PE2EL Surfski challenge - Race rules

Rules of Participation

CSA approved PDFs (personal floatation device), leashes, flares, cell phones, and any other safety device required, or provided by the organisers to the paddlers are compulsory. There will be no exception to this rule.

It is intended by the race organisers to make use, throughout the race, of the NSRI Safetrx smart phone app designed for for Apple (iPhone/iPad) and Android handsets.

It is accordingly the responsibility of each participant in the race to be familiar with the Safetrx smart phone app, and to ensure that this is uploaded to a suitable phone, and operational throughout the race.

This requirement of a Safetrx smart phone app on your phone is in addition to the standing requirement of a functional phone from which you are able to make calls in case of emergency. Each participant will be required to satisfy the race organisers, on each day that he has a functioning phone (for calls) with fully charged battery and on the same, or on another phone (also with fully charged battery), has a functioning Safetrx app.

To compete and race each day every competitor will be required to have the Safetrx app on the required device (and functioning phone for calls). Should you not have the required Safetrx app (and phone for calls) you will not be permitted to compete.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, all safety equipment used by paddlers is to comply with any additional rules imposed by the organizers, and shall meet the standard and specifications stipulated herein (or hereinafter required of participants).

All participants are to heed directions and instructions of the race officials.

A participant, who rides the wake of a motorized craft, in an attempt to gain advantage, may be disqualified.

Any participant who receives physical support or physical assistance, or who boards a boat, may be disqualified, with the exception of those doing so to repair their craft or to recover from illness, in which case the boat is to ensure that it does not travel in the direction of the race finish. Competitors will be allowed seconds to assist them on the beach. They should take care not to infringe on the rules of the race by assisting competitors in the water.

A time limit may be announced (or determined by the race director at any time before or during a race day) for each day and/or section thereof. The time limit may be lengthened (or shortened) at the discretion of the race director or the NSRI. All participants failing to meet the specified time limit (or any time limit determined by the race director) may, for safety reasons, be removed from the water.

It is required that all participants take a functional mobile phone with them during the event, in a waterproof pouch, with all emergency numbers provided by the race organisers saved to the phone

All participants are to have a leash, space blanket, whistle, flare (approved by the race organizers, as the case may be), cell phone in a water proof pouch, safety tracking device (to be provided by the race organizers) and a CSA approved Personal Buoyancy Aid (PBA) (“life jacket”) as compulsory items of their race kit. The PBA must be worn at all times whilst on the water; all other items must be fitted to your person (inside or attached to your PBA). A participant who discharges his flare without justifiable reason may be disqualified. No inflatable lifejackets will be permitted.

Starting procedures will be explained at Race registration and at each day’s race briefing. Race starts will be staggered daily and batches will be announced at the previous days briefing. The start will take place from a designated area on the beach. All paddlers are required to launch through the surf within the designated area, and could be disqualified for launching outside of the designated area. However, the organizers reserve the right, at their discretion, to make any changes to the start or finish arrangements due to safety or other considerations.

The Race director (and crew) and NSRI may decide whether a participant should be prevented from continuing the race at any time. This decision will be final and binding upon the paddler.

NSRI or the race director (and crew) shall have the ULTIMATE and FINAL authority to remove a participant from the race if the participant is judged to be physically incapable of continuing the race without risk of serious injury or death.

No participant may use any illegal, detrimental or dangerous drugs, stimulants, depressants or other substances or procedures with the intent to improve performance, eliminate the sense of fatigue or for any other purpose.

Fraud, theft, cheating or attempting to do any of these, abusive treatment of volunteers or others and acts of poor sportsmanship are grounds for immediate disqualification and may result in contestants being suspended from competing in any Challenge event in the future.

