Texas Water Safari
The Texas Water Safari is a boat race down waterways from San Marcos, Texas, to Seadrift, Texas. The total distance traveled is 262 miles. Racers must take all equipment needed with them, receiving only medical supplies, food, water, and ice along the way. The primary requirement is a boat powered only by human muscle. The event was first held in 1963, and is run annually. The race begins on the second Saturday of June of each year, barring bad weather.
In 1962 Frank Brown and Bill "Big Willie" George navigated from San Marcos to Corpus Christi without a motor. In 1963 they created the Texas Water Safari which would become an annual race.
Course
The course includes natural rivers like the San Marcos, with rapids and dams. Most boats destroyed on the course are lost in the upper river. The San Marcos River converges with the Guadalupe River and becomes wider and slower. The main dangers in the middle river are sweepers, downed trees, logjams and dams. Near the end of the course there are lakes and swamps, and it ends with a crossing of the San Antonio Bay. Other challenges include alligators, sharks, water moccasin, fire ants, and mosquitos.There are 11 checkpoints including the finish line. Their locations are published and they are staffed with officials. Each checkpoint has a cutoff time the racers must meet or be disqualified. The final cutoff time at the finish is 100 hours. The team captain of each team must be present at the checkpoint to sign off the team's time as the team leaves. Checkpoints:
- Staples Dam
- Luling 90
- Palmetto State Park
- Gonzales Dam
- Hochheim
- Cuero 766
- Cuero 236
- Victoria City Park
- Swinging Bridge
- Calhoun Riverside RV Retreat
- Seadrift
Records
Athletes compete in classes. The Unlimited class has no restriction, except that the watercraft is powered only by human muscle, and restricted since 2006 to crews no greater than six. Attempts have been made to race craft of unconventional form, but the best results have been achieved by well-trained teams in crewboats.| Record | Fastest time or Youngest age | Year achieved | Holder |
| Overall Fastest Time / Unlimited | 29:46 | 1997 | Bryan & Fred Mynar, John Dunn, Jerry Cochran, Steve Landick, and Soloman Carriere |
| Tandem Unlimited | 35:17 | 1987 | John Bugge & Mike Shively |
| Men's Solo Unlimited | 36:03 | 2007 | Carter Johnson |
| Master's | 36:06 | 2004 | John Maika, Vance Sherrod, Pete Binnion, Jim Pye, and Pat Petrisky |
| USCA C-2 | 36:27 | 1997 | Allen Spelce and West Hansen |
| Men's USCA C-1 | 37:07 | 2007 | Jerry Rayburn |
| Mixed | 37:45 | 2007 | Deborah Lane and Fred Mynar |
| Standard | 38:18 | 1992 | Lynn Wilson and Ron Lightfoot of Canada |
| Aluminum | 38:55 | 1997 | Donald and Daniel Baumbach |
| Women's Unlimited | 41:39 | 2015 | Virginia Condie & Kaitlin Jiral |
| Novice | 44:03 | 2004 | Allen Chellette & George Melder |
| Adult-Child | 46:11 | 1997 | Kyle & Joe Mynar |
| Women's Solo Unlimited | 49:26 | 2004 | Holly Nelson |
| Women's USCA C1 | 57:49 | 2014 | Holly Orr |
| Youngest USCA C-1 Finisher & Winner, Female | 20Y 11M 28D | 2011 | Courtney Weber |
| Youngest USCA C-1 Finisher & Winner, Male | 17Y 9M 1D | 2010 | Max Feaster |
| Youngest Finisher | 9Y 5M 12D | 2003 | Jessica Bugge |
| Youngest Woman Solo Finisher | 18Y 4M 28D | 2009 | Rebekah Zeek |
| All-Time Tandem 'Safari Spirit' Team | 2002 2003 | Chris and Matthew "Matt" Baker |