As Per AOCRA INC Sanctioning requirements the following notes are to be included in invitation :

  • ALL AUSTRALIAN COMPETITORS MUST BE REGISTERED MEMBERS OF AOCRA.
  • ALL INTERNATIONAL COMPETITORS MUST SUBMIT PROOF OF TRAVEL SPORTS INSURANCE IN THE COMPETITORS NAME BEFORE A NOMINATION WILL BE APPROVED.


REGISTRATION

To register your team please go onto www.aocra.com.au and nominate your club and your teams. The final day for registrations is Monday 12th April 2010.
Race Fees: AUD$55 per paddler.
(includes event T-Shirt, $2 AOCRA Fee, $5 SQ Zone Fee and entry to all random Prize draws)


DIVISIONS

Women: Open, Masters, Senior Masters
Men: Open, Masters, Senior Masters, Golden Masters
Mixed: Open, Masters, Senior Masters


COURSE BRIEFING

Date and Time: Friday, 16 April 2010 at 6.00 pm
Location: VRM (Volunteer marine Rescue) base at Muriel Henchman Drive, The Spit (Just past Seaworld Water Park Resort)
Please ensure that your crew team captain/representative and support boat driver attend this meeting.


PRE-RACE BRIEFING

Date and Time: Saturday, 17 April 2010 at 7.30 am
Location: Greenmount Beach
Please ensure that your steerer and ream captain attend this meeting.


COURSE FINALISATION

Course finalised 12pm Friday, 16th April 2010.
If unsure contact; Race Director, racedirector@goldcoastcup.com


STAGGERED RACE STARTING TIMES

8:00 am

  • Women - all divisions
  • Mixed Teams - all divisions
8:30am
  • Men - all divisions
Note: Minimum 5 Teams nominated to warrant division race.



PRESENTATION / HUGE AFTER PARTY

At race finish site approx. 1 hour after final canoe comes in. At this time we anticipate this to be around 1:30pm. Drinks and Food will be available at the site. In addition to medal presentations there will be a large number of RANDOM PADDLER PRIZES. Paddlers must be present to be awarded these prizes.


PRIZES

It is a requirement that there is a minimum of 5 teams nominated to warrant prize money for each division. Prizes to be announced closer to event.
Register to our Blog to stay up to date with Event announcements and breaking news. Click here.


MEDALS

Medals will be awarded to ALL team paddlers for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place across ALL divisions, regardless of the number of crews entered.


RANDOM PRIZE DRAWS

Every registered paddlers will go in the draw for the random prizes that will be drawn after the official presentations. Paddlers must be present to claim their prizes. Re-draws will take place if winners are not present.


NOTICE BOARD

If you would like to paddle but do not have a crew, please let us know and we will endeavour to match any requests. Also, please use the 'comments' section on our Blog to communicate with other competitors and organisers. Click here.


CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

Start Procedure will be by Yellow Flag and 2 blasts of horn. 5 minute warning, Red Flag. 1 minute warning, Green Flag indicates racing commenced. The flag times are a maximum and may be reduced at the Race Director’s discretion. Start will be upon raising of the Green Flag and blast of horn. A Black Flag indicates a canoe or canoes are over the start line. The race can be started while a Black Flag is raised. It is the responsibility of individual crews to ensure they are behind the start line at the commencement of racing. Any crew over the line when the race commences may be disqualified or subject to time penalty at the Race Director’s discretion.


THE COURSE

Change race, canoes will line up between start buoy and Race Director’s Boat facing South. Canoes will head South following the lead boat to designated turning buoy, located just North of Cook Island. Canoes round buoy and head back towards starting area then heading north following the coastline towards the Gold Coast Seaway. Teams may follow their line to the finish at the Spit, immediately adjacent to VMR (Volunteer Marine Rescue).

The finish line will be marked by two buoys. Any crew not following the designated course may be disqualified or subject to time penalty at the Race Director’s discretion. There will be an alternate course if unsafe conditions are ruled by the Water Police and VMR. This course will be around Sovereign Island back through Labrador side of Broadwater; around Fisho’s and across finishing line adjacent to VMR. Final Course will be determined on Friday 16th April 2010 and be outlined at the race briefing that evening.


