Welcome to Wetdashe 2025, a “DRY” CHANGE RACE, run like an INDY-500 with pit-stops every 3kms. This means 6-person crews hotswap their teammates on FGPC’s docks at the end of each 3km sprint lap. Here’s the race in a nutshell:

• Dock-change times are included in your team’s aggregate time, so efficient changes get the best results.
• Remember: teams must navigate dock-swaps along with all other participating teams: order is maintained with marshalled “no passing zones” so tactics and strategy are integral to this spectator-friendly race.
• And there’s more: shave seconds off your team by raising money for BC Cancer through FGPC’s “Make Every Second Count” campaign, a fundraiser to support men’s health.
• NEW: Saturday and Sunday morning 12km and 24km races start at 9.45am. That’s enough time for mainlanders to get to the race site at 2940 Jutland Road Victoria via the 7am ferry. Saturday and Sunday afternoon races begin 1pm. Most crews will complete each 24km race (in 3km laps) in 2.5hrs. 12km crews will finish in about an hour. 48km crews will start at 9.45, race until 12noon (approximately) and restart at 1pm for their second 24km segment, finishing at approximately 3pm (48km racers get to race in ultralights). For more information visit http://www.wetdashe.com

BOATS: Both Spec & Ultralight options are supplied: spec boats are supplied for 12 & 24km distances; ultralights are supplied for 48km distances.

Race Distances: Three distances to choose from: 12km (4-Lap Short Course) or 24km (8-Lap) or 48km – 16 lap (running concurrently based on advance crew registrations for one of these three distances).

Race Categories: Classic women’s and/or mixed (no less than three women must be in the canoe at any one time); or exhibition crews (e.g. all-male crews or crews with over-quota males) can register and race along with mixed crews with results logged in the “exhibition” category.

Race fees include collector tech race shirts (ordered in advance in preferred sizes) and plenty of prizes and awards. Early-registering teams will have the best chances to choose the mornings or afternoons of their choice (Saturday sells out quickly).

Want to increase your chance of a podium finish? Raise money for men’s health through FGPC’s “Make Every Second Count” campaign, a team-based fundraiser that contributes tax-deductible donations for the BC Cancer Foundation. Links to “Make Every Second Count” will be sent to registered teams, along with shirt size / M-F order forms.

Registration for Wetdashe is now open: www.wetdashe.com

CORA introduced a new initiative for 2022 at the CORA 2021 Pre-AGM that had been continued 2023-2025. To encourage participation by new paddlers at CORA 2025 events, a new Junior / Novice OC Paddle Draw Grant was funded. Every Junior / Novice participant at each CORA Cup Series 2025 event was given 1 entry for the end-of-season draw. It was possible for each Junior / Novice participant to have up to a maximum of 5 entries for the end-of-season draw. The response was impressive with 183 entries in total from 14 Western Canada OC clubs. There were at least 10 entries in each of the Junior Women, Junior Men, Novice Women, and Novice Men divisions such that 2 winners were drawn from each of these 4 divisions.

The Courtenay and District Fish & Game Protective Association Clubhouse overlooking Comox Lake was an excellent venue to showcase the CORA Perpetual Trophies (Peter Forand Masters Challenge; Hugh Town Memorial Builder), the Canadian Outrigger Hall Of Fame Commemorative Awards for the eight 2024/2025 Inductees (Daphne Ann Brockington; Helen Currey; Jacinta Sheridan; James Hill; Jan Chavarie; Linda Daigle; Melanie Conard; Sue Milligan), and the sample Junior / Novice OC Paddle along with the 8 Gift Certicates.

Canadian Outrigger Hall Of Fame 20254/2025 Inductee Sue Milligan of Suncoast Paddling Club / Powell River Outrigger Canoe Society presented a collection of photos representative of the career of Marc Lavertu and accepted the Hugh Town Memorial Builder on behalf of 2024 Recipient Marc Lavertu, who was unable to attend the proceedings.

CORA wishes to extend a round of appreciation to Oddball Workshop, our generous sponsor / partner, for contributing Gift Certificates for each of the 8 Junior / Novice winners to redeem for a paddle of a length of their choosing within 1 year from the end-of-season draw date (27-Sep-2026).

CORA wishes to congratulate the 8 Junior / Novice 2025 OC Paddle winners:

• Desmond McCall – (Comox)
• Mika Asano – (Lotus)
• Jasper Morris – (Geronimo)
• Emie Ransom – (Kelowna)
• Paige Emanuel – (Latitude 48)
• Mark Oluic – (False Creek)
• Marika Anderson – (Edmonton)
• Erik Baldwin – (Kelowna)

CORA wishes to extend a round of appreciation to the Race Coordinators (Jackie Bell; Dean Dougherty; Don Mulhall; Launa Mandrell; Cheryl Bublitz; Carole Fullerton; Jan Chavarie) from CORA Cup Series host clubs Comox (twice), Penticton; Fort Langley, and Jericho, as well as the CORA Club Reps who collected the names of Junior / Novice participants at these 5 events, and forwarded these entries onto the CORA Board for the draw at the Comox Awards presentation.

Comox Valley Canoe Racing Club

Penticton Paddle Sports Association

Fort Langely Canoe Club

Jericho Paddling Club