BYO Boat provides the Portland paddling community with regularly scheduled pick-up races on the Willamette River. These races are a convenient and inexpensive way for paddlers to meet each other and gain race experience in a fun, informal setting.

Come on out and test your paddling proficiency, endurance, and speed against other Portland Paddlers. The races are broken up by boat category to even the field out. Complete details can be found at www.BYOBoat.com.

Here's some more info directly from the BYOBoat website:

BYOBoat Races are planned to be held on the second and last Thursday evening of each month. We are hoping to be operational with this schedule after the new year, though we cannot confirm the start date at this point. Please check this page for updates in the weeks to come.

Currently there are public docks that racers could use to put-in:

1. The public dock at Riverplace on the west side of the river
2. The public dock at OMSI
3. The public dock at Portland's new Light Watercraft Center (at Clay street on the east side)

The races begin at the fire dock just south of the Hawthorne Bridge (directions soon to come). The route proceeds south, river right of Ross Island, to the Sellwood Bridge. This is the halfway point, and racers must turn around one of the pillars under the Sellwood Bridge. The return route is along the river right side of Ross Island, all the way back to the start dock. An approximate map is shown to the left. The total distance is about 7 miles.

The races are held in the evening, and lights are required!!! Please bring lights for both your bow and stern. Additional lights never hurt.