The 34th Annual Texas Water Safari will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 8th at Aquarena Springs. This year will most likely go on record as the year with the lowest water flow. Previous low water years that reign in infamy are 1984 and 1989, which had racers running alongside their boats through numerous ankle deep sections. The winning times were in the mid-forty to mid-fifty hour ranges. Once racers get off the San Marcos, the Guadalupe offers longer deeper sections of river, but the flow will remain almost non-existent.

This isn't to say the competition will be light. In fact, this year probably be the toughest year for competition since 1992. At least three seriously competitive Unlimited Class men's teams will be vying for the Argosy Trophy. The reigning champions are Joe, Freddie, Brian Mynar and John Dunn aka: three Mynars and a Dunn. Another top contender will be a team composed of Jerry Cochran, Troy Swift, Pat Petrisky and Allen Spelce. Cochran, Swift and Petrisky were a successful Safari team in the early to mid-1980's. John Bugge built a ground breaking boat that will be the longest boat to compete and hopefully finish the Safari. At 36.5 feet long, he grabbed three of the "California Boys" that competed last year and put them in the middle. John's long time partner, Mike Shively, will man the bow. Each of these three boats is composed of a tough carbon-fiber/Kevlar construction that can take a lot of abuse against logs and rocks. The teams are well-experienced and well-trained, and I'd be hard pressed to come up with a sure winner at this point.

The low water will obviously mean lower times for all competitors. This will increase the drop out rate for competitors unable to finish within the 100 hour time limit. Added to the low water, are the record high temperatures and high wind speeds coming out of the south to feed the low pressure areas in north Texas. My team attempted to make a crossing of Guadalupe Bay at Seadrift the past weekend. We were one team member shy, which left a place for water to flow in through our spray cover. By the time we made it halfway across the bay we were close to swamping. The three to four foot waves broke over the bow and gunnels and the wind kept us at a standstill. We barely made it to the east side of the bay before completely swamping out.

Adding to the fun will be the section of the Guadalupe just prior to the bay, known as Alligator Lake. This year it lives up to it's name, since all the surrounding swamps are drained and the alligators must hang around the river for water and food. The alligator population will be well represented this year. So, not only must teams slog through the low water for 245 miles, then they must go through a ten mile gauntlet of alligators and cross a treacherous five mile open bay complete with high wind and waves. This year the Texas Water Safari will live up to it's reputation of the "World's Toughest Boat Race."

The official check-in for the Safari begins at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, June 7th near the swimming pool at Aquarena Springs. The public is welcome to come scope out the boats and talk to the racers. Volunteers are still needed to monitor the course and lend a hand wherever needed. If you are interested in volunteering as a race official and get a FREE Official T-Shirt, contact Spencer's Canoe Livery at 357-6113. As they say, no experience necessary.