The kayaking section for the 2010 event will be longer than last year. With appox distances of 24-28km.

New for the 2010 event will be the option to bring your own kayak, these may be your own or one which you hire and bring to the event.

We have split boats up in to two categories (sit-on-top / sea kayak), the category of boat used will define the skill requirements of the paddlers. Teams must use tandem seated boats not two seperate boats

All boats:

• Be greater than 3.7m in length
• Have deck lines fitted (min 5mm) with front and rear handles (the exception is double Sit-On-Tops with 4 grab handles - front / back and sides.
• Boats must either be self bailers (Sit-On-Tops) or have sealed bulkheads front and rear (Sea Kayaks) - Open Canoes can not be used
• Boats should be recognised designs - no homemade boats please.
• Closed cockpit boats should have spraydecks fitted.
• Kites / Sails can not be used
• Paddles must not be attached to the boat (leash OK)

Competitors

Experience in the prevailing conditions should be current within the previous 3 months.
Please do not be tempted to try and paddle a sea kayak if you haven't got some past experience, we would rather you use the sit-on-tops.
If the safety staff have any concerns about your ability you will not be able to take on this stage. You will have to run to the next transition and will be awarded 125% of the slowest kayak time, you will not be disqualified or be ranked in a different table.

Note we HIGHLY recommend that at least one competitor in a boat has at least the 2 star UKCC qualification if using a sea kayak.

Boats

Sit on top Kayak

We will supply these. These boats are the same that we have used in past years.

Sea Kayak

We hope to put a list together with contacts of a few places which will hire these to teams. It will be up to your team to arrange hire of these and transport them to and from the event. From the event centre we will transport them to and from the kayak stage/stages.

Your own boat

Yep you can use your own boats. A few things - it has to be a 2 person sit on top or kayak, so no canadian / open canoes on this event. And to be clear no solo boats or a K2 racers.

Unless it is a sit on top the boat needs to be used with Spraydecks, and have sealed bulk heads or fixed in buoyancy e.g. airbags or solid foam. The boat should also have grab handles at either end of the boat and have no sharp protrusions e.g. sharp plastic, bolts etc.

In summary it needs to be generally in good condition no cracks or deep scratches.

If you are at all in doubt PLEASE contact us will be able to advise you. We would rather you do this, than for us to have an awkward conversation at the start of the event.

Paddles and Bouyancy Aids

For those using our sit-on-tops we will also supply paddles and bouyancy aids.
 

Please note if you are using your own Bouyancy Aid it needs to be less than 5 years old and be CE marked. Even if it is older but hardly used, the bouyancy does degrade over time hence the requirement for a minimum of five years.