Great Ocean Paddle – This Saturday

Not for the faint-hearted, the Great Ocean Paddle is Victoria’s premiere ocean paddle marathon, with the SUP division a selection race for the Victorian State team.  Traverse the iconic breaks of Bells Beach, Winkipop and Torquay and experience one of the world’s premiere downwind runs. Event Date 7 February, 2015 Distance 25km Start Location Pt Roadknight, Anglesea Finish Location Fisherman’s Beach, Torquay Event Description This is the marquee downwind event of the 2015 Outlaw Ocean Paddling Series and, for the first time, will also double as the inaugural Victorian Ocean Ski Champs. Taking in 25km of some of the world’s most spectacular coastline, along Victoria’s famous Great Ocean Road, this bucket-list event takes in sites such as Anglesea Beach, the magnificent Point Addis, the world famous surfing venues of Bells Beach and Winkipop, Bird Rock, Jan Juc Beach, Torquay Beach and Point Danger. The Course The 25km point-to-point paddle will start in the water off Pt Roadknight beach. Paddlers will head straight out and to the right, keeping the first three guide buoys on their right, before turning anticlockwise around the Epic Kayaks Dash for Cash Buoy – be quick, because the first paddler here wins $500! Paddlers then head northeast along the coastline to Point Addis, where paddlers will keep the buoy on their left and continue northeast. This is also a designated pull-out point for paddlers unable to complete the full course. From here, paddlers will follow the breathtaking cliffline past Bells Beach and Winkipop all the way to Point Danger, where they’ll again keep the buoy on their left, then continue north before turning anticlockwise and heading back south close to shore (for some thrilling spectator moments). Finally, they’ll turn clockwise around the last buoy and into the shore at Fisho’s. The finish will be a beach sprint. See course in detail here. Categories
  • Open Male Ski
  • Open Female Ski
  • Under 20 Male Ski
  • Under 20 Female Ski
  • Over 40 Male Ski
  • Over 40 Female Ski
  • Over 50 Male Ski
  • Over 50 Female SkiDouble Men Ski
  • Mixed Double Ski (at least one female paddler/double females enter this category)
  • Under 20 Double Ski (at least one paddler under 20 years of age)
  • OC1 Men
  • OC1 Women
  • OC2 Men
  • OC2 Mixed (at least one female paddler/OC2 females enter this category)
  • OC6
  • Open SUP Unlimited Male (over 14′ and/or with rudder)
  • Open SUP Unlimited Female (over 14′ and/or with rudder)
  • Open SUP 14′ and under Male
  • Open SUP 14′ and under Female
  • Open Paddleboard Male
  • Open Paddleboard Female
Entry Fees Early bird (Enter by 5 January 2015, receive a free Great Ocean Paddle T-shirt)
  • Single (Ski, OC, SUP, PB): $90
  • Single, Under 20 (Ski, OC, SUP, PB): $75
  • Double (Ski, OC2): $170
  • Double, Under 20 (Ski, OC2): $140
  • OC6: $300
Standard entry (6 January – 27 January 2015)
  • Single (Ski, OC, SUP, PB): $100
  • Single, Under 20 (Ski, OC, SUP, PB): $85
  • Double (Ski, OC2): $180
  • Double, Under 20 (Ski, OC2): $160
  • OC6: $340
Late entry (28 January – 6 January 2015)
  • Single (Ski, OC, SUP, PB): $110
  • Single, Under 20 (Ski, OC, SUP, PB): $95
  • Double (Ski, OC2): $190
  • Double, Under 20 (Ski, OC2): $170
  • OC6: $390
SORRY – NO ENTRY ON THE DAY! Event Schedule Friday 6th February:
  • Early registration 6pm-8pm at Fisherman’s Beach
Saturday 7th February:
  • 7:30am: Registration opens at Fisherman’s Beach
  • 9am: Registration closes. If you are putting your ski on our trailers, they must be ready no later than this time.
  • 9:15am: Ski trailers and coaches leave Fisherman’s Beach
  • 9:45am: Competitors and skis arrive at Pt Roadknight
  • 10:30am: Race briefing
  • 11am: Race start
  • 12:40pm: First finisher across the line
  • 2.30pm: Presentation and lunch at Fisherman’s Beach
Bus Shuttle To limit the number of vehicles going to the start at Pt Roadknight and to aid people who don’t have support crew, we will be chartering up to two 49-seater coaches, and two 30-ski capacity trailers, to take competitors from Fisho’s to the start line. We highly recommend taking up this opportunity as it allows you relax, enjoy your racing, and not worry about rushing off to retrieve your car at the end. Buses and trailers will leave at 9:15AM SHARP, so make sure you are at Fisherman’s Beach with your ski NO LATER THAN 9AM. Cost for this service is $15. If you wish to book a seat on a bus and a spot on our trailers, please purchase a ticket when you enter online. Ocean Ski Hire Peak Adventure has a range of ocean racing skis for hire and will be providing transport to race start, and pick up from race finish. If you are interested or wish to find out more please go to www.peakadventure.com.au Presentations & Lunch Presentations and a BBQ lunch will be at the Fisherman’s Club at 2:30pm. Mandatory Equipment Please note that you will need the following mandatory equipment on you at all times during for the race:
  • Type 1 or 2 PFD, Australian or International Standard
  • Boat leash attaching you to you craft at all times outside the break zone
  • One orange smoke flare
  • One high visibility vest worn as your outermost layer (provided by us at rego)
Rules
  • Competitors must follow the designated set course, to be manned by water marshals and rescue staff.
  • The finish and start lines must be designated by two buoys and legal competitors must have not crossed this line when the starter begins the race.
  • Competitors may be required to wear an electronic timing band. No competitor shall be recorded as a finisher unless wearing this timing band.
  • Competitors may be required to have an official race vest and/or race number on their person and/or craft, which must remain on the individual throughout the event. No competitor shall be recorded as a finisher unless carrying the official mark or wearing the official vest and number on their arm.
  • Organisers reserve the right to accept, reject and cancel entries.
  • Protests must be made in writing and given to the Race Director within fifteen minutes of the announcement of the provisional results. All decisions of the Race Director will be final.
  • Race officials shall have the ultimate and final authority to remove a competitor from the race if the competitor is judged to be physically incapable of continuing without the risk of injury.
  • Each entrant must sign the indemnity declaration on the entry form before the event. If under 18, a parent or guardian must sign.
Victorian Ocean Ski Champion Eligibility
  • The title of Victorian Ocean Ski Champ will be awarded to the first male and female Victorian residents to cross the line in the solo ocean ski class.
  • Your place of residence will be taken from the residential address you supply in your entry.