Phatwater level on the Natchez Gauge today is 43.2′. We’re hoping to get our countdown calendar and other date corrections up on the site  some time next week.  I am meeting with our timekeepers this morning, hopefully to finalize the results once and for all.  Afterward we will list 1st place finishers here, and begin sending our trophies to those who did not receive them.

We will have only online registration next year.  There will be no options.  All registration and payments will be handled through the online agency tasked to handle this.  There will be no late registrations. Some of you will make decisions on which boats you will paddle the morning of the race, and we understand this.  I don’t see this as a problem, but everyone will have to register in advance. Packet pickup will still take place at the Under-The-Hill Saloon, either before or following the race, depending on your arrival, but registration must take place online.  More on this later.

We have hats, shirts, pins, and pub glasses all on backorder.  It you participated in this year’s Phatwater and did not receive a pub glass let me know.   If you want additional pub glasses, they’re $15 apiece, while they last.

I’m hopeful we can have a more smoothly run awards system next year.  As some are aware, there were problems this year resulting from having new people in place with new tasks they’d never before performed.  All did a stellar job, the one exception being the errors, and there were many, made by me.  All in all things went well and we’ve received many positive emails and comments from a broad range of our participants.  I’m interested in all the stories, so feel free to post your comments and offer your criticisms.  Growth and improvement can only come when we have a problem or solution brought to our attention.

Ocean Paddlesports of Costa Mesa California, run by our overall winners DeAnne and Patrick Hemmens, has donated a Fenn Mako XT Surfski to the Phatwater, for next year.    As soon as we have a photo we will put it up here.  I’m not certain what our best use of this ski will be.  Should we decide to hold a drawing for it, we obviously won’t be using it.  On the other hand, it may be best to have it as an introductory boat for others wanting to transition to a surfski to try.  We’ll decide later, but I did want to let everyone know how generous DeAnne and Patrick have been in providing us with this gift.

In the “behind the scenes” category, we’re full tilt on fundraising.  I hope to meet with our two Senators and several of our Congressmen this coming year in an effort to draw more attention to our region, and the recreational viability which the Mississippi holds not only for the Phatwater but the nation as a whole.  I’m told one of the best ways to do this is to grow the Phatwater and Kayak Mississippi through our Facebook page, where Melissa has been working to upload photos the past few days.  When you have a chance, go to Facebook, Kayak Mississippi, and become a fan.  Doing so will put more sausage in the gumbo next October.

Thanks,  All for now-KB