A race to remember- Lunday Canoe Race

The Last Day – But Not Without One Last Adventure!

Like all great things, our adventure had to come to an end. But not without a final dose of chaos, competition, and comedy!

6:30 AM - The (Supposed) Early Start

We were all bright-eyed (okay, half-asleep) in the hotel lobby, ready to catch the van back to Al Faro. Or at least, that was the plan. But this is the Philippines, where time is more of a friendly suggestion. The van rolled in fashionably late at 7:00 AM. No worries! We grabbed some pan de sal, pan de coco, and peanut butter for breakfast-on-the-go, enjoying a scenic, slightly bumpy 40-minute ride.

7:40 AM - Island Time at Its Finest

By the time we arrived, the race setup was still in full swing. Turns out, even though we were "late," we were actually among the first to arrive. Gotta love Filipino time! Reunited with our Al Faro crew and Gary from Australia, we were ready for action.

Team Assignments: The Dream Teams (Sort Of...)

The SUP Palawan crew raffled the teams, and here's how our legendary competitors shaped up:

Paddle Fighters: Zeb, Markus, and Carmen – determined and ready.

Happy Dugongs: Edith, Susanne, and John – optimistic and slightly less confident in their staying-dry abilities.

Lucky Ducks: Kat, Carnar, and Polo – hoping the name would manifest some actual luck.

With last-minute coaching from Mag, our SUP expert, and strategy tips (which we promptly forgot), we were ready.

8:00 AM - The Battle Begins!

The format? Four teams race out 1.3 km to a yellow flag, turn around, and paddle back. Easy, right? Well…

Paddle Fighters' Race: The start was smooth…ish. But steering? Let’s just say their zig-zag technique doubled the race distance. A mid-race strategy discussion (while still racing!) didn’t help much. They crossed the finish line, but in last place.

Lucky Ducks' Race: This one was legendary – because they never even made it to the start line. Instead, they went for an unplanned swim, to the absolute delight of the spectators. Second chance? Yes! Improvement? Slight! Finish line? Miraculously, yes – but still last.

Happy Dugongs' Race: 20 meters from the finish line, they lost balance and took an impromptu dip. Spectacular!

Second Chances and Spectacular Sinking

Thanks to the double elimination format, we got another shot. International teams versus locals – it was on!

Paddle Fighters & Lucky Ducks: We almost crashed into each other in the first few meters. Coordination? What’s that?

The Grand Finale: In a surprise twist, Paddle Fighters’ boat flooded and sank! This cleared the way for Lucky Ducks to reach the semifinals.

Victory? Sort Of!

Somehow, Lucky Ducks won prize money for reaching the semifinals! But we knew the real champions were the locals, especially the all-women team, who truly deserved it.

Mango Float & The Final Farewell

A post-race celebration at Al Faro meant one last meal – and MANGOFLOAT! We had been hunting for this dessert all week, and it was worth the wait. Big thanks to Nenita and her team for their warm hospitality.

With full stomachs and tired arms, it was time to pack up. One last stop in Concepcion to retrieve John’s lost water bottle (priorities!), and just like that, the adventure came to an end.

What a Week!

From training sessions to unexpected swims, from early mornings to very early mornings, this trip was packed with adventure, delays, and endless laughter. One thing’s for sure – we’ll see each other again, somewhere on the water, chasing the next race (or at least trying to make it to the start line!).

Until next time – paddle, laugh, repeat!Read more