Michigan Canoe Racing Assn. Holds Race

MCRA Returns to Bay City Middle Grounds for annual races

June 12, 2005
By: Stephen Kent

The Michigan Canoe Racing Association was in Bay City again this year for the annual Schafer Auto Mall Canoe Race on the Saginaw River.

Some 76 people in 38 canoes participated in the annual race. Starting at the Bay City Rowing Club boathouse, the canoes paddled north past the foot bridge, turned and headed south in the channel behind the Middlegrounds Island. Rounding the south end of the island they rowed up the river, turned and came back behind the island. They made this circuit twice for a distance of about 16 miles.

According to organizer Brad Gross, the MCRA has been around since the mid 1940's. The group raced on the Saginaw in the 60's then didn't racehere until five or six years ago when they arranged to use the Bay City Rowing Club's facility. "The boathouse, grounds, parking and dock are great for our event", said Gross. The Coast Guard comes out to provide safety boats for those rare events whenpeople end up in the water.

The main races was held in the morning and is a sanctioned race of the MCRA. 38 boats raced in the "pro" division and 3 more raced in amateur events. "Round Robin" races were held later where random paddlers team up and race two canoes at a time. "It's a chance to meet other paddlers and to let people of different skill levels team up".

For more information and some great pictures visit the Michigan Canoe Racing Assn. Web site.