Days on the Bay

In September 2020, Chris Hopkinson became the first person to stand-up paddleboard down the entire length of Chesapeake Bay. The 207-mile journey took him just nine days, after which he turned that feat into an annual event. Now he’s preparing for the third Chesapeake Bay Paddle, when over five days in August, paddlers with all vessel varieties and skill levels will take to the water to raise money for the Oyster Recovery Partnership, Chesapeake Conservancy, and Waterkeepers Chesapeake—organizations that restore, preserve, and protect the bay. Participants will begin their endurance challenge in Rock Hall, Maryland, and paddle along the shorelines of historic towns until they reach Cape Charles, Virginia. “Being on the water changes your perspective,” Hopkinson says. “You learn to appreciate how beautiful it is and how important it is to clean it up and preserve it for future generations.” baypaddle.org

This item was published as part of What’s Happening in the South.