WELCOME TO THE 10TH ANNUAL WICKED WHALEBOAT CHALLENGE!
WHEN: May 3rd, 2025 - race day registration starts at 8:am - Race starts at 9:am.
WHERE: Pope's Island Marina, New Bedford, MA
COST: $35/rower, $210/boat. Fee includes free morning snacks and coffee, chili / chowder lunch, and merch (if registered prior to 4/15/25)
Note: We will only be accepting credit card payments for registrations. No checks or cash. Payment can be made once registration opens; links for payment will be provided on race day if your rowers are paying independently. The merch tent will be accepting credit card or cash for merchandise purchases. Come check out our SWAG!
ABOUT:
Leave the boat and trailer at home, all you need is your crew and a sense of adventure (see below). The Wicked Whaleboat Challenge is a race that not only tests the speed of the crew but also tests their skills. We've designed a course that accentuates the maneuverability of whaleboats and also incorporates a variety of skills that will challenge the coordination of the boatsteerer and the crew.
The course is a timed event with each boat staggering their start, so there will only be two boats on the course at any time.
After the row, enjoy and vote for your favorite chili for the chili competition!
The BOATS:
The Wicked Whaleboat Challenge is restricted to WCR whaleboats only. Our fiberglass replica Beetle whaleboats will be available for any teams that wish to row (if you do not have a certified whaleboat boatsteerer, one will be provided for you). If you wish to train on our boats ahead of the challenge, please fill out a race practice request form (found on the side of this page).
REGISTRATION FORM: Find the registration form HERE (starting 4/1/25)
REGISTRATION OPENS APRIL 1, 2025 AT 9AM.
REGISTRATION CLOSES MAY 3rd AT 9AM.
RACE ORDER IS DETERMINED BY REGISTRATION ORDER.
ROWERS MAY BE PART OF 2 BOAT CREWS MAXIMUM. No Exceptions!
Advised Skills:
Stern Stroke
Port and Starboard turns
Man Overboard Drill
A sense of FUN!
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
1. With the bow lined up with the Starting buoy, at the horn, the boat will STERN STROKE back until the bowlines up with the #2 YELLOW marker buoy.
2. Once lined up with the #2 YELLOW marker buoy, the boat may revert to a normal pull.
3. Go around the island keeping the small GREEN can and the large GREEN can to your starboard.
4. Make a starboard turn around the WHALE
5. Immediately after making a starboard turn at the #5 YELLOW marker, kick BOB overboard and continue to the #6 YELLOW marker.
6. Make a port turn around the marker. Immediately after the turn, pick the steering oar out of the water and go retrieve BOB. Once BOB is back in the boat, you may use the steering oar again.
7. With BOB back in the boat, row like a bat outta hell down the pier towards the #2 YELLOW marker. Make a sharp port turn between the end of the pier and the #2 YELLOW marker. You've finished!
DIVISIONS:
Sorry. there are no divisions.
AWARDS:
The awards given will be for 1st place, 2nd place, and 3rd place and the Drowned Captain Medal will be awarded to whichever team leaves BOB (the person-overboard-dummy) in the water for the longest period of time.
SPONSORSHIPS:
If you would like to have your crew, club, or business included on our event shirts, please fill out the following Sponsorship Form! There are FOUR levels of sponsorship: $500 Platinum, $300 Gold, $200 Silver, $100 Bronze. Logo size is determined by level of sponsorship.
If you choose the platinum sponsorship, you will receive our merch for this year as well as a handwritten thank you card from the race organizers!
Thanks for supporting our race!
