Enjoy the CDU Newsletter

Published: Wed, 07/17/13

Issue 380

19th July 2013

Message Bank

Good News for Avon Novices...

The river is finally running

We start running our Avon white water assessments this Friday. We will also be running them Saturday and Sunday, please note that this Saturday is already fully booked. We will also be running the assessments the following weekend and also on one or two days during the week. The sessions will be morning and afternoon sessions.

Because we don't have much time left we will be running courses in the week so if you can do a week day please consider it.

The assessments go for 3 hours. We teach you what to do and you are assessed during that period.

Cost: $90.00
Duration: 3 hours

What to bring:

PFD
Helmet
Booties or footwear
Warm Clothes - you will be getting wet
Your Boat

Kayakers must have a spraydeck

Snack for afterwards

Venue to be decided: Call 9378 1333

Explaining the dos and don'ts of white water paddling

Mick ferry gliding across an easy current. There is a rescue in the background so apparently it wasn't as easy as it looked!

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Saturday Morning Training - for the last time until September

This will be the last Saturday training session until we start again in September.

This week we will be there to time the race but please note, there will be no training afterwards.

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Avon Support Crew Information Night

I will be giving a talk to help support crews understand their role during the event.

So if you have a support person who would like to know a little more about their duties etc, this would be a good opportunity for them to become more familiar.

When: Thursday 25th July
Where: Ascot Kayak Club
Time: 7.15pm

Cost: $5.00

BOOKING ESSENTAIL : 9378 1333

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Don't forget at scrutineering you will need a whistle connected to your PFD.

Kayaks will need enough bouyancy inside to make sure the kayak floats when it is full of water. If you are thinking of capsizing having air bags inside will reduce the water from getting inside. Kayaks are heavy when they are full.

Kayaks must have handles/hand loops front and rear.

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Remember ONLY ONE craft per competitor

Rule 134 - ONLY ONE craft per competitor, this applies to all paddle competitors.

Other years we have seen some paddlers change boats because they have damaged them after day one.

This is not allowed - you have to use the same boat that you started with.

Training & Courses

Safety Competency Skills Assessment

Skills are assessed as follows:-

- Demonstrate defensive swimming techniques
- Identify the potential hazards when swimming in moving water
- Adopt the correct body position to minimise injury following craft capsize
- Demonstrate aggressive swimming techniques
- Demonstrate the ability to set a ferry angle in order to reach the bank or eddy
- Demonstrate breaking in and out of eddies in order to get to shore
- Identify and demonstrate techniques to actively free oneself from river hazards in simulations
- Demonstrate the ability to wade across a current of mid-thigh depth, alone and using support, in order to self-rescue
- Demonstrate craft re-entry
- Identify a variety of different re-entry techniques
- Elect a method of re-entry after consideration of physical ability, type of craft and situational variances.

Ferry gliding across the current is part of the assessment. From this....

To this. Paddling Bells (Not part of the assessment)

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Remember to do the assessment you will require a:

PFD
Helmet
Booties or footwear
Warm Clothes - you will be getting wet
Your Boat

Kayakers will need a spraydeck

Dress Warmly

Featured Products

The guys are smiling now but they were cold when they capsized.

Make sure you have some warm clothing on!

Two of Albany's finest paddlers, Matt and Jordy wearing sharkskins

Remember if you lose or break your paddle and don't have a breakdown paddle with you,
you won't finish the race.

IMPORTANT INFO - COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE REQUIRED

PADDLE CRAFT:

A representative from each Paddle Craft entry MUST attend a compulsory Safety Briefing. Failure to attend will mean disqualification. If you are an interstate or international competitor, or cannot attend this session, please email info@cicevents.com.au

SAFETY BRIEFING & RACE PACK COLLECTION
Date: Monday 29th July
Time: 7.00pm
Location: The RISE Function Centre (28 Eighth Avenue, Maylands)
Paddle Craft Race Packs will need to be collected at this session, please bring your confirmation email, and/or ID.

SCRUTINEERING
Date: Friday 2nd August
Time: 09.00am - 9.00pm
Location: Northam Swimming Pool (map in the Race Guide)
Please bring your race helmet and PFD for scrutineering

All kayak craft will be scrutineered for safety in the marshalling area between 9.00pm Friday 2nd August and start time on Saturday.

Race of the Week

Paddle Craft Equipment

Personal Flotation Device (PFD)
267 - The PFD must have sufficient buoyancy to float a 6 kg legalised lead weight and be in good condition.
268 - Particle -filled or inflatable PFDs are not permitted.
269 - A waterproof whistle must be attached to the PFD and used to attract the attention of rescuers.

Helmet
270 - Each craft must have one helmet per competitor that shall be of a design and material that is safe and strong.
271 - The helmet shall provide solid protection to the forehead and temple region.
272 - The helmet must be an approved water sports / paddling helmet and:
a. be of fitted skull cap design
b. or if not fitted allow the passage of water when held at any angle.
273 - The Race ID Number must be displayed on both sides of the helmet. Numbers must be at least 50 mm high by 6 mm wide with black numbers on yellow background.
274 - The helmet must be in good repair with particular reference to buckles and straps.
275 - Motorcycle helmets, non-paddling skull caps, industrial safety helmets and other types of helmets, regardless of modifications are not approved.
276 - Elastic chin-straps are not allowed.
277 - Canoe helmets and approved surf helmets are preferred.
278 - “Gath Hat” as manufactured by Gath Helmets with visor attached is an approved helmet.

