Racers paddle off the starting line together as the competition begins. The group stayed tightly packed at the start, forcing racers to be aware of the people and boats around them. “Anything that faces forward is fine, but rowing shells face backwards, so it could be a risk, safety-wise,” said David Wells, race organizer and owner of Redwood Water Sports.
Sunlight sparkled across the water as contestants of all ages gathered in Redwood City on Sunday morning for the annual paddle boat race. Hosted by Redwood Water Sports, paddlers in multiple divisions pushed off exactly at 10 a.m., powering their boats across the course in a test of speed and endurance. Spectators lined up along the riverbank, cheering as organizers timed each racer that crossed the finish line, handed out food, and announced prizes for top finishers.
