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Tour De Teche Kayak Race
Posted on 6/10/11 at 11:44 am
Posted on 6/10/11 at 11:44 am
Has anyone ever done the Tour De Teche kayak race? 133 mile race from Port Barre to Berwick, LA. Thinking about doing it but not sure how difficult it will be.
2
Posted on 6/10/11 at 12:11 pm to moniel1
I did it last year as did a few other posters. What you paddle greatly determines how hard it is and how long it will take. I was in a 14 foot solo kayak not pushing too hard and it took 50 hours. Slept about 3 of those 50 hours
This post was edited on 6/10/11 at 1:37 pm
Posted on 6/10/11 at 12:18 pm to moniel1
This years race will be a staged race where you have to stop overnight at two locations. Last year was a straight through paddle so we were able to paddle through the night which was my favorite part.
Posted on 6/10/11 at 2:29 pm to tigers win2
quote:
50 hours. Slept about 3 of those 50 hours
Posted on 6/10/11 at 7:06 pm to tigers win2
I just got a 12' field and stream eagle run. I have no idea if it is good or a pos. I think i am going to try and do the race in it this year. You going to do it again this year?
Posted on 6/11/11 at 10:42 am to moniel1
A 12ft yah should be fine. I saw a guy finish in a 10 ft last year. 10ft was smallest that finished. The fastest boat was a 42ft Texas Unlimited Canoe with 6 guys in it. They drove in from San Antonio. This year there will be 4 shorter races that coincide with the 134 mile race as well.
I will likely do the race, but they scheduled it the same weekend as the Phatwater race on the Mississippi river in Natchez so I've got to decide. I found out yesterday that my "big" race for this year is postponed due to flooding on the Missouri River. That race is 340 miles. You can google MR340 for info. Having that race canceled makes me lean towards the Teche race because its harder than 42 miles on the MS river.
I bought a faster boat for the MR340 so I'd like to see what it will do in a longer race. I think I can shave 15 hours off last years time. Last year we stopped at the Fae dodo(sp?) In Breaux Bridge, a friend house in new iberia and every checkpoint to visit with the wife and kids. I think I could finish a staged race in 30-35 hours.
The new boat is 18ft long 21 inches wide(unstable as hell) and only weighs 45 pounds becasue it is made of Kevlar. It is much more effecient than my other boat.
Ask any questions you have. Also Pack and Paddle in Lafayette will hold a meeting to tell you what things/supplies will help during the race.
I will likely do the race, but they scheduled it the same weekend as the Phatwater race on the Mississippi river in Natchez so I've got to decide. I found out yesterday that my "big" race for this year is postponed due to flooding on the Missouri River. That race is 340 miles. You can google MR340 for info. Having that race canceled makes me lean towards the Teche race because its harder than 42 miles on the MS river.
I bought a faster boat for the MR340 so I'd like to see what it will do in a longer race. I think I can shave 15 hours off last years time. Last year we stopped at the Fae dodo(sp?) In Breaux Bridge, a friend house in new iberia and every checkpoint to visit with the wife and kids. I think I could finish a staged race in 30-35 hours.
The new boat is 18ft long 21 inches wide(unstable as hell) and only weighs 45 pounds becasue it is made of Kevlar. It is much more effecient than my other boat.
Ask any questions you have. Also Pack and Paddle in Lafayette will hold a meeting to tell you what things/supplies will help during the race.
Posted on 6/27/11 at 11:16 am to tigers win2
quote:
tigers win2
I know this thread is old but I still have a few questions. How much current is there is the Bayou Teche? Is it like paddling the whole thing in a Lake or is it not that bad if you take your time and go with the current? I know there is a dam by St. Martinville and two locks by the Wax Lake Outlet, didn't know how it affected the current?
Posted on 6/27/11 at 12:32 pm to moniel1
I did it last year. Finished in 51 hours. Definitely doing it in a much faster boat this year.
Last year there was very little current to help out in the beginning of the race and on the second day, the wind was in your face, which made for an extremely difficult paddle. For example - I went 71 miles on the first day, slept for a couple of hours and could only muster 40 miles on the second. Slept in Franklin for a couple of hours and then finished up at 11am the next day.
