2013 Maroochy River Paddle

by admin
in Events · Highlights · News
— 12 Aug, 2013

Blast Paddlers are very proud to support the 2013 Maroochy River Paddle, to be run on Sunday 18 August 2013, a marathon paddling race on the Maroochy River, on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, Australia.

The race starts at the Dunethin Rock Scout Camp and travels downstream with the out-going tide, to finish 17 K later in Eudlo Creek at the Sunshine Coast Kayak Club.

The inaugural event was held in 2012 The MRP is held annually to celebrate all paddle sports on the Sunshine Coast and the beauty of the Maroochy River.

The full range of paddle sports is represented:

Racing Kayaks
Sea Kayaks
Fishing Kayaks
Dragon Boats
Outrigger Canoes
Surf Spec SKIs
Ocean Racing SKIs
Stand-Up Paddle Boards
Canadian canoes
Plastic sit-on-top
Anything else you can paddle

The race is the joint effort of the Sunshine Coast Kayak Club and the Marcoola SLSC.

THE COURSE

Maroochy River Lift BridgeDownstream with the outgoing tide except for the final 1K in Eudlo Ck. 2K from the start paddlers pass the unique Lift Bridge which was used from 1897 to 2003 to carry cane trains across.

The river travels a further 5.5 K eastward through abandoned cane fields before the junction with Coolum Ck on the left and then turns south to meander through mangrove covered terrain with tall trees.

Two islands and the pontoon of the Bli Bli Wildlife Sanctuary are passed on the right then the David Low Way Bridge at Bli Bli and Muller Park on the left.

Keeping to the middle of the river to avoid a sandbar on the left, paddlers will then see the mouth of Petrie Creek on the right. They will pass 2 red channel markers before turning right and heading into Eudlo Creek and the final 1K of the race.

The finish is in front of the SCKC and clearly marked with an orange buoy and a Marcoola SLSC flag on the bank.

THE RACE

The race is conducted under the ICF marathon rules and sanctioning with indemnity insurance from QLD Canoeing.

Starts are staggered in groups according to craft with the aim of getting all paddlers to the finish line at about the same time.

Those starts are arranged so as to give the champions in each craft the same opportunity as others to win the Line Honours. Safety boats accompany the paddlers.

At the end of the race paddlers mingle, enjoy delicious food from the BBQ, talk to sponsors and prepare for the Random Prize Draw where thousands of dollars worth of cash and prize vouchers are won.

The first M & F over the line are awarded a cash prize.

RACE DAY

BOOK IN 6:30am-8:00am at Dunethin Rock scout Camp
RACE BRIEFING 8:00am at Dunethin Rock scout Camp
FIRST START 8:30am staggered starts based on 2012 fastest times
PRIZE DRAWS 12noon you must be present to collect at SCKC Fishermans Rd

START TIMES

Paddlers must paddle in the start designated on the program for their craft.

The first start (recreation and novice paddlers and Dragon Boats) is the exception to this rule.

Paddlers may self-select for start one and may paddle any craft including: Racing Kayaks, Sea Kayaks and Fishing Kayaks; Dragon Boats and Outrigger Canoes; Surf Spec SKIs and Ocean Racing SKIs; Stand-Up Paddle Boards; Canadian canoe; Plastic sit-on-top and anything else you might wish to paddle.

START METHOD

2 min before the start, the starter will raise the [Group colour] flag and call: “[Colour] Group 2 min to start, come to the line”.

1 min before the start, the starter will raise the [Group colour] flag and call: “[Colour] Group 1 min to start” making sure that everyone is lined up, and keeping the flag up.

And then the starter will call the start: “Ready, Go!”