Charity canoeists in 'toughest boat race'

Four people from Abu Dhabi are set to take part in a 416-kilometre trip down the Colorado River in Texas to raise Dh50,000 for Red Crescent and Calvert Trust charities

ABU DHABI // Paddling a canoe for 100 hours would be a daunting challenge for most people. Add the threat of venomous water snakes, mosquitoes, poison ivy, fire ants and the likelihood of being tipped out of the boat by alligator gars - primitive, toothy fish - and it is no wonder the organisers of the Texas Water Safari call it the "world's toughest boat race". But that has not put off four friends from the capital who are taking on the 416km canoeing challenge on the Colorado River to raise Dh50,000 (US$13,610) for charity.

The team, called the Abu Dhabi Camels, is the first from the UAE to sign up to the race. To complete the challenge they have to cross the finish line in the Gulf of Mexico - which a quarter of the competitors in the annual event fail to do. The man who formed the team, James Dauman, knows what that feels like: he had to quit the 2007 race at the halfway point because he was suffering from severe dehydration. The Briton, who now lives in the Emirates, is determined to complete this year's event which starts on June 13.

"Until you're actually sitting in the canoe going down the river, you don't understand how incredible it is," he said. "The enormity of it all is awe-inspiring." The Camels will be the only Middle Eastern team in the race, now in its 45th year. It has become a tradition to many Texans. "For some of the locals this is the 30th time they've competed, so it becomes quite addictive. It's a real badge of honour to finish this thing," Mr Dauman said.

As part of their training, the team has been kayaking in the mangroves of Abu Dhabi Island and pulling weights and practising on rowing machines at the Abu Dhabi Health and Fitness Club. "People are not aware of how fantastic the kayaking is on our doorstep," said Jean-Marc Laventure, Mr Dauman's teammate. "Part of the reason we're doing this is to raise money for charity. But the other reason is to raise the profile of canoeing as well as the natural waterways in the UAE."

The third man in the boat will be Simon Dowker, while the team captain Charlotte Dauman will drive the support vehicle and handle all the checkpoints. The team are looking for sponsors for the two-day race and will donate any money raised to the Red Crescent and Calvert Trust charities. The Red Crescent works in distressed areas of the Middle East, while the London-based Calvert Trust helps people with disabilities to experience adventurous holidays.