Competition. Community. History.
Established in 1904, the Washington Canoe Club is a community of volunteers passionately dedicated to preserving, promoting and engaging in paddlesports on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. WCC’s boathouse, over a century old, is an iconic historic landmark serving as a base for its members to train for competition, paddle for recreation, and host community, educational and charitable groups.
Thanks to Bonnie and Dan Havens for the sneak preview of the 2024 award.
Saturday, November 2, 2024
Frank Havens Memorial 10k Race
Race Sign-up at 10:00 am
Mandatory Racers Meeting at 10:30 am
Mass start at 11:00 am
$25. per person
The Washington Canoe Club is again proud to host the Frank Havens Memorial 10K race, honoring the WCC’s Gold & Silver Medalist Frank Havens. The 10K racecourse on the Potomac is in honor of Frank’s Gold Medal World Record win in the C-1 10,000m distance at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952.
There are many classes to choose from, including Short Boat (up to, but not longer than, 16’ long) and Long Boat (16.5’ and up). All canoes must be fat, slow, non-racing, open canoes made from non-racing materials (i.e., no Kevlar, carbon boats) and must be paddled with 2 people each using a single blade paddle. Dressing in Halloween finery is strongly encouraged.
No canoe? No problem! Just show up on Saturday morning and check in to be assigned a canoe. There are usually folks looking to race in search of partners. This is one of the best days at the club, you won't want to miss it.
$25 per person will get you a great race, a delicious post-race lunch, and, if you’re fast enough, the best award in all of sport! This year's award paddle design is another stunning example of the artistry of Dan Havens.
$15 for lunch for non-racers.
Post-race, stay and have a nice lunch, the awards ceremony, and a chance to linger and enjoy the company of WCC members and friends from near and far.
Not able to race this year? WE WILL NEED VOLUNTEERS. ISO folks to help as race officials, food prep and serving, and as always… clean-up. Email Jim Ross to volunteer.
Thank You!
Thanks to the organizers, volunteers, and attendees who made the 2024 Sunset Dinner fundraiser a huge success!
Thanks to Dalton Pope of Cinemagine Studios and Owen Palmiotti for their work on this sneak preview. The full video will premier here in the coming days.
WCC 2024 Sunset Dinner video teaser
Take the WCC 2024 Paddle Fit challenge
WCC Hosted zoom Presentation
Birds and Wildlife Along the Potomac
Below is the video recording from DC Department of Energy & Environment wildlife biologist Dan Rauch's, engaging presentation from Feb. 7 on the abundant birds, fish, and wildlife that we are likely to encounter while paddling the Potomac. Thanks to "Dan the Bird Man" and WCC member Tom Reiter for setting up this event.
The WCC History Book is still available!
Images of America: Washington Canoe Club
By Chris Brown
The book is available for purchase (all proceeds from the sale will go to the boathouse restoration fund). Or donate $250 or more to the restoration fund and receive a complimentary signed copy.
Head over to our history page and watch Chris Brown's Virtual Book Talk that was given via Zoom on December 3, 2020.
NEW WCC branded items are now available in our seasonal Squad Locker stores!
Show off your club spirit and look good doing it!
In an effort to increase the variety of WCC branded "merch" for members of all ages (including infants and toddlers), the WCC shopkeepers have added new hats, shirts, leggings, bags, bibs, and more into two seasonal Squad Locker stores. Items will be periodically updated and changed, so keep checking back!
Visit the Fall/Winter Store.
Visit the Spring/Summer Store.
