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 time off and visit the local inns on Abruka Island or try their luck in collecting Baltic amber on the beaches of the islets. 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, there are prizes for the fastest boats on the 75m sprint at the Castle Moat.
The marathon’s schedule includes activities throughout the weekend.
Long story short:
The kayak marathon starts on 18 July 2026 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.
Registration is open for both short and long race distances, and during registration, you can mark yourself as a participant in a group race. Before the start, we allow these participants to group. The group leader on the 27km track is an experienced paddling instructor.We recommend paddling in a group, primarily for safety reasons, to those who have little kayaking experience or who want to enjoy traveling in company.
You can also test yourself at the kayak sprint (75m) in the Castle Moat or kayak hike (3 km) in the fairway of the Kuressaare city harbor. The hike takes place on the eve of the marathon day. The track (3 km) runs along the fairway of Kuressaare city harbor. Elongated embankments created by dredging the fairway (largely above sea level as elongated expanses) make the course weatherproof. Sauna is open for those participating in the safety training and fairway hike.
Awards for the top three paddlers in the K1M, K1N, K2M, K2N, K2MIX competition classes.
Everyone is also welcome to free-of-charge safety training in the Kuressaare city harbor and to the Pöide Brewery castle moat circuit (1 km), which is primarily aimed at children and their adult companions (every adult is welcome on the moat path though for reasons of safety).
Both marathon distances pass through shallow and river-like straits for a few kilometers, including Vahase strait, Linnusita strait, and Kasse strait. In the case of a long distance, the Väike-Tulpe strait is added to them.
For the marathon distance, bring at least one-liter bottle of water for each member of the boat crew. Bottles can be filled with fresh water/sports drink at catering points.
The full marathon distance is up to 40 km, depending on the course chosen by the paddler (Kuressaare castle park – Väike-Tulpe Island- Abruka Island – Romessaare Marina).
The longest route selections according to the GPS tracker:
2024: Marko Kindlam - 38.7 km
2023: Marit and Juhan Aasaru, Tarmo Napa and Laura Kruusmann - 39.4 km
Shortest route choices according to the GPS tracker:
2024: Evelin Oimandi - 36.5 km
2023: Jaan Lott - 36.7 km
Winners' route choices according to the GPS tracker:
2024: Oleg Mozessov - 38.6 km
2023: Andres Kaju, Olga Kaju - 38.7 km
