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 [Editor: Anton Erasmus sent this latest information on the PE to EL Challenge]
Thanks for the many responses to the Challenge questionnaire. Here is a bullet summary of the feed back. - Having a reserve day was a big no no. Race must be over 4 days (some felt that the race should be held a week later)
- Check points, varied opinions. Majority wanted to keep them but with stop in race time. Also if surf is dangerous then turn around a buoy of ducky - i.e. a safety call.
- Woody Cape - majority want it in but not if it is a mega boat breaker of a day - again a safety call.
- Head butt vs. turning days. Most felt that the race should be PE to EL BUT if the wind is forecast to be in excess of 15 knots (some said 10 others 25) then turn it. A number suggested a there and back if the wind is hectic and also changing start time to accommodate the wind prediction.
- Two paddlers said the race should be from EL to PE.
From the feedback the following will apply to the 2006 PE to EL Challenge: Day 1: Blue Water Bay (Coega) to Woody Cape - paddlers to stay inside all islands. Day 2: Woody Cape to Port Alfred. Check point at Bushmans - If surf is too big (a call made by the Race official) the start moves to Bokness. Day 3: Port Alfred to Hamburg. Check point at Mbkweni Day 4: Hamburg to East London. Check point at Kids Beach. Rules: - Race direction:- these decisions will be made on the forecast of the PE weather officials provided to the race official at 17h00 the day before the event.
- The check points on days 2,3,4 are done in race time, and if the surf is too big then the check point will be behind the backline (rubber duck)
- Starts: Batch starts to aim at having field finish tightly (05h00 for slowest singles,5h20 for slowest doubles and 05h40 fastest doubles & 06h00 for fastest singles). Start times may very between 05h00 and 10h00 to aviod or make the best of the wind.
The race will be from PE to EL but if a head wind gusting in excess of 15 knots is forecasted then the day will be changed as follows: Day 1: BWB to Boat off Sundays and back Day 2: Woody Cape to Bushmans and back (if Surf too big then Kenton to Port Alfred and back) Day 3: Port Alfred to Fish River Mouth and back Day 4: Kidds Beach to East London If wind conditions of more than 35 knots are forecast and can not be avoided by flexible start times, the day may be cancelled. As would be the case if the sea and wind conditions and visibility made rescue dangerous. All decisions on race direction and start times will be made the night before. Decisions on Surf will be made 45 min before the predicted start time." Paddler safety: CSA approved Paddling jacket, leash, flare. Must be with them at all times. Cell phone pouch and key numbers provided. Each paddler to have a second (who is contactable and responsible for paddler recovery once on accessible land Qualifiers: - Besides specific qualifiers arranged in the area (as per dates) the Dolphin Coast will also count.
- Paddler must finish within 25% of the winning craft in his category (i.e. single or double).
- If a paddler qualifies in a double and has never completed the event before he will only be eligible to compete in a double.
- All paddlers who have never completed a Challenge before must have their Surf Ski rep sign off their entry (form to be supplied).
For more information, contact Anton at:
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