Texas Water Safari 2021 Winners
Kaitlin Mynar, team captain. Racers (from left to right) Kyle Mynar, Tommy Yonley, Nick Walton, Tim Rask; Landen Jiral, team captain. Winning time was 35 hours, 46 minutes.
(Article written before the start of this year’s race.)
Being part of something as big as the World’s Toughest Canoe Race would make most anyone proud! The canoe race, dubbed the Texas Water Safari, had its beginnings in 1963. Initially there were 58 canoes that entered the first race. Only two teams of those 58 canoes finished that first year. 2021 has 148 entries with over 325 paddlers. People come from all over the world to compete in this grueling test of endurance. Competitors have come from at least 41 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Additionally, eight foreign countries have sent competitors for the race. They are Australia, Belize, Canada, Dubai, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
The race beglns the morning of June 12 at the mouth of the San Marcos River and ends in the San Antonio Bay. This year’s race ends at the Bill Sanders Memorial Park across the bay from Seadrift. Finishers are expected to arrive as early as Sunday night, June 13. Generally it takes anywhere from 48 to 100 hours to complete the race. The course itself is 262 miles. Along the way there are usually about 11 checkpoints which are set up to make sure participants are amply supplied to finish the race. Team captains and race officials are present at the checkpoints.
Seadrift residents Ed Jones, his wife Brenda along with son Brian, daughter Tonya, and granddaughter Jordyn have all been impacted by the Texas Water Safari. For them the race has been a catalyst in bringing them together as family. Ed, Brenda, and Brian have all been competitors in the Texas Water Safari. Daughter Tonya has been their team captain and granddaughter Jordyn provides critical weather information.
Over the years there have been quite a few people from the Seadrift/Port O’Connor area who entered the race… their stories are still cherished today!
Ed and Barbara Jones competing in the Texas Water Safari
Lloyd “Bucky” Chatham, a native of Seadrift TX, has passed away. Bucky was one of the true characters of the Texas Water Safari. He was a 5 time finisher of the race, all in the top 15, with his best finish, 2nd place, in 1975 in a sculling rig. His final race was in 2003 with Tom Goynes, Joe Mynar, and John Dunn. They finished 6th overall, 5th Unlimited in 42 hrs, 35 minutes. Thank you,Paula Goynes, for this picture of Bucky (at left) with Tom Goynes and Owen West at the steps of the finish line, June 12, 2011.
Texas Water Safari Mural
Mural Dedicated
On June 15th, the Texas Water Safari Board dedicated a new mural on the wall at Dick’s Food Store at 202 Broadway Ave. in Seadrift. The original mural that was painted in the 1980’s by Betty Moone deteriorated over the years and the TWS Board asked Joy Emshoff, an artist from Austin to paint a new one.
The Mural depicts local Seadrifters, Butch Hodges and Robert Chatham, in row boat, “Delta Dawn “, in their 1976 historic victory. They were first overall in 37 hours and 18 minutes – a new record.
“Old Shorty”
Bill Sanders Memorial Park – Finish Line for Texas Water Safari
Pictured above, sitting on the side of “Old Shorty” with a white cap and light-colored shirt is Bill Sanders. Bill Sanders is the man to whom the park where this year’s Texas Water Safari finishes is dedicated. And Bill Sanders happens to be one of the first Seadrift contestants to enter the race.
The year was 1965. The boat was “Old Shorty.” The crew was Bill Sanders, Jerry Weaver, and “Buttons” Morgan. The Water Safari was in its third year and the race started at the mouth of the San Marcos River and ended in Freeport. The race took six days. Back then the only provisions you had were what was in your boat. River water “flavored” with bleach was what they drank. A will to win was a must!
“Old Shorty” was custom-built to either sail or oar. Unfortunately, for the crew, sailing was out of the question due to adverse conditions. “Old Shorty” and its crew placed tenth in the race that year. Also, placing in the race were Bill Sander’s son “Froggie” and Charlie Hall.
Seadrift made its mark that year with the Texas Water Safari!
-Tanya DeForest
