Calling all paddlecraft: From canoes to kayaks, paddleboards to rowboats, it’s time to register for the second annual Conquer the Current Paddle Regatta hosted by the Connecticut River Museum (CRM) on Sunday, Aug. 5. Requirements for entry are pretty simple.

“If you can paddle it, you can bring it,” said event chair Jeremy Soboleski. “We had a guy in a rowing shell last year [and] we had another guy with a homemade dory kind of boat.”

Soboleski came up with the idea last year for a paddle regatta, and participated as a paddler in the inaugural event. This year though, he decided he had a little extra time and would try to chair the event by himself.

“It all started with me and a buddy, we were just going to grab a cooler and some beer, paddle down and try and raise some money for the museum, and then I shared the idea with [CRM Executive Director] Chris [Dobbs], and he said it was a great idea,” said Soboleski.

After some discussion, Dobbs suggested they make an actual event for the museum and from that came Conquer the Current. Last year’s race was so successful, with around 54 participants, that it was decided a second year would benefit all involved.

“A good number are registered already, we’re beating last year’s track, but people wait until the last minute. Last year we had more than half the people join the week before,” said Soboleski. “We’re shooting to double this year, we’re hoping for 100 participants…That’s a good number, we’re able to cover costs and give a lot of money back to the educational scholarship fund.”

There will be two races this year, one short and one long, both with CRM as the destination. The shorter race will depart from Eagle Landing State Park in Haddam at 9 a.m. and the longer race will depart from Riverfront Park in Middletown at 8 a.m.

The Eagle Landing Recreational Race is 8.74 miles and the Middletown Points Race is 21.4 miles. Both races will end with food, an award ceremony, and more at CRM.

The Middletown Points Race is a world paddle association sanctioned point race, which means those who participate will get points toward their standing for their championship, so that race should be pretty competitive said Soboleski.

Soboleski stressed that the short race is less a race and more a nice morning’s paddle.

“Last year my wife, myself, and my three boys all went down. My wife kayaked and the rest of us were on paddleboards. My sons are 12 and they did it, so you don’t have to be a super good athlete to get down the river,” said Soboleski. “I want people to understand it’s a fun race, not a ‘tough mudder’ type of tough.”

The cost of the event is mostly covered by sponsors. The list of sponsors so far include Tito’s Vodka, Ivory Wealth Management (for which Soboleski serves as vice president), Essex Marine Group, John DeGrand & Son, and Tow Boat US.

“Sponsors pretty much cover all of our costs and there’s more sponsors coming in every day,” sais Soboleski. “The more people who sponsor, the more we can give back to the scholarship fund.”

There will be food trucks and refreshments at the finish line, including Tito’s Vodka as well as many local food trucks.

“Right now we have a dozen that are going to try or may, but it’s a last minute decision who will actually show up,” said Soboleski. “Right now there’s four guaranteed from local food truck vendors.”

There will also be awards handed out to the top three participants in each class—SUP, kayak, canoe and open—in the form of Olympic-style gold, silver, and bronze medals.

“We say Conquer the Current, kind of as tongue in cheek because we use the current to get down faster,” said Soboleski. “The shorter race is definitely one of the easiest 8.7 mile races you’re going to take part in, so it’s a good way to bang out a significant distance that you normally wouldn’t do.”

Soboleski thinks the river is underused by non-boat owners and wants to spread the word that you don’t need an expensive boat to enjoy the river.

“It’s a beautiful river, people should get out there and use it,” he said.

The deadline to register is officially the night before the race, Saturday, Aug. 4, Soboleski said, but if you come in before 7 a.m. when they hand out the bib numbers, you’re in.

The race is fully supported by support boats, a safety plan, and a float plan.

“We’ve got a whole flotilla of support boats and a sweeper boat at the back…No one’s gonna get behind that, so we always know we’ve got all the participants covered,” said Soboleski.

Tow Boat US will operate a safety boat along the course to make sure other boats are aware that a race is going on.

“The nice thing about paddle craft is we’re basically going to be coming down the western shore, so we won’t be in the channel,” said Soboleski.

Entry for the Eagle Landing Recreational Race is $50 per person or $85 for tandem kayak/canoe; the Middletown Points Race is $80 per person or $140 for tandem kayak/canoe.

“All profit goes to the museum’s scholarship education fund...100 percent of the profit,” Soboleski said.

Conquer the Current

The Conquer the Current paddle regatta to benefit the Connecticut River Museum (CRM) is on Sunday, Aug. 5 from 8 a.m. (Middletown) or 9 a.m. (Haddam) to 3 p.m. Register through paddleguru.com or at CRM, 67 Main Street, Essex. Upon registration, a detailed race sheet will be sent with the daily schedule. For more information, visit the Conquer the Current page at ctrivermuseum.org.