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Registration is now open for the 2025 Saaremaa Kayak Festival.

Come and take time off at the largest kayak fest in the Nordics-Baltics!

You can participate in the whole package of kayak events over the long weekend or opt to do single tracks of your choosing:
-  free of charge safety training at Kuressaare Harbor (18 July 2025 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.). It is primarily intended for those who have little experience with kayaking at sea and plan to participate in the sea kayaking marathon. In the workshop, we will do self-rescue and other rescues with a kayak. You can join with your own equipment (recommended) or watch the action from the shore.
- HUUM Kayak Sprint (18 July 2025, start at 7:00 p.m.) at  Kuressaare Harbor.
- Marathon full track (approx. 40 km) on  19 July 2025, starting at 10:00 a.m.
- Marathon shorter course (approx. 27 km) on 19 July 2025, starting at 10:00 a.m.
- free of charge Kuressaare Episcopal Castle moat track (1 km) primarily intended for kids and their parents on 20 July 2025, starting at 11:00 a.m.

In addition, for those who stay longer in Saaremaa, we recommend participating in the kayak orienteering at Laimjala Aeruramm, which presumably takes place on the weekend after the Saaremaa Kayak Festival.

There aren’t many grassroots sea kayak marathons hosted in the Nordics. The Abruka Sea Kayak Marathon spans almost 40 km from the Kuressaare castle park around Väike-Tulpe and Abruka islands. This route offers great geographical benefits: the choice of distances, pitstops along the way that support spectators, logistics, shelter from open sea waves, sea rescue and safety, and a finish line with good infrastructure. The shallow Gulf of Riga has warm water, adding to the sense of security.

A kayak marathon, among other things, broadens sporting opportunities for the islanders, introducing them (often for the first time) to a sport that could be practiced much more often in the island’s coastal waters than it currently is. To popularise and encourage the sport, the safety training and the Kuressaare castle moat track are available free of charge.

Each participant may take the time off and visit the local inns on Abruka Island or try their luck in collecting Baltic amber on the beaches of the islets. There is a bird-watching prize for the boat party that in its short or long distance has counted the most bird species. In addition, the first three boats on the full-length course will receive awards coupled with awards for the fastest paddler in a single-seated kayak on the full-length course, the fastest female paddler on the full-length course, K2WOM, and the fastest boat on the short track. In addition, HUUM Sauna offers awards (incl. the DROP electric sauna heater with a remote control and stones) for the fastest boats in the kayak sprint distance.

The marathon’s schedule includes activities throughout the weekend.

Long story short:

The kayak marathon starts on 19 July 2025 at 10 am from Kuressaare Castle Park. The marathon distance is approximately 40/27 km. The track passes the islands of Abruka, Vahase, Linnusita, and Kasse. The long-distance track passes also the Väike-Tulpe island. Safety boats in cooperation with the Saaremaa Search and Rescue Team patrol the length of the course.

Marathon participants have free catering on the race track (two pitstops in the middle of the race track on Abruka Island and Vahase Island). Catering is served at the finish area in Roomassaare Port. The afterparty and sauna take place in Roomassaare Port at around 18 pm.

Traveling to Kuressaare, accommodation, and kayak rentals:
The easiest way to reach Kuressaare from Tallinn is by plane. Please look up the Flynyx website and book your tickets well in advance. Tallinn Airport is located 4 km from the Old Town and Kuressaare Airport is less than 3 km from Kuressaare Castle Park.  Kuressaare is easily accessible by bus if you are traveling from Tallinn, Tartu, and via Pärnu from Riga (https://www.tpilet.ee/en/).

For kayak rentals in Kuressaare, see here or here.

Kuressaare has a large number of options when it comes to accommodation. Hotels and spas are plentiful, while Airbnb is also a good option.

For more information on accommodation and sightseeing on Saaremaa Island, please see https://visitsaaremaa.ee/en/.

Contact:
For more information, please contact the organizer Alexander Lott (cell no: +3725158445; e-mail: meremaraton@gmail.com/ lottale@gmail.com).

TO WATCH THE RECORDING OF THE 2024 LONG-DISTANCE RACE, PLEASE PRESS HERE.

REGISTRATION FORM (2025):
Email again:
Distance (please mark all that apply)
Do you wish to paddle in a group?
I intend to participate in birdwatching, see information on the special prize
I confirm that I can swim, have read the safety instructions and that I am participating in the race on my own risk
I am aware that if the weather forecast for 19 July 2025 is unfavorable, then the marathon will take place either on the previous or the following day and the participation fee will not be refunded in this case. In case strong winds (with gusts reaching over 8 m/s) are expected throughout the whole weekend of 18 to 20 July, then the marathon will be postponed for safety reasons to the next weekend. If the registered participant cannot participate in the marathon the next weekend and informs the organizer about it in advance by way of sending an e-mail to meremaraton@gmail.com, the participation fee already paid will be refunded. Changes in the time of the event will be communicated to all registered participants via e-mail and posted on the Facebook account of the Abruka Sea Kayak Marathon.