You have to carry your boat around the Keystone Locks (about 200 yards) and over the locks at Calumet. (Only over a levee)
Theu gave you the choice to paddle through the Calumet Cut or to vehicle your boat around it. It can very dangerous right there.
The other big obstacle last year was that the bayou was totally blocked with vegetation in about 8 different spots. I ended up getting to that point in the middle of the night. It sucked!
Last year there was very little current to help out in the beginning of the race and on the second day, the wind was in your face, which made for an extremely difficult paddle. For example - I went 71 miles on the first day, slept for a couple of hours and could only muster 40 miles on the second. Slept in Franklin for a couple of hours and then finished up at 11am the next day.
You have to carry your boat around the Keystone Locks (about 200 yards) and over the locks at Calumet. (Only over a levee)
Theu gave you the choice to paddle through the Calumet Cut or to vehicle your boat around it. It can very dangerous right there.
The other big obstacle last year was that the bayou was totally blocked with vegetation in about 8 different spots. I ended up getting to that point in the middle of the night. It sucked!
Posted on 6/27/11 at 12:36 pm to LSU75
Also, they placed motor boats south of the Calumet Cut in case of an emergency as kayakers where going through. That's the only spot in which wearing PFDs was mandatory.
Posted on 6/27/11 at 12:44 pm to moniel1
quote:
How much current is there is the Bayou Teche? Is it like paddling the whole thing in a Lake or is it not that bad if you take your time and go with the current? I know there is a dam by St. Martinville and two locks by the Wax Lake Outlet, didn't know how it affected the current?
Like LSU75 said, very little current. I would say no more than 1mph at the beginning and it faded from there. Most of the race had no noticable current. The Kestone dam was the most difficult portgage bacuse you had to haul the boat up the bank, about 200 yards through the woods and then down a steep bank back into the water.
The Caulmet cut lets the tide impact the teche and we hit it as the tide was coming in. We had to paddle AGAINST a 2-3 mph current for about 6-9 miles. While we were at the checkpoint, the tide turned and starting going out.
we hit the rafts of water lilies and hyacinth(sp?) in the middle of the night as well. Really weird to plow into all that mess when it's standing higher out of the water than your head. You have no idea where the shortest distance through it is and you can't tell what path other boats took.
Last year the barge company halted all barge traffic during the race. I'd think they would do it again, but that only impacts the southern part of the race.
Moneill- post an email address and I can send you some pictures that will help you get an idea of what the teche looks like
LSU75- were you paddling with Lubricious? he finshed around that same time. I was in a yellow solo kayak paddling with a girl in an orange solo kayak
This post was edited on 6/27/11 at 1:49 pm
Posted on 6/27/11 at 3:51 pm to tigers win2
Thanks for the information. Judging by the posts so far, I don't think I am ready for 133 mile race yet. Maybe next year. I may do one of the smaller legs of the race though.
Posted on 6/27/11 at 4:15 pm to moniel1
My house is about 2/3 of the way. If you get too tired you can stop in and have a drink.
Posted on 6/27/11 at 6:53 pm to moniel1
Just do it, brah! I had never really kayaked before the race. I now consider myself an expert. 
Posted on 6/27/11 at 7:20 pm to moniel1
Moniel1
We were joking, its easy. No trouble at all.
I only got my kayak about 4 months before the race and I had never kayaked before. I started kayaking to help strengthen my arms beacause I broke them in a cycling accident in july 2008.
There were a few challenges with the portgage and water lillies, but those will be improved for this years race.
Other than that, it was paddle, paddle, paddle........
You can do it. Just pace yourself. Its a very good feeling when you get to the finish line.
We were joking, its easy. No trouble at all.
I only got my kayak about 4 months before the race and I had never kayaked before. I started kayaking to help strengthen my arms beacause I broke them in a cycling accident in july 2008.
There were a few challenges with the portgage and water lillies, but those will be improved for this years race.
Other than that, it was paddle, paddle, paddle........
You can do it. Just pace yourself. Its a very good feeling when you get to the finish line.
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