RACE CATEGORIES

Race Categories available to competitors;

  • Open Men, Open Women - 20 years & over at time of race
  • Mixed Open - 20 years & over at time of race
  • Mixed Masters - 40 years men & 35 women & over in calendar year of competition
  • Master Men - 40 years & over in calendar year of competition
  • Master Women - 35 years & over in calendar year of competition
  • Senior Master Men - 50 years & over in calendar year of competition
  • Senior Master Women - 45 years & over in calendar year of competition
  • Golden Master Men - 55 years & over in calendar year of competition


TEAMS

Teams shall consist of the following;

  • Men’s teams - 9 male paddlers only
  • Women’s teams - 10 female paddlers only
  • Mixed Open/Masters teams - 5 male paddlers and 5 female paddlers
All paddlers must be 20 years and over to compete. No replacement of original paddlers is permitted once racing has commenced. In accordance with AOCRA Inc. sanctioning requirements, a Senior AOCRA Management Committee Official will be present to make any decisions, which may be necessary relating to safety.



OTHER

Minimum entry of five crews to make a division. Please note that if there are insufficient entries in any category, team captains/representatives will be notified and given option to relegate to next age division.

Medals will be presented to all places. In addition 1st place crew members in open men and Open Women will receive 'Rack Prize Pack'.

All Canoes (including rigging, iako, ama, hull shape) must meet current AOCRA requirements. Zone registration numbers must be prominent and readable on the bow of canoes. Storm covers on the canoe is mandatory. AOCRA standard tow ropes (12mm rope 20/25metres in length) must be fixed to front iako. Each team must be proficient in the procedure of towing their canoe.

Minimum of two bailing buckets must be on board canoe and no mechanical means of bailing water of the canoe is permitted. All canoes must have proof of positive flotation inspection compliance stickers affixed. All canoes must have 1 life jacket per paddler in the canoe (additional jackets in the support boat may be required under Maritime Law) No foot support or braces are permitted. Paddlers must be single bladed and may otherwise be of any shape and material.

The Gold Coast Cup Race Committee shall have the final decision on approving or disapproving any entry, canoe or equipment. A beach pre-race check of all canoes must have been completed by a Gold Coast Cup Race Official prior to entering the water, otherwise team is disqualified.

First Changeover point for canoes will be after returning and rounding the buoy near starting area. Further changes will be at the discretion of the teams, with the proviso that no changes are to be made within the area bounded by the Gold Coast Seaway rock retaining walls, for safety reasons. All changeovers must be made from the water. (ie; No escort boat within 20m of any canoe at anytime)

Escort Boats are the responsibility of the individual crews to meet all race requirements, and must not impede any other team, or assist their own by wash riding etc. Each entry must have one escort power boat to accompany them throughout the race.

All escort boats must meet the minimum State requirements, must be able to safely carry all team paddlers and boat crew members. All escort boats must be equipped with two-way radio communications, Citizens Band or VHF only. Any entry without proper two-way communication will not be allowed to participate.

The appropriate emergency channel for communication will be announced at the main race briefing and will be the responsibility of the team to inform their respective support boat operators of that channel. Random Radio checks will be made at the beginning of the race. The Gold Coast Cup Race Committee will have the final decision on the approval or disapproval of any vessel used as an escort boat.

All Support Boats must have a licensed operator.

Teams may have paddlers from mixed clubs, provided all are registered financial members of AOCRA Inc. affiliated clubs or have AOCRA approved international insurance.

Each entry must provide approved personal flotation devices for each person on the escort boat and each paddler in the canoe. Each entry is responsible for complying with all applicable State, Federal regulations and requirements. Each entry is responsible for assuring that each paddler, coach, helper and boat captain is water safe.

The race is subject to postponement or cancellation by the Gold Coast Cup Race Committee or AOCRA Official if weather conditions, in their opinion, render running of the race to be unsafe. Entry fees in such cases are non-refundable.

The Gold Cost Cup Race Committee reserves the right to remove any signage which is not in good taste or which sabotages the promotional rights of the event sponsors. Canoes must display event sponsors promotional requirements in the required position.

Failure to comply with the directions of any Safety Official will result in immediate disqualification and may invalidate AOCRA Insurance for that team.

