Champions Boat League’s venue changed; to be held at Kottapuram on October 19

The seventh race of the Champions Boat League (CBL) will be held at Kottappuram, near Kodungallur this weekend. Reportedly, the boat race was due to be organised at Ponnani in Malappuram district October 19.
According to the news reports, logistical issues have made it troublesome for the CBL snake-boats to be brought to Ponnani. The officials told the press the boat race scheduled for this Saturday will be organised at the Muziris Kottappuram Waterfront that was also the chosen venue for the earlier leg on October 12.

The district of Thrissur hosts two rounds of the famous CBL that was flagged off in Alappuzha on August 31 this year, and will be wrapped up on November 23 in Kollam, Kerala. There are nine snake-boats participating in the 12-race contest, which has been fashioned on the IPL cricket format with the support of Kerala Tourism.

Since the snake boats measure 100 ft in length, it was difficult for the organisers to navigate them from Kottappuram to Ponnani located 70 km northward.

After the Kottapuram leg, the CBL races will be organised as Kainakari in Alappuzha (October 26), Pulinkunnu (also in Kuttanad, November 2), Kayamkulam (November 9), Kallada, Kollam district (November 16) and Kollam (alongside President’s Trophy Boat Race, November 23).

Kottapuram is a harbour town that is easily accessible via Kochi Airport. Tourists can explore Thiruvanchikulam Mahadeva Temple, Cranganore Fort, a lakeshore park and museums in this town.