CORA wishes to announce that the PNWORCA / CORA 2025 Small-Boat Racing Winter Series Championship event to wrap-up March racing, lived up to expectations as there were over 90 participants, the courses were challenging, the weather was windy as it has been through-out all the 2025 Winter races, the V1 leg-drops at the south-end turn were classic, and the after-race buffet meal was phenomenal as usual.

The PNWORCA Race Committee no longer tracks Small-Boat Racing Winter Series points and the Small-Boat Racing Winter Series Championship event host no longer recognizes Division Top 3 Finishers. However, the CORA Race Committee continues to track Small-Boat Racing Winter Series points so as to recognize Canadians who are among the Top 3 Finishers in a Boat / Gender / Age Division and to continue the tradition of the Peter Forand Masters Challenge Trophy.

Over the course of the history of the PNWORCA / CORA Small-Boat Racing Winter Series, the Peter Forand Masters Challenge Trophy has now been awarded to Masters 40+ (3) / Masters 50+ (4) / Masters 60+ (1) / Masters 70+ (1) paddlers, to Female (4) / Male (5) paddlers, and to Seattle (4) / Bellingham (2) / San Juan Islands (1) / British Columbia (1) / Portland (1) paddlers – there has even been a year where there were Co-Champions. The legacy of the Peter Forand Masters Challenge Trophy over the course of nine years has now had Champions from every Masters Age Division, every Gender Division, and every region in the Pacific Northwest.

By virtue of having a 1st Place in five races, the PNWORCA 2025 Small-Boat Racing Winter Series winner of the Peter Forand Masters Challenge is Noah Johnson-Greenough (Kai Ikaika) in the Men Masters 40+ OC1 Division. Gregorio Mares, fellow Portland OC1 Masters 40+ paddler graciously presented the Trophy to Noah Johnson-Greenough

Congratulations to Noah Johnson-Greenough as he has demonstrated commitment and excellence in Winter Series small-boat racing.

Bob Stewart (Mr. Aloha) once again exemplified his generosity by providing awards to Dana Britton and Nancy Maclean of Harrison Outrigger Team (HOT) as the individuals in the PNWORCA 2025 Small-Boat Racing Winter Series who had demonstrated a passion for the sport of outrigger canoeing by participating in races in Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland.

There were 66 paddlers who completed one or more races in the OC1 Masters Division. Canada would have Two of the Top Six in the Peter Forand Masters Challenge standings after the PNWORCA / CORA 2025 Small-Boat Racing Winter Series Championship event. Bob Stewart (Jericho) 4th Place, and Dana Britton (Harrison) 6th Place.

 

CORA wishes to recognize these individuals who were Top 3 Finishers overall in their Boat / Gender / Age Division:

• Dana Britton (1st OC1 Women), Bob Stewart (1st OC1 Men), Graeme Galves (1st V1 Men), Andrew Commodore (1st V1 Men)
• Doug Thomas (3rd OC1 Men)

 

For more information about the Peter Forand Masters Challenge, CLICK HERE

Sand Point Outrigger Canoe Club will be hosting the PNWORCA / CORA 2025 Small-Boat Racing Winter Series Championship on Lake Washington in Seattle on Mar 29. The 9-mile long and 5-mile short courses will be challenging. The racecourse may be changed due to wind and weather in the interest of paddler safety. Pre-Registration via Pacific Multisports is $30 USD (includes race fee, lunch, insurance). More information may be found on the PNWORCA Events Calendar. Please note that the birthdate you enter will be used to determine your Age Division.

This has been a challenging year for PNWORCA 2025 Winter Series racing with winter weather conditions causing cancellation of one event and making for freezing / windy / rainy days at six other events. Yet over 60 Masters 40+ / Masters 50+ / Masters 60+ / Masters 70+ / Female / Male OC1 paddlers have participated so far to compete for the Peter Forand Masters Challenge Trophy where the Winter Series Finale will determine which of these OC1 Masters paddlers will hoist the Peter Forand Masters Challenge Trophy during the Awards Presentation.

Even though the PNWORCA Official Winter Series Points System Rules state: You must complete at least 3 races in the series to qualify for awards, which are presented at the final race at the end of the season. Awards are given to the Top 3 Finishers. The PNWORCA Official Winter Series Points System Rules have not been updated to reflect that the PNWORCA / CORA Small-Boat Racing Winter Series Championship Event host is now conferring awards only to participants at the Championship race based on placings. Please take this opportunity to support Washington and Oregon clubs who send paddlers to support Canadian events.

CORA / PNWORCA continue to track Winter Series Points / Participation for all participants at all Winter Series races. The Peter Forand Masters Challenge Trophy will be presented in-person to the Top OC1 Masters paddler across the 7 Winter Series races at the Championship Awards presentation. CORA will also acknowledge on the CORA website any Canadian paddlers that are one of the Top 3 Finishers in their Boat / Gender / Age Division.