Powell River Regatta Partnership
Information
Chota Canoe Club and the organizers of the Powell River Regatta have teamed up two ways.
- Consider giving your expertise and being a safety support boater along the course. Chota will reimburse your camping and breakfast fees. We are hoping eight people will volunteer.
- Enter the race, or the recreational category, and Chota will reimburse your entry fees. You might win a cash prize! Space is limited to six.
Sign up here so we know your plans, and then formally register for the event: Powell River Kayak & Canoe Regatta (powellriverblueway.org)
Powell River Regatta
(The following is copied from the Powell River Regatta website, Powell River Kayak & Canoe Regatta (powellriverblueway.org).
The Race begins at the Well Being Retreat Center in Tazewell, TN – about 50 miles north of Knoxville – and ends 12 miles downstram at Riverside (Kayak) Rentals in Harrogate, TN. Free transport for boats and participants back to the Start Line is provided.
The Powell River Kayak & Canoe Regatta is a 12 mile race on the scenic, Class 1 Powell River in Claiborne County, Tennessee.
Entry fees will be $35 per single kayak, racing kayak or single SUP entry and $55 per boat for canoe and double kayak entries.
Entry Fees for all entries in the Recreational Class are $35. All participants will receive a free Regatta T-Shirt.
Chota will reimburse six entry fees.
Race Categories
The following Race Categories will be offered this year:
- Women's Single Kayak - Age 18 - 34
- Men's Single Kayak - Age 18 - 34
- Women's Single Kayak - Age 35 - 54
- Men's Single Kayak - Age 35 - 54
- Women's Single Kayak - Age 55+
- Men's Single Kayak - Age 55+
- Open Single Racing Kayak* - Age 18+
- Open SUP Paddleboard - Age 18+
- Open Double Canoe or Double Kayak**
* A "Racing Kayak" is a boat longer than 18 feet or weighs less than than 40 pounds. A double canoe or kayak weighing less than 3 lbs per linear foot plus 6 pounds must be entered in the Racing Kayak category.
** In the Open Double event and "Recreational" category, one of the two persons in the boat may be as young as 15 years provided the other person in the boat is a parent or legal guardian, otherwise both must be over 18 years of age.
Recreational Category
Recreational Category is not timed and does not include prize money.
Walk-ons the day of the Regatta are limited to the Recreational Category which is not timed and does not include prize money. Late Registrations will be charged $40 for single kayak and $40 for a double kayak or canoe.
About the Powell River
The Powell River is a Class 1 (easy) paddling river originating in SW Virginia. It is one of the two largest free-flowing (un-dammed) rivers in Tennessee and "one of the most biologically diverse rivers in the US" according to the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). The Powell River (together with the Clinch River) support more Federally Endangered species of fish and freshwater mussels than any other river in the US. A few of these species are found nowhere else in the world.
Since the river has no upstream dams, flows are entirely dependent on precipitation in the upstream watershed. In the nine years we have been at Well Being Retreat Center, we have seen flows as low as 300 cubic feet per second and as high as 30,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). For the last three Regattas, flows have varied from 450 cfs to 2,400 cfs, which represent the minimum and maximum acceptable flows.
The Powell has a nice mix of slack water in deeper holes, swift water and the occasional ledge to navigate during lower flows.
Camping and Meals Offered
Well Being Retreat Center has a licensed riverfront campground directly adjacent to the Start Line for the race.. The extensive fairly level mowed pasture along the river is available for tent camping and there are six Appalachian Trail style sleeping shelters. The AT shelters are $25 per person per night. There are clean, comfortable men's and women's bathrooms nearby for campers to refresh and recharge with showers, picnic tables, outdoor grills, potable water.
Well Being Retreat Center will serve supper the night before the Regatta ($15 per person) and a full service hot breakfast ($10) the morning of the Regatta at the Powell River Pavilion - a short walk from the Start line. For Camping Reservations and Cabin Rentals on Regatta weekend, contact Patty@WellBeingCC.org or at 423-626-9000 to make cabin, meal & camping reservations.
Sign up here so we know your plans, and then formally register for the event: Powell River Kayak & Canoe Regatta (powellriverblueway.org)
Registration Tip:
- Ensure your $20 annual membership is current, or formally join Chota Canoe Club by paying your first annual dues. Join or renew Chota Canoe Club membership
- Then, return to this registration page to complete registration.
- Sign the once-annual liability waiver.