This is the marquee downwind event of the Outlaw Ocean Series of
2011/12, so we will see competitors from all over Australia (and
possibly overseas) competing. The long course is a 26km course
that, if the wind is blowing as it should, will be an absolute
cracker! Back by popular demand, the Lite Course, from Point Addis
to Fisherman's Beach, is ideal for intermediate paddlers wanting a
downwind challenge without the distance.
Both courses follow some of the most spectacular coastline in
the world along Victoria's famous Great Ocean Road. The race
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 Pro Course:
The course direction will depend on the conditions on the day,
with a west-southwesterly wind being the preferred conditions for
the Urquhart's Bluff to Torquay course. If it blows easterly we
will be heading from Torquay to Urquhart's Bluff. The final course
direction will be confirmed in the days leading up to the
event.
The long course (26km) will start in the water off Urquart's
Bluff beach. Paddlers will head straight out and turn anticlockwise
around the SUP HQ buoy, before heading northeast along the
coastline to Point Addis. At Point Addis, paddlers will turn
anticlockwise around the Canoe Innovations buoy and head in towards
the beach, picking up some waves along the way, before turning out
again, and heading northeast around the Peak Adventure buoy. OC6
teams will have the opportunity to come ashore and swap crews at
Point Addis. 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 turn anticlockwise around the
Epic Kayaks buoy, and head in around the David McDonald Builders
buoy and in to shore at Fisherman's Beach. The finish will be a
beach sprint.
View
Go Natural Graeme Long Memorial Paddle 2012 in a larger map
The Lite Course:
The short course (11.5km) will start in the water off Point
Addis beach. Paddlers will head straight out and turn anticlockwise
around the Peak Adventure turning buoy. From here, they follow the
breathtaking cliffline past Bells Beach and Winkipop all the way to
Point Danger, where they'll turn anticlockwise around the Epic
Kayaks buoy, head in around the David McDonald Builders buoy, and
then paddle in to shore at Fisherman's Beach. The finish will be a
beach sprint.
Event Schedule: Pro & Lite Course:
- 11:00am: Ski transport and car shuffle leaves Fisherman's Beach
carpark
- 12:00pm: Registration opens, Urquhart's Bluff carpark (for both
Pro and Lite Course paddlers). Lite Course paddlers instructed to
make their way to Pt Addis after registration.
- 12:45pm: Late registration closes (please don't be late)
- 1.15pm: Race briefing, Pro Course
- 1.30pm: Race start, Pro Course
- 1:35pm (approx): Race briefing for Lite Course at Pt Addis
- 1.50pm (approx): Race start Lite Course (when lead Pro Course
paddlers reach Pt Addis)
- 3.15pm: First finisher across the line (Lite Course)
- 3.10pm: First finisher across the line (Pro Course)
- 5.00pm Presentation at Fisherman's Beach
Categories:
Open Men
Open Women
Under 20 Men
Under 20 Women
Over 40 Men
Over 40 Women
Over 50 Men
Over 50 Women
Plastic craft Men
Plastic craft Women
SUP Open board size Men
SUP Open board size Women
SUP 12'6 and under Men
SUP 12'6 and under Women
Paddleboard Open board size Men
Paddleboard Open board size Women
OC1 Men
OC1 Women
OC2 Men
OC2 Women
OC2 Mixed
Double Men
Double Women
Mixed Double
Under 20 Double
OC6
OC6 Relay
Category descriptions:
Under 20 years of age:
Must be 20 or under at time of first event of the series
Over 40:
Must be 40 or over at time the first event of the series
Over 50:
Must be 50 or over at time of first event of the series
Mixed Double/ Mixed OC2:
Any mixed team of a male and female competitors OR an Open and
Under 15 competitor (can be both male).
Under 20 Double:
One competitor must be 20 or under at time of first event of the
series
OC6 Relay:
Teams swap over at halfway point at Point Addis.
Cost:
Earlybird online entry (enter by 5pm Friday 6 January)
- Pro course, single: $70
- Pro course, single, Under 20: $50
- Pro course, double (ski, OC2): $100
- Pro course, double, Under 20 (ski, OC2): $80
- Pro course, OC6: $180
- Lite course, single: $50
- Lite course, single, Under 20: $30
- Lite course, double (Ski, OC2): $80
- Lite course, double, Under 20 (Ski, OC2): $60
- Lite course, OC6: $160
Entry on day
- Pro course, single: $80
- Pro course, single, Under 20: $60
- Pro course, double (ski, OC2): $110
- Pro course, double, Under 20 (ski, OC2): $90
- Pro course, OC6: $190
- Lite course, single: $60
- Lite course, single, Under 20: $40
- Lite course, double (ski, OC2): $90
- Lite course, double, Under 20 (ski, OC2): $70
- Lite course, OC6: $170
Spectators:
Several points such as Point Roadknight, Anglesea Point, Point
Addis, Bells Beach, Torquay Point and Point Danger offer several
excellent viewing points for spectators. Point Addis in particular
offers views as far west as Point Roadknight (8km) and east to
Torquay Point (8km), so bring your binoculars! The sheer cliff
faces that are characteristic of much of the Great Ocean Road
coastline make this race as exhillarating for spectators as it is
for competitors.
Craft transport and car shuffle:
Outlaw Paddling will have two large trailers leaving Fisherman's
Beach at 11am. These will be available to transport all boats
(EXCLUDING OC6s) to the start location at Urquhart's Bluff. We will
also be organising a carpooling shuffle at this time. If you are
interested, please meet at Fisherman's beach at 10pm.
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 click
here.
International and interstate competitors:
Outlaw will be putting together a transport and ski hire package
for competitors outside Victoria. This will include:
- Pick up from Melbourne airport on 14th January and drop off on
14th or 15th January.
- Transport to start location from Fishermans beach at 12pm.
- Ocean ski hire.
If you are interested in this package and would like to know
more about prices, please contact the team at Outlaw.
Jarad Kohlar: jarad@outlawpaddling.com 0409 786
237
Presentations:
Presentations will be at Fisherman's Beach at 5pm.
Mandatory Equipment:
All competitors MUST wear a PFD and boat leash. If you come off,
you must be connected to your craft (coming in and out of the break
zone excepted). Please do this for your own safety and for the
safety of our water safety crew and other comptitors.
Great Prizes!
There are great prizes on offer for all competitors. Everyone
will receive an entry pack with goodies from our sponsors.
Giveaways from Go Natural, Epic Kayaks, Canoe Innovations, 2XU,
plus $2000 cash for the pointy end of the field, cash break down
looks like this:
Go Natural Graeme Long Memorial Paddle male and female, cash break
down for Ski and OC1:
1st $250
2nd $150
3rd $100