2026 Torrens Island Race

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2026 Torrens Island Race

  • When: 23 August 2026
  • Time: 9:30am to be on the water for 10:00am
  • Distance: 16 Km, allow around 2.5 hours
  • Location: Garden Island Boat Ramp, Port Adelaide

The ACC Grading for this event is: Demanding. Please check the trip grading description for more details.

Organiser an contact: Hugh Stewart, 0423283214 and on WhatsApp.

This event is free for members of the Adelaide Canoe Club and non-free for other participants.

Closing date/time to register: Sunday 23 August at 10:00pm.

The event is open to all paddlers but must be in a sea kayak, surf or ocean ski or outrigger canoe longer than 15 feet (4.5m) in length. Not suitable for flatwater K or C boats but exceptions will be made on the day depending on weather and the paddler.  All paddlers should have paddled at least 16km in the 6 months prior to the event, and be competent in self rescue. Contact the organizer if you are unsure.

If you have any questions about the event get in touch with the organisers. Please register via JustGo online prior to the closing date – see booking link below.  If you are not a Paddle Australia member you will be required to sign up as a temporary member on the day. Ticking the ‘I am going’ box on the Facebook Event page does not constitute a booking.

Torrens Island Circumnavigation (16km)

This race is for people who have paddled previously in open water on the ocean and can complete a 16km paddle. PFDs and self-rescue equipment are mandatory and boats will be scrutinised for open water suitability and safety prior to the start. This race is for sea kayaks, surf skis, ocean skis and outrigger canoes over 4.5 metres in length.  Flat water craft without bulkheads (e.g. Olympic K and C boats and TK1s etc) will be included at the discretion of the organisers (dependent on weather and expertise of the paddler).

The race will run anti-clockwise from the Garden Island boat ramp, towards St Kilda, through the channel known as ‘ the cutting’, returning down the Port River, under the Torrens Island road bridge and back to the Garden Island boat ramp.  Safety boats will patrol the participants during the event.

If weather forecast is for winds above 15kn during the event we will run the event over the short loop course as described below (4 laps).

8 km short loop

We will also run an event consisting of two laps of a course running from the boat ramp to the end of the Garden Island marina towards the power station and back. This is in protected water and is approximately 4 km per lap. We will have some discretion in the type of boat paddling this event but PFDs are mandatory.

Toilets are available Garden Island Boat Ramp.  Adelaide Canoe Club will provide a BBQ and refreshments for sale at the finish. We may take pictures of the trip and mention your name on our website. If you have any concerns about this, let the organizers know.

Note that ratios/quotas will apply, depending on the number of Instructors or Leaders on a trip. We may take pictures of the trip and mention your name on our website. If you have any concerns about this, let the trip leader know.