Protests must be lodged in writing with a $50 fee to the Race Committee no more than 15 minutes after finishing the race. As per AOCRA Regatta rules, protest fees are refundable if the protest is upheld.

In the event that at a team or its associated support group fails to meet any of the conditions of entry listed, the Gold Coast Cup Race Committee reserves the right to have the Race Director disqualify them immediately. If a team is disqualified they are no longer permitted to take any part in the event, entry fees in such cases are non-refundable.

All Crews must be deemed capable of completing the course and sanctioned by their club coaches and or president as such for insurance and liability reasons.

PLEASE NOTE: Should any circumstances arise note covered in these racing Conditions, the Gold Coast Cup Race Committee reserves the right to have the Race Director make a ruling on any such circumstance, and any such decision is to be final and binding.
ALL PADDLERS WHO ARE NOT IN THE STARTING SIX WILL NEED TO BOARD THEIR SUPPORT CRAFT EITHER AT THE SOUTHPORT SPIT OR JACK EVANS BOAT HARBOUR, TWEED HEADS (PADDLERS CAN WALK OVER 350M AND BOARD IN SAFETY). THERE WILL BE NO FERRYING OF PADDLERS TO THE SUPPORT BOATS OFF KIRRA BEACH. We strongly advise you not to let your support boat go out through the Tweed Bar as last year, some crews did not have a support boat because of this.
WE RECOMMEND YOUR SUPPORT BOAT LEAVES FROM THE SPIT AND TRAVELS TO KIRRA. THIS WILL MEAN THE TRAILER IS AT THE FINISH LINE.


INFORMATION FOR SUPPORT BOAT DRIVERS

We are very pleased that you are part of this major sporting event here on the Gold Coast. For those unfamiliar with Outrigger Canoe ultra marathon racing, a team is made up of either 9 men, 10 women or 5 men and 5 women (mixed) with any 6 of them continuously in the canoe (in the mixed open/master category 3 women must be in canoe at all times). The support boat drivers' role is to carry the 3 or 4 other paddlers that will continually take turns of rotating in and out of the canoes as they race over the 43km course. There is a race Welcome function which includes briefing and registration at 6pm on Friday 16th April 2010 at the VMR Base, beside Sea World Nara Resort Southport). You are required to attend and find out about the race course, meet your crew and ask any questions. Your boat must be in the Support Boat meeting area off Greenmount Beach by 7.15am. This time may change and notification will be forthwith prior to the race briefing. On Saturday, 17 April 2010, arrange with your team to board at your departure. Please read the requirements below and contact the Race Director racedirector@goldcoastcup.com should you have any queries. Northcliffe Outriggers will arrange a support boat on behalf of any International team.


SUPPORT BOAT REQUIREMENTS

Boat Requirements;

  • All escort boats must be registered in line with all State requirements
  • All escort boats must be equipped with two-way communication. Channel 94 on 27mhz and Channel 77 on VHF will be monitored by volunteer rescue services in case of difficulty.
  • All support boats must have a licensed operator, carry the regulation safety gear requirements and be in a seaworthy condition.
    • Please make arrangements with your crew for a pick up point away from Greenmount Beach as we are not making IRB’s available to act as taxis from the beach due to 80 other boats and canoes on the water.

RACING REQUIREMENTS

Support boats are to remain a minimum of 50m behind back canoes on the start line. All changeovers must be made from the water, ie. No escort boat within 20m of any canoe except during capsize. If any towing of a canoe occurs in the director of finish line, the canoe will be disqualified. First changeover point for canoes will be after passing back through the start line, heading North. Further changes will be at the discretion of the teams, with the proviso that no changes are to be made within the area bounded by the Gold Coast Seaway rock retaining walls, for safety reasons.

Canoes have right of way at all times. Any impedance of a canoe by any means (eg. Wash or causing of canoe to alter course) by a support boat will result in either a time penalty or disqualification being applies to the support boats canoe at the discretion of the Race Director.

If the forecasted weather conditions make the race unsafe, an alternate course on the Broadwater at Southport will be used. If in doubt about conditions, contact the Race Director after 12noon Friday, 16 April 2010 when a decision would have been made.