Starting Procedures, Race Schedules and times – all the good to know stuff!
Starting Procedure
- Warming up is only allowed up-stream of Skooltjie bridge on Day 1 and Zonquasdrift bridge on Day 2.
- Paddlers will be started on Day 1 in batches seeded according to the CSA K1 ranking system.
- Batches will consist of 20 paddlers each.
- The first batch of seeded paddlers will be allowed on to the water at 09:50 on Day 1 into the Holding Zone to assemble in their starting positions within their batch at the first line of red flags on the water.
- Batches will consist of four rows of five and all paddlers will be allocated rows i.e. the first row is to be made up of only the top ranked 5 paddlers within the batch.
- At 09:55 the first batch, while holding their starting positions, may drift in position into the Starting Zone, up to the starting line.
- At 10:00 the race starts and the next batch of paddlers will then drift in position into the Starting Zone, up to the starting line.
- On Day 1 only, the top 20 female paddlers will be started separately unless the field is too small to allow them to enjoy competitive racing.
- Slip-riding of opposite sexes is allowed, subject to the basis of fair play and sportsmanship. (i.e. getting the boyfriend to wait and pull is NOT allowed)
Day 2
- Slip-riding of men is allowed by all female paddlers. Female paddlers will be batched on merit together with the male paddlers according to the previous day’s results.
- Day 2 will start at 08:30 in the form of an elapsed time start for all paddlers that finish within the top thirty and within 30 minutes of the Day 1 winner. This is ‘A’ Batch.
- ‘B’ Batch and subsequent starts will begin at five-minute intervals in groups of 20 from 09:00/09:05, depending on when the last elapsed time paddler leaves. (A five-minute window is required to ensure adequate time for a batch to get onto the water.)
Other
- Disregarding race officials’ instructions at the start or during the race will incur either a 20 minute time penalty or disqualification.
- Abuse of officials and other misdemeanours will be referred to the paddler’s provincial governing body for further action and/or will incur either a 20 minute time penalty or disqualification.
Day 1 Schedule |
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08:00-09:30 | Registration and Goodie Bag collection; |
08:15-09:45 | Boat inspection and entrance into Batch Pens |
09:30 | Welcome and safety announcements. |
09:40 | Paddlers to assemble in their batches in the Batch Pens |
09:50 |
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09:55 |
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09:59-10:46 | Photographic recording of assembled batches for scrutiny by Race Officials. |
10:00 | Race Start: ‘A’ Batch starts, subsequent batches move up into next zone |
10:05-10:45 | Next Batch of 20 paddlers starts. Repeated at 5min intervals. |
11:45 | Cut-off time at Grensplaas |
12:30 onwards | Finishers arrive at Zonquasdrift. Time of arrival dependent on conditions. |
13:00 onwards | Lunch |
13:45 | Cut-off time at Hermon Bridge |
15:30 | Cut-off time at Zonquasdrift |
(17:00) | (Springboks vs Scotland) |
Day 2 Schedule |
|
07:45-09:15 | Entrance into Batch Pens. |
08:15 | All paddlers that finish within the top thirty and within 30 minutes of the Day 1 winner assemble at Zonquasdrift Bridge to start in an elapsed time start. This is ‘A’ Batch. |
08:30-09:00 | Elapsed time start. Slip-riding will be allowed for all female paddlers on Day 2. |
08:40 | All other paddlers to assemble in their batches in the Batch Pens |
08:50 |
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08:55-09:00/09:05 |
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08:59-09:41 | Photographic recording of assembled batches for scrutiny by Race Officials. |
09:00/09:05-09:40 | First batch starts, subsequent batches move up into next zone. Repeated at 5minute intervals |
11:25 onwards | Finishers arrive at Bridgetown. Time of arrival dependent on conditions. |
11:30 | Cut-off time at Gouda Bridge |
12:00 onwards | Lunch |
13:30 | Cut-off time at Train Bridge |
15:15 | Cut-off time at Bridgetown |
15:00-15:30 | Prize-giving: Medals awarded, followed by the Lucky Prize Draw |