KAYAK HIT BY SPEEDBOAT; KAYAKER UNHARMED

The Lambertville access area, gateway to a popular rapid for Philadelphia paddlers, is closed one weekend a year for speedboat races on the Delaware . In June 1994 a local boater portaged downstream, then launched and set out for Lambertville Rapid, a popular play spot. He was hit by a midget racing craft, which ran over his bow. The racer, who has going almost fifty miles per hour, took no evasive action. If the kayaker hadn’t been watching and back-paddled, he would have been killed.

SOURCE: Dan Roberts

EDITOR’S NOTE: The kayaker thought he was well outside the racecourse; the powerboater did not expect to see a kayak in an area that was supposedly closed to other watercraft. The speedboat racing club running the event bought the victim a new kayak. During future closures, kayakers are advised to portage downstream, along the canal towpath, all the way to the wing dam so they can launch directly into the rapids.