Paddles
279 - Kayaks may have double bladed paddles.
280 - Canoes must have single bladed paddles.
281 - Paddles shall be of strong and safe construction and shall have no sharp edges.
282 - Replacement paddles are permitted.
283 - Paddles in use shall not be attached to the craft by any means whatsoever.

Other Equipment
284 - Emergency rations should be carried by each craft and include not less than 400g of high calorific food (i.e. glucose, chocolate, nuts etc) and a box of waterproof matches or cigarette lighter. Waterproof container should be used.
285 - All equipment must be in good order and repair (buckles, straps etc). Particular attention should be paid to equipment that may be sun damaged.

ONLY ONE craft per competitor

134 - ONLY ONE craft per competitor, this applies to all paddle competitors.
That means you paddle the boat you started with.

Team Competitors (Paddle Craft)

131 - Competitors in the Teams Class complete the event relay style.
132 - Paddle Craft Teams shall consist of at least two with a maximum of eight members.
133 - Each member of the Team may use a separate craft.
134 - ONLY ONE craft per competitor, this applies to all paddle competitors.

Paddle Craft Specifications

Listed below are class specifications only. To be eligible for prizes for the open paddle craft category craft only need to comply with rules 267-298. To be eligible for prizes in the sub categories, the entrant must comply with the relevant requirements of rules 240-262. Random scrutineering of craft may take place at the completion of the event.

Kayaks & Canoes
240 - These specifications comply with International Canoe Federation (ICF) regulations.
241 - Craft must meet either Marathon or Wildwater dimensions as stated for each Class.
242 - All types of building material are permitted.
243 - Sections and longitudinal lines of the hull of the kayak shall be convexed and not interrupted.

Marathon Craft
244 - Marathon Kayaks (K1) shall have a maximum length of 5200 mm.
245 - Double Kayaks (K2) shall have a maximum length of 6500 mm.

Canoes
246 - Marathon Canoes (C1) shall have a maximum length of 5200 mm.
247 - Marathon Canoes (C2) shall have a maximum length of 6500 mm.

248 - Canoes shall meet the following specifications:
a. Sections of the longitudinal lines of the hull of the canoe shall be convexed and not interrupted.
b. The canoe must be built symmetrically upon the axis of its length.
c. Steering rudders or guiding apparatus are not allowed.
d. A keel, if any, must be straight and shall extend over the whole length of the canoe and shall not project more than 30 mm below the hull.
e. A Single Canoe (C1) may be open and in any case shall not be decked more than 1500 mm from the stem and 750 mm from the stern, measured from the outer edge of the stem or stern to the fullest point of the edge of the deck, for the fore and after decks respectively.
f. A Double Canoe (C2) may be entirely open. The min. length of the opening shall be 2950 mm.
g. Removable spray decks may be used.

249 Touring craft must comply with Specifications for Marathon Craft.

Wildwater Craft
250 - Wildwater Kayaks (WK1) shall conform to the following dimensions:
Maximum length of 4500 mm.
Minimum width of 600 mm.
Minimum weight of 11 kg.

251 - Wildwater Canoes (WC1) shall conform to the following dimensions:
Maximum length of 4300 mm.
Minimum width of 700 mm.
Minimum weight of 11kg.

252 - Wildwater Canoes (WC2) shall conform to the following dimensions:
Maximum length of 5000 mm.
Minimum width of 800 mm.
Minimum weight of 18kg.
All craft must be of single hull construction.

253 - It is not possible for Wildwater craft (WK1, WC1, WC2) to meet the required dimensions by the addition of wooden extensions or similar means.
254 - The craft must be designed to remain within the required dimensions.

Thermoplastic Craft
255 - Thermoplastic craft must comply to Ski Specifications.

Skis
256 - The maximum length of a Single Ski is 6500 mm.
257 - The maximum length of a Double Ski is 7600 mm.
258 - All craft shall be of a safe construction with no sharp edges or protrusions on hull, deflector or rudder system.
259 - The outer construction should be of fibreglass, plastic or similar material with an outer framework or support.
260 - The craft must be watertight and have positive buoyancy at the commencement of the event.
261 All craft must be fitted with foot straps of suitable material that is strong and will not stretch. All straps must be securely attached and capable of supporting the weight of the craft.
262 - All craft must be propelled by competitors using paddles only. The paddler must be sitting on top of the craft but may secure the body position in seat and foot mouldings.

Sundry Paddle Craft
263 - There are no dimension, construction or design specifications for craft in Sundry Classes. The scrutineer must deem the craft safe and capable of completing the course.

560 The following Official Flags are used in the Descent and their meanings must be complied with:

Red Flag: Stop. Do not proceed past this point.

Orange Flag: with White Diagonal Stripe: Caution to be used in this area obstruction ahead.

Black Flag: Disqualification. Leave the water immediately.

Race of the Week

The Avon Descent
waiting for the start

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Saturday Morning Training - for the last time this season

This will be the last Saturday training session this season. We will start again in September.

This week we will be there to time the race but please note there will be no training afterwards.