Ivan Patzaichin International Canoe Marathon

Welcome to the second edition of the International Ivan Patzaichin Canoe Marathon, taking place from May 22 to 24, 2026, in Tulcea, Romania, in the heart of the Danube Delta and boasting a prize money pot of €30,000 (canoe, kayak and SUP)!

This event is more than a competition; it is a living tribute to the “Admiral” Ivan Patzaichin, a titan of the sport who taught the world that a broken paddle is only the beginning of a legend.

Event Overview

Dates: May 22–24, 2026.
Location: The race starts at the Ivan Patzaichin Memorial in Tulcea and finishes at the newly inaugurated Ivan Patzaichin Museum in Mila 23 Village.
The Course: A 45 km journey through “Ivan’s Delta,” one of Europe’s most unique biodiversity sanctuaries.
START: On the water, in front of the Ivan Patzaichin Memorial (Tulcea Promenade)
FINISH: Ivan Patzaichin Museum (Mila 23)
Elite Competition Highlights: We specifically invite your professional athletes to compete in the Elite Category, a grueling one-day challenge designed to test their limits.
Prize Pool: A total of €30,000 in prize money is available for Elite categories (Canoe, Kayak, and SUP).
Elite Categories: Open rankings for Men, Women in K1, C1, SUP, and Mixed teams in K2 and C2.
Wild Cards: The organizers reserve the right to grant free access (Wild Cards) to athletes with an international track record.

Registration Information

Online registration is currently open at www.rowmania.ro
Early Bird (until March 14): 350 RON / €70.
Regular (March 15 – April 14): 450 RON / €90.
Last Call (April 15 – May 10): 500 RON / €100.

Event schedule

May 22, Friday
Registration & Opening
May 23, Saturday
Elite Race – 45 km distance completed in a single day
Award Ceremony – Elite
May 23-24
Loisir Race – 45 km distance split over two days: Day 1 – 21 km, Day 2 – 24 km

Categories

Welcome to Tulcea

Tulcea city is situated in the north part of Dobrogea, in the south-eastern part of Romania, close to Constanta.

The city of Tulcea, laid out on seven hills like Rome, has been an important harbor since ancient times. It has a population of about 90,000 inhabitants. Located at the tip of the three channels of Danube river, where the famous Danube river finally ends its journey through Europe as it empties into the Black sea creating the famous Danube Delta, Tulcea makes a great starting point for exploring the Delta.

The Danube Delta is comprised of an intricate network of waterways and lakes divided between the three main estuary channels of the Danube. The area of floating reed islands, forests, pastures and sand dunes covers 3,000 square miles and is home to a vast array of wildlife.

Tulcea, also known as the entry gates to the Danube Delta, represents one of the most inspiring venues for organizing a rowing marathon.

How to get to Tulcea

By plane
Nearest airports:
The main and the largest airport is Henri Coanda International Airport, located 300 km of Tulcea, nearby Bucharest, the capital of Romania.
Baneasa Aurel Vlaicu Airport is an airport serving Bucharest, located about 8.5 km north of the city center.
The closest airport is Mihail Kogalniceanu International Airport (CND), located 105 km south of Tulcea, nearby Constanta. The airport operates few flights from/to London (Wizzair) and Istanbul (Turkish Airlines).

By car:
Western Border: (Hungary / Szeged) – 905 km
South Border (Bulgaria / Ruse) – 352 / Varna – 280 km
East Border (Moldavia) – 115 km

How to Get to Tulcea from Bucharest

by car:
from Bucharest: A2 -> Drajna -> Slobozia -> Giurgeni (bridge*) -> Ciucurova -> Cataloi → Tulcea
* Do not forget to pay the bridge toll

by bus:
from Bucharest Airport (Otopeni or Băneasa) – direct transfer by bus – provided by Kidvad Tours
https://kirvad.ro/tulcea-otopeni

by train:
Check schedule – https://mersultrenurilor.infofer.ro