Open24 Kayaking
For the first year in association with Windermere Canoe and Kayak we are allowing competitors to use their own boats. If you don't have your own boat then you can hire one.
Before the purist paddlers get too excited we do have a few hoops for you to jump through if you wish to use any other boat other than a sit on top - and these are non-negotiable. In summary we will be asking any team that is not paddling a sit on top kayak to have at least one paddler who has a BCU 2 star UKCC qualification (or 3 star on the older BCU system).
British Canoe Union Website - Star tests
Think of it as a passport if you don't have it you not flying, in this case if you don't have it your not paddling a boat other than a sit on top on the Open24. This includes mates of James Thurlow / Paul Noble.
Even if you are paddling a sit on top or the second person in a pair, we still heartly recommend you go on this course. They are available throughout the UK. Windermere Canoe and Kayak are putting on courses throughout 2008 and as an Adventure racer you can blag 10% off the price. These courses will also include specific training on tandem kayaks.
Before the question is asked.. What are we paddling on? We are not telling you, both of the boats for hire are suitable for the event. If you have the appropiate skills the Necky will be faster, and perhaps some of the competitors boats will be faster still.
UPDATE 15th May - Windermere Canoe and Kayak will be running UKCC 2 star training and assessment weekends on the 7/8th June and 12/13th July. You can find out more details here
As mentioned above you can still enter the Open24 without a 2 start UKCC but you need to be paddling one of these, and what great fun they are. We are hiring them to competitors for £30 per boat (for 2 people) for this event.
The stalwart of Adventure Racing across the world - the Necky has been seen numerous times in UK Adventure Racing even back in the mid ninety's with the multi-day Adrenaline Rush events, arguably the boat of choice in the 2007 World Championships in Scotland. To hire one of these it will be £70 per boat (for 2 people) for the event.
note the hire Necky's do not include spraydecks
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 Matt at Windermere Canoe and Kayak who 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. office@windermerecanoekayak.com
Paddles and Bouyancy Aids can also be hired for this event, they are available in small / med, med / large and x-large. The paddles are available in left and right handed versions. Each will cost £5 per person to hire
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. Without sounding like a nagging mum, it also has to fit - so if you are 17 stone, please don't try and fit in to a junior size - not only is it not sexy but it also won't help you in the water.