Ryan Alcindor winner of Ste Anne Marine Park annual kayak race |24 March 2018

The public and sporting enthusiasts had the opportunity on Sunday March 18 to take part in the annual kayak race, commemorating the 45th anniversary of the St Anne Marine Park, the oldest in Seychelles and in Western Indian Ocean.

The race was organised by the Seychelles National Parks Authority (SNPA) and the Sail Training Scheme, with funding from ETF. At 9am, a large crowd had gathered on Ste Anne Island at Anse Cimétière to register and compete in the three different categories ‒ single kayak, double kayak and aquabat.

The route was different from last year’s race which started on Long lsland. This year the 28 contestants had to paddle from Ste Anne to Moyenne Island onwards to Round and back to Ste Anne. The first category to start the race was the single kayak followed three minutes later by the double kayak and thereafter the aquabat category (comprising solely of young canoeist from Sails Training Scheme). Under a perfect Sunday sky, Mario Leon and Carlo Marzocchi were the first duo to complete the race in 16 minutes 17 seconds (16:17), followed closely by Roland Camille and Guy Lesperance (16:18), and in third place for the double kayak were Sayid Jafar and Steven Robert.

In the single category, the winner was Ryan Alcindor clocking 17:06, in second place was Lester Underwood from Mason’s Travel (22:57) and third was Selby Remie (23:21).

For the aquabat category, Pascal Fred defended his title and finished in top spot in 16:57. In second and third places were the Lespoir brothers ‒ Trevor and Travis.

The winners received their prizes from new chief executive of the SNPA, Selby Remie and new board chairperson, Helena Simms. The top three winners in each category were awarded.

Mario and Carlo won R1,200 and cup sponsored by ETF, Reef Safari by Mason’s travel. Ryan Alcindor pocketed R1,000 and got a cup by ETF and weekend at l’Habitation Cerf Island sponsored by the resort, while Pascal Fred, in the aquabat category, won R1,000 and cup sponsored by ETF.

SNPA expresses its sincere gratitude to partners and sponsors for supporting the race and other activities organised as part of the celebration: ETF, Mason’s Travel, Teddy’s Glass Bottom Boat, L’Habitation Cerf Resort, Sail Training Scheme, Chustar Marine, Marine Charter, Natural History Museum and Beau Vallon Primary School.

Happy Anniversary Ste Anne Marine Park!

Contributed