SUP
Experience the Ultimate SUP Treasure Hunt Race at Red Bull Privateers
The first SUP-inspired treasure hunt drew over 230 competitors from around the nation to Cape Romano, Florida, for the wildest paddleboard race ever.
Deemed as one of the most unique SUP races in the world, Red Bull Privateers gathered 230 competitors from around the U.S. in its inaugural competition on Feb. 10. Combining stand-up paddleboards, a treasure hunt and teams of four, Red Bull Privateers is one of the most exciting events of the year. Read on for all the details about location, race format and which team won it all.
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Red Bull Privateers event recap
Red Bull Privateers event recap from Cape Romano, Florida.
Location
Fixed just south of Marco Island, Florida, Cape Romano acts as the northernmost gateway to the expansive Ten Thousand Islands. The cape boasts beauty and seclusion that would attract any beach-goer or traveler looking to “get away from it all.” However, it is not the beauty or the seclusion that brings people here. Historical Indian civilizations, tales of bootleggers and mysterious dome homes being swallowed by the sea make Cape Romano as interesting as it is mesmerizing.
Race format
The race format was inspired by one of the cape’s most interesting stories of Captain Calico Jack, an infamous pirate known across the Caribbean. Legends say that Captain Calico Jack Rackham found refuge in Cape Romano, using his knowledge of the dangerous shoals and vast networks of mangrove islets in the area as a safe haven for his ship, his crew and his treasure. It is rumored that Calico Jack’s treasure remains undiscovered, hidden under sand and mangroves on one of the islands just beyond the cape.
Finding treasure
© Nick Shirghio
History of Cape Romano
Nearly 300 years after Calico Jack’s reign, over 230 competitors sought their own treasure at Cape Romano. This time arming themselves with paddleboards to navigate the networks of waterways and shallow shoals at the first ever Red Bull Privateers. In this one of a kind event, 58 teams of four paddle boarders set out on a journey to uncover doubloons hidden among the islets and coves of the Ten Thousand islands. Teams set out to discover 15 unique doubloons in under two and a half hours, the team that delivered all of the coins the quickest would be crowned the winner.
Clear weather conditions and a temperature set in the low 80’s (middle 20s C) set the scene for an amazing competition day. However, strong, shifting winds stirred up currents and chop creating a challenge for even the most seasoned paddlers. Teams formed strategies based on wind predictions, tidal changes and geographic knowledge to reach all of the treasure chests, factoring in countless variables to devise a plan on when to visit different locations on the map.
Check out the video above to see all the highlights from Red Bull Privateers.
Teams navigate the course on paddleboards
© Nick Shirghio
Even dogs are allowed to hunt for treasure
© Nick Shirghio
Red Bull Privateers treasure map
© Nick Shirghio
The winning team
Just as demanding as the strategic aspect of the competition was the physical component. Teams navigated a six-mile network of waterways to find all of the treasure chests. With the short time constraints, the shifting winds and the added challenge of shallow shoals, the physicality of the race was quickly realized by every competitor. In the end, Team Choinski secured the spot as the inaugural champions despite never before participating in a stand-up paddle race.
Red Bull Privateers is held in Cape Romano, Florida
© Nick Shirghio
“There was some tough competition but we gave it our all. Once we received the map, we split based on our speed and endurance to target specific treasure chests,” said RJ Choinski, the captain of the team. “To be honest, this was our first stand up paddle race, but definitely won’t be our last. The setting and event course was beautiful along with the community of paddlers that came out today.”
In addition to channeling the pirate inside every competitor, Red Bull Privateers hopes to have an impact beyond the competition as well. To help ensure that even Calico Jack would recognize Cape Romano today, a portion of the race entry fees will be donated to the Rookery Bay Estuarine Research Reserve. Their mission is to provide a basis for informed stewardship of estuaries in Southwest Florida through research and education.
“The relationship Red Bull has formed with the Rookery Bay Estuarine Research Reserve is very special and has been in the works for over two years. Before the event, there was even a Rookery Bay ‘Clean Up’ day to help remove debris from the reserve caused by Hurrican Irma,” said Race Director Rob Alfeiri.
Rookery Bay cleanup day
© Nick Shirghio
Teamwork at the Rookery Bay cleanup
© Nick Shirghio
Cleaning up Rookery Bay
© Nick Shirghio
Many mysteries of Cape Romano remain, but Red Bull Privateers proved that with the right strategy and a lot of paddling, Calico Jack’s treasure might soon be found.
