By Scott D. Johnston

Paddle the Shores, the annual event open to human/paddle powered watercraft of all kinds, takes place this Saturday, Sept. 2, launching at a new location, Oyhut Bay, and paddling new routes through Lake Minard and into the Ocean Shores canals.

Presented by Oyhut Bay Seaside Village, Ocean Shores Fresh Waterways and the Ocean Shores Yacht Club, the event begins at 9 a.m. with registration at the Oyhut Bay Water Recreation Area, on Marine View Drive at the bridge on Tonquin Ave. SW.

The event offers 2-mile or 6-mile human-powered boat races, the popular “Poker Paddle,” a rubber duck pond and race for kids, the wild and crazy cardboard boat building and race competition, a Quinault Paddle Exhibition, speakers, 16 different vendors, skills demonstrations and more. Live music will be performed 12 noon to 5 p.m. Saturday in the Amphitheater with the Chris Thomas Band and the Chris Gunther Band. The new Paddle the Shores race course begins on the Oyhut Canal, goes north through Lake Minard, through the southernmost Bell Canal, under the Pt. Brown bridge and onto the Grand Canal.

The 2-mile race turns around at that point, while the 6-mile continues north up the canal for two more miles before turning around.

There will be divisions for all types of boats.

Water participants are required to bring their own life jackets and whistles. The participants entry fee is $15 per person, or $27 with an event T-shirt. Registration is available online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3070613 and at the event.

Paddle the Shores Schedule

9 a.m. Participant Registration

9:35 a.m. Race Meeting

10 a.m. 6-mile Race Start

11 a.m. Quinault Demonstration

12 p.m. Poker Paddle Start

12 – 5 p.m. Live Music at Amphitheater

1 p.m. 2-mile Race Start

2:30 p.m. Cardboard Boat Building

3:30 p.m. Cardboard Boat Races

4:30 p.m. Awards and Raffle at Amphitheater