The 59th annual Texas Water Safari is set to cast off from San Marcos this weekend.
The Safari is a yearly competition that was founded in 1963 and spans 260 miles along the San Marcos River from the Meadows Center in San Marcos to Bill Sander Memorial Park in Seadrift. Racers must have all supplies and equipment in their possession at the start of the race, except for water and ice, which can be brought to them by an onshore “team captain.” The teams also have just 100 hours to complete the Safari, giving it the reputation of “The World’s Toughest Canoe Race.”
While the past few races have been a bit easier to navigate, aided by high water levels, Texas Water Safari Race Director Allen Spelce said, for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic, that likely won’t be the case this year.
