Utica hosting paddle race from Bellamy Harbor to Harbor Point

Utica will host its first-ever flatwater paddle race along the Erie Canal and Mohawk River, running from Rome to Utica. City officials said the inaugural Bank of Utica Canal Cities Classic is an 18-mile point-to-point race scheduled for Sept. 19, starting at Bellamy Harbor Park in Rome and ending at Harbor Point in Utica. The course includes one portage at the Erie Canal Trail before the River St. bridge in Whitestown, involving a 350-yard carry that transfers paddlers from the Erie Canal to the Mohawk River. After the race, participants are invited to the Erie Canal History & Heritage Festival, featuring live music by Our Common Roots, food trucks, a Saranac beer tent, and museum and history-center exhibits. Registration caps at 100 boats and is available at paddleguru.com, with online registration ending Sept. 7 at 9 p.m. or when capacity is reached. The fee is $45 per paddler, including a t-shirt and reusable cup.