforts in formulating and executing the races so many years ago that have resulted in the long-standing success of this event.  Marion passed  away this year, and her presence at the races will be missed.

- Susan Lyons

Please login to post your comments.