Finishes will be indicated on the beach. Participants must cross the line with their craft (both participants in the case of a double ski). Participants do not need to finish with their paddles. Paddlers must ensure that the race official checks off his passing of checkpoints. At the checkpoints the paddlers may at the discretion of the race organizers be obliged to have a compulsory stop (in which event this will apply to all paddlers, and no adjustment will be made to the recorded times in respect of “stop time”). The finish markers and checkpoints will be described at the race briefings.

The onus is on the participant to ensure that timekeepers have registered their number at the finish of each leg.

Craft must be removed from the finish line immediately once their number has been recorded.

The race director is to be notified if a paddler has withdrawn from the event, as soon as possible. A safety mobile phone number for emergencies, as well as for notifying the race director of withdrawals will be provided at race briefing The onus is on the competitor to notify the race director of his/her withdrawal.

It is essential that race officials know where the participants are on the course at all times. Failure to notify the race director after withdrawing from the race may result in the participant being prevented from competing in any challenge event in the future. The Race director or NSRI may institute a search for any competitor who has not crossed the finish line or advised the Race director of his/her/their withdrawal. The costs of the search will be borne by the competitor.

Any competitor who “beaches” his craft before the finish (or anywhere other than at designated “checkpoints”) is to notify the race director of his having done so whether or not he intends to continue the race, by returning to the sea, or along the shore

Participants will be allowed “seconds” to assist them. Except with the prior written permission of the race organizers, assistance by seconds may only be provided prior to race starts, at the checkpoints and on the beach once the participant has crossed the designated finish line at each stage. Seconds are to heed directions and instructions of all race officials. Seconds are not allowed to assist participants in the water or prior to the participant having crossed the designated finish line unless the participant is in danger. In this case, the participant may be disqualified. Each participant must notify the race organizers of his seconds names and cell contact details.(as per entry form)

Starts for the race, will be announced on each day. All paddlers are to cross the line in contact with the craft (in case of double skis, both paddlers must have contact with the ski)

Clothing

Paddlers are required to wear bright clothing, caps and lifejackets to assist visibility to NSRI, and all support craft, or for aerial searches. Life jackets must be CSA approved and comply with any specific requirements of the organisers. Inflatable life jackets are NOT permitted.

Craft

Supplied branding (race decals), if any of the Challenge are to be applied to all craft and paddles prior to the completion of race registration. Race decals are to be applied to the craft and paddles in the positions indicated by the organizers at race registration, and all these decals are to remain visible throughout the event.Personal advertising may not clash with advertising stickers of the sponsors. Stickers other than sponsor stickers will not be permitted in the area in front of the pedals to the nose of your ski.
The participants race number (the number provided by the race organizers or alternatively CSA number if no race number is provided by the organizers) is to be displayed on the ski. In the case of a double ski, the front participant’s number is to appear on the ski. Incorrect or incomplete numbers may result in disqualification from the race. Numbers are to appear prominently on both sides of the top deck of the ski, not more than 2m from the nose of the ski. No other numbers are to be displayed

In the event of a ski been damaged, anyone may help a participant repair his/her ski. Where a boat is damaged, and a replacement boat used, with the approval of the race director, and the paddler must ensure that the replacement boat complies with all rules set out herein.

Craft (including substitute craft) are to be marked, on the front (and extending at least 500mm around the exterior) and back (and extending at least 500mm around the exterior) with brightly coloured (orange or red) paint so as to assist visibility.

Dispute Resolution Procedure

Only competitors or race officials may lodge protests or disputes. A panel of three arbitrators, appointed by the race director (or in his absence by the organisers), will hear all protests and disputes. The decision taken by the panel of arbitrators will be final and binding on the parties. The panel of arbitrators may impose penalties for breach of any of the rules or regulations. This may include time penalties or disqualification, but without being limited thereto. Protests and disputes, accompanied by a fee of R500-00, must be delivered to the Race Director by 5pm (or such later time as the race director may agree upon, at his discretion), in writing, on the day on which the incident occurred. Fees will be refunded where the party lodging the dispute or protest is successful, or at the discretion of the arbitrators.