Manly Wharf Bridge to Beach 2016 – Final Competitor Information

Final event of the Muscle Milk Australian Ocean Racing Series.

Thank you for registering in the 2016 Manly Wharf Bridge to Beach supporting the Fragile X Association of Australia that will take place this Sunday 28th February 2016.

Many thanks for the continued support from Manly Wharf our presenting sponsor. Thank you for your generous donation to the Fragile X Association of Australia & the Australian Maritime Conservation Society when entering online.

 

IMPORTANT COMPETITOR INFORMATION

• Make sure you are at the briefing, which will be held at 7.00am at Blues Point. Registrations will also close at 7.00am
• If you are paddling to the start make sure you have lights as it may still be dark
• Make sure you have the correct safety equipment – Lifejacket and Safety leash
• Make sure you have your timing chip
• Warm up only in Lavender Bay and not in the main shipping channels
• Do not break the start or you will be disqualified
• If you do not think you can win the race do not position yourself on the front line
• Make sure you listen to the direction of the safety and race officials at all times and follow the race course (read notes below)
• Stay out of the main channels so when paddling from Bradleys Head to Middle Head keep all Green buoys on your Right

 

REGISTRATION & BRIEFING

• Registration will be open on Saturday 27th February from 12 – 5pm at the Oceanpaddler store where you will collect your ELECTRONIC TIMING CHIP and officially REGISTER for race. If you do this on Saturday you will not have to line up and register on race morning. If you decided not to race on Sunday though you MUST call either Dean Gardiner 0427 171 403 or Yanda Morison 0414 45 46 48 to withdraw from the event. Oceanpaddler is located at 410 Pittwater Rd, North Manly. Ph 02 8065 0385.
• Registration will also be open on race day at Blues Point from 6.00 – 7.00am, however to avoid the crowds we recommend registering on Saturday.
• Compulsory race briefing will be at Blues Point at 7am.

 

EVENT TIMES ON RACE DAY

Start times are approximate only. Times may be slightly altered due to direction from NSW Maritime.

• 6.00am – Registration opens at Blues Point Park, North Sydney. All competitors must sign off their name and collect their timing chip at registration prior to the start of race. You may also do this on Saturday afternoon at Oceanpaddler between 12 and 5pm.
• 7.00am – Registration closes
• 7.00am – Compulsory Race Briefing
• 7.45am – START for SUPs and Paddleboards
• 7.50am – START for Coastal Rowers
• 7.55am – START for Outrigger Canoes & Plastic categories (OC1, OC2, OC3 and OC6)
• 8.00am – START for all other categories
• 9.00am – Cutoff time at Bradleys Head (3.29kms from Start)
• 10.00am – Cutoff time at Middle Head (3.55kms from Bradleys Head 6.84kms from Start)
• 11.00am – Presentations for all categories at the Bavarian Bier Cafe

 

SAFETY EQUIPMENT REQUIRED

• Lifejackets – All competitors are required to wear a Level 50/50S (Type 2/3) Australian Standard PFD/Lifejacket to comply with Maritime. SUP and Prone Paddleboard competitors are permitted to wear the inflatable bum-bag style lifejackets. We will have these available to hire or buy on race day or at registration on Saturday.
• Safety Leashes –  These are required by competitors to maintain contact with their craft.  Coastal Rowers & OC6s do not require a leash.
• Mobile Phone recommended – in case you pull out and need to call the race officials to be withdrawn from the event (Dean Gardiner on 0427 171 403 or Yanda Morison on 0414 454 648)

 

WARM UP AREA & MARSHALLING FOR START 
As there is limited areas to enter the water at Blues Point please do this quickly to allow all competitors ample time to make it to the start.

All competitors must warm up inside Lavendar Bay and wait to be called out to the start line. The start line will be approx 100m before the Harbour Bridge just outside of Lavendar Bay.

There will be four (4) start waves as listed above. Competitors will be called out to the start line to correspond with the start waves.

Any competitors outside of Lavender Bay prior to their designated race start will be disqualified from the event.

 

THE COURSE

It is important that all competitors follow the race course.

All competitors must pass the following buoys and safety vessels by keeping them to their right.

1. Safety vessel located 50m off Kirribilli Point
2. Flat white disc shape buoy 1.5m wide in Athol Bay immediately offshore from Taronga Zoo
3. Safety vessel located 50m off Bradleys Point
4. Black and yellow buoy over 1 mtr high east off Dobroyd Head

Competitors must keep well clear of the channel from Bradleys Head to Middle Head. This means keeping all Green Channel markers in this area on your right hand side.

By going to these buoys you will stay clear of the ferry channels.

Please follow the direction of safety and official boats.

 

PULL OUTS

If you pull out of the event after the start or are withdrawn from the event you will be put ashore at the closest accessible beach. We will take your race number (timing number) and relay it back to the finish. This information will be announced over the PA to make your handlers aware of this and they may be required to come and get you.

If you register and collect your timing chip on Saturday then decide not to race you must call the event director Dean Gardiner on 0427 171 403 or Yanda Morison on 0414 454 648. If you pull out before the finish you must also call Dean or Yanda to advise.

We strongly suggest you take with you a mobile phone with our numbers so you can call us if you pull out.

 

PRESENTATIONS AT THE BAVARIAN BIER CAFE 

The Bavarian Bier Café will be hosting the Bridge to Beach awards presentation on its outdoor deck at the end of the event. Sit back, relax and enjoy a specially designed lunch and beverage menu featuring hand-selected burgers, haus-made dogs, gourmet salads and new craft beers. An in-house DJ will be playing summer sessions tunes from 11am following presentations.

All competitors will receive a free drink voucher following the race.

EPIC KAYAKS AUSTRALIA are giving away an EPIC V7 SKI as a lucky draw prize. You must be at the presentation to win.

Fragile X will be presenting prizes for those that participated in the Fundraising Challenge and donated online.

Good luck to all competitors.

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SUPPORTING SPONSORS