A kayak race took place on July 2. It started at the Sherman Lake rest area on Route 1 in Newcastle, and wrapped up 6.5 miles down the Sheepscot River in Wiscasset Harbor.

Organized by Scott Shea and his business, Seaspray Kayaking, of Bath, volunteers from the Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce were lending helping hands.

The Sheepscot River Kayak Race, always scheduled for the Saturday closest to July 4, has been taking place annually for more than 20 years. It is a qualifying race for the Maine Canoe and Kayak Racing Organization (MaCKRO).

“It’s been kind of a tradition the weekend of July 4th,” Shea said. “We used to be a small part of a lot of July 4th activities in downtown Wiscasset when we first started. Now we're one of the only activities besides the parade and fireworks.”

Thirty-one boats — kayaks and canoes, including both competitive and recreational paddlers, competed in the race. There were some surf skis and outriggers racing, too.

According to Lucia Droby, who volunteers her time with the Wiscasset Chamber of Commerce, and helped out with the race, “It was a warm and windy day.”

“It was a nice day for the race,” Shea said in an email. “The times were a little slower, but the wind at the end made it more challenging this year. There was a strong headwind over the last mile and a half,” Shea added.

Shea said in the more than 25 years of running the race he has seen a wide age range of paddlers. “We usually see kids as young as 7 or 8 and all the way up to 80-plus years old. Earl Baldwin Jr. paddled this race well into his 80s and was still breaking the 60-minute time.”

According to Shea, the race is one of the longer lasting paddle races in the state. “It's a great race for people of all ages and abilities,” he said. “The one thing I hear over and over from the participants is how scenic it is from Newcastle to Wiscasset.”

The race is not only a great opportunity for kayakers and canoeists. Bird watchers love it, too. Shea said sightings of egrets, herons, ospreys and bald eagles aren't uncommon during the race. He said with those birds flying overhead and fish jumping nearby, it's not always easy for paddlers to stay focused on their paddling rhythms.

Eric McNett, from Bath, was the winner, finishing just one second ahead of second place finishers Chip Loring and Rodney McClain. McNett's winning time was 52 minutes and 25 seconds.

Kari Crowe was the first female to cross the finish line in an outrigger with an impressive time of 1:05:19, and Hank Thorburn and Dale Hart both raced in surf skis. Thom Stiles paddled a 10-foot kayak and made the finish line in an hour and 38 minutes.

Shea said after prizes were awarded he shared some special thoughts and a moment of silence for his friend Bob Dean, who won 11 out of 12 Sheepscot races. “Bob loved this race and found a way to paddle, even when his health wasn't what he wanted it to be,” he said. “This year’s race was for Bob.”

Information about the race was provided by Lucia Droby and Scott Shea.