April 5, 2013




We are fortunate at Seaward to have extremely talented and committed paddlers use our kayaks for expeditions and extreme races. The Water Tribe's Everglades Challenge is no exception. A grueling 300 mile event requiring seamanship and advanced navigation skills.

Here is Brad Lockhart’s description:

‘I am pleased to inform you that I finished the 2013 WaterTribe’s Everglades Challenge 300 mile event from Fort DeSoto, Fl to Key Largo, Fl by SOLO paddling/sailing my Seaward Passat. I even earned the coveted Gator’s tooth by completing the more difficult 99 mile Wilderness Waterway in the Everglades national Park. This adds another day of travel because of the thick wooded waterways of the “Nightmare” and Upper Broad Creek.

I had previously converted the front cockpit with the gas pedal rudder controls after getting blown around the Wilderness Waterway in 30+mph winds in 2010 while solo paddling this kayak from the rear cockpit. It took me 6 days 5 hours and 22 minutes to paddle my Seaward Passat kayak, by myself, 294 actual miles. It was an epic adventure.’

The (3) Seaward kayaks that finished:
• Scareman - Brad Lockhart who was SOLO paddling his Seaward Passat tandem kayak in 6 days, 5 hours, and 22 minutes
• OneEyedJake – Andy Bartley in his Seaward Ascente in 6 days, 5 hours, and 22 minutes
• YukonJohn – John Haugen-Wente in his Seaward G3 Passat with 36 ft^2 Balogh Sail Designs sailing rig with BOSS outriggers (with Greysmile aka Bob Holloway not shown, and Bob dropped out at CP2 leaving YukonJohn to continue solo) in 8 days, 2 hours, 20 minutes.

Photo of Scareman/Brad Lockhart with the paddle raised at the Finish Line in Key largo Florida – Credit Dana Clark/Breathe magazine

Obviously congratulations are in order to Brad and his fellow paddlers. The level of commitment and dedication needed to succeed in these adventure races is huge. Seaward is proud to have played a part.

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