Repeat Marathon Win for Erik Borgness

Paddler John Abrahams drove from Duluth, Minn., for the annual Washington Island Canoe & Kayak Event and calls the Washington Island venue the premier race in the Midwest. “Driving through the county, a string of traffic is behind and in front. There is such a sense of relief getting to Northport, like coming home. This was another stellar event,” he said of 2013.

The winner of this year’s marathon around Washington Island was Erik Borgness with a time of 3:21:24. He was the first-place finisher in the event’s inaugural running in 2009, and likens the course to paddling in the Bahamas because of the clear water and views.

After the marathon, racers who paddled circles around Washington Island were inducted as founding members of the Washington Island Circumnavigators Club. Each of the marathon racers received a certificate created by Ham Rutledge and made a thumbprint on a nautical chart of Washington Island with their name and date. The Circumnavigator’s Club is open to any paddler who paddles the circumference of the island. Record keeping is displayed at the Paddling Museum, located at 1275 Main Road.

Another feature of the event is the Death’s Door crossing. This year had three birch bark canoes, voyageurs in costume, tandem and solo kayaks crossing into the wind, paddling past Plum and Pilot Islands to the safe harbor of Northport. Before launching, participants were asked to offer one word that summed the Death’s Door crossing experience. “Bucket list, history,” the voyageurs called out. “Family,” said a father who brought his son.

After the Death’s Door grand finale crossing, volunteers danced a jig at the Washington Island Ferry dock. “All paddlers are safe and accounted for,” said event director Valerie Fons.

For more information visit washingtonislandcanoeandkayakevent.com.