Cost Reduction - share an escort vessel

The race organisers issued this bulletin:

The Molokai World Championships race committee has announced that paddlers might be able to share escort boats or apply for an exemption from needing an escort boat.
 
Once an entry is received, we will inform the entrant that they can apply for an exemption from an escort boat or to share an escort boat. Based on the paddlers written motivation and experience, the race committee will decide on whether or not the exemption will be granted.

If an exemption is granted, additional personal safety measures will be mandatory.

This means that the current cost of up to $650 for an escort boat could be reduced or eliminated from a paddler's budget.  "Additional safety measures" presumably means carrying flares/VHF radio and so on - a small cost in comparison.

[Editor: the "share an escort" idea has been abandoned.]

 Race Course

The race starts on the western end of Moloka'i.  The images below come from google and google earth.  

The start of the race on Moloka'i

A paddler's GPS track showing the 2006 start

Here's a link to a google earth placemark that shows the location of the start. 

It looks as though the crossing will be on a slightly more westerly course than before which should be more in line with the prevailing wind and waves.

The route crosses the Ka'iwi Channel

Old and new courses (GPS track from 2006 on top)

Instead of the old 5km slog into the wind to get to the finish, the new course continues on a westerly heading past the Diamond Head State Monument and on just outside of the reef breaks to the finish just past the Natatorium (large WW1 memorial beachside pool). 

The new course extends the race slightly

Here's a link to a google earth placemark that shows the location of the finish.  (To the right of the placemark is the Natatorium.)

And another that shows the location of the Park Shore Hotel. 

For more information see the Molokai World Championship website. 

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