FCRCC Around Bowen Small Boats 2021

RESULTS FOR THIS RACE ARE NOW AVAILABLE.

This year’s Around Bowen race was held as a small boats race on Sunday, July 25, 2021. The race took place in BC’s Howe Sound around Bowen Island, a short ferry ride from Vancouver.

Pre-registered paddlers raced a full circumnavigation of Bowen Island (32 km) or team up for a 2-leg relay, swapping out at Tunstall Bay (18km and 15km legs). The race consisted of pre-registered solos and doubles in high performance kayaks (surfskis), outrigger canoes, stand-up paddleboards (including prone), sea kayaks and ocean rowers.

“The Burrard” – First OC6 In Canada

The CORA Historical Committee accumulated a wealth of stories / photos during the COVID downtime on individuals / clubs / canoes that made significant contributions to Canadian outrigger canoeing. There was a six-person outrigger canoe named “The Burrard”, shrouded in mystery and mentioned only occasionally, that may very well have been the first six-person outrigger canoe to ever voyage Canadian waters. Discovering the complete story of how “The Burrard” arrived in Canada in 1986 until it made its final contribution to the Canadian outrigger canoeing community in 2006 would not have been possible without accounts provided by none other than Annie Boulding (Comox), Jackie Bell (Comox), Heather Taylor (Nanaimo), Ruth Matson (Nanaimo), VPD Officer Dan O’Donovan (Jericho), Matt Kelly (Predator Performance Designs), Rob Varnel (Pac Reach), David Chambers (Vernon), David Hill (VCKC), and Gord Oliphant (VCKC).

The story of how “The Burrard” travelled from Newport Beach to False Creek, Penticton, Vernon, Kamloops, Jericho, Pemberton, Victoria Canoe Kayak Club, and Comox as a starter outrigger canoe until it was deemed unseaworthy may be found at the CORA website Cultural Continuity section along with many other publications from the CORA Historical Committee. This hull that Annie Boulding brought to Canada would set in motion at least eight Canadian outrigger canoe clubs.

CORA wishes to extend their gratitude to Susan Logan (VCKC) and Tim Marks (VCKC) for providing CORA with a complimentary hard-copy of the “VCKC – 50 Years of Paddling” publication which provided enough clues for CORA to work backwards and forwards from when “The Burrard” was the starter outrigger canoe for VCKC, to David Hill (VCKC) for granting CORA permission to publish the only known colour photos of “The Burrard”, and to Jackie Bell for providing photos of “The Burrard” making its final contribution to the Canadian outrigger canoeing community as her wedding arch.

First VCKC paddle in “The Burrard” August 1994 – Shelia Allen, Urban Allen, Arpad (Junior) Szatory, Don Munroe, David Hill, Gord Oliphant

Town Hall: CORA Team Canada! 2022 IVF World Sprints (London, England)

Did you know that TEAM CANADA Selections for the 2022 IVF World Sprints in London, England are already underway? Want to learn more? Join us for our final CORA (Zoom) Town Hall on Saturday July 10 at 4pm (PST). Read on!


Join the CORA IVF Committee on Zoom this Saturday, July 10 at 4pm PST (7pm EST) for an information session about the selection process to qualify for TEAM CANADA 2022.  We know that the club crew vs. free agent thing is a little confusing but know that if you want to try out for TEAM CANADA, there is an option for you no matter where you are from and if you are a member of a club or not. We’ll discuss how you can try out for a V1 spot. If you are interested in crewing up with the best of the best in Canada, then the ELITE trials are for you. CORA board directors and IVF committee members will be online to walk you through all the different options in the process and answer any questions.


The actual event dates for the 2022 IVF World Sprints are August 7-16, 2022 at Dorney Lake, Windsor, UK.The 2022 selection documents and intent to compete form are posted HERE.

Please join us for an introductory discussion on what to consider and how to apply at our final town hall of the summer: CORA Team Canada! 2022 IVF World Sprints (London, England).

CLICK HERE or on image below to view the video recording of this event.