Location To be confirmed pending conditions (see course options below). Call the event hotline from 6.30am 0403 482 312 on the day of competition for the confirmed location and start time. Communication Event hotline will specify location, registration and brief will take place at the confirmed location Check In Tent 1 - REGISTRATION TENT Staff will communicate and provide map of start location A or B when location is confirmed Each competitor must check in to be allocated their race number and have their board measured. Communication of next process - Race Safety and Course Brief Tent 2 - COMPETITOR BAG TENT o Each competitor will receive a competitor tote bag. Safety Briefing Attendance at the Race Safety Briefing is mandatory for all competitors Welcome to race and race course brief on paper and visually Questions answered Ensure Race # is correct, mark off names, PFD and leg ropes on count downs to start from 15 mins Event Schedule o 0830am - 0930am Competitor Welcome & Briefing (all Competitors, managers and judges to attend) o 0945am - 1000am o 1030am Opening Ceremony and Race rules meeting Race Start o 1330pm Presentation and prize giving to participants o 1400pm BBQ and entertainment at Tallebudgera SLSC
Southerly Course - North Kirra Snapper Rocks Tallebudgera Beach Northerly Course - Southport Seaway to Tallebudgera Beach
RACE RULES 1. Water Start. Competitors to be placed between two buoys placed beyond break. All Ski, SUP & Prone competitors must be in seated position prior to race start. Communication will occur from land and Jet Ski. A hooter will signify the start of the race. 2. Finish. Once ashore, competitors must beach their boards/ski (board/ski to be left completely out of the water) and then run through the marked transition area to the finish line carrying their paddle (boards/ski must NOT be carried through the finish line). Each paddler must cross finish line to receive a finish time and placing. Competitors must remain in the finish area until their place, name and number, is recorded by the race timer. 3. Board Certification. All boards/skis will be measured and signed off. Boards must in accordance with the board specifications on the Event Entry page. Board measurements will be conducted prior to the race. Boards will not be measured within 15 mins of the start of the race. Race marshal will sign off certified boards. 4. Board Classification. Please see the board specifications on the Event Entry page for all specifics. 5. Competition Shirts. All competitors must wear their competitor shirts at the start, duration and finish of all events. Failure to so at any point will result in disqualification. The beach marshal will distribute competition shirts during athlete registration. (This is subject to how many participants) 6. Race Director. The Race Director will be responsible for officiating the race start and finish. The Race Director is the head official for all events at the Event as a whole (including racing events) and has the final say in disqualification rulings, finishes and race protest filings. 7. Protests. A written protest must be filed within 15 minutes of the last competitor finishing the event. Protests must be filed with the Race Director. The Race Director, Race Marshal and associated event officials will determine the outcome of any protests filed. 8. Course. Basic course options are on the following page (race course are not limited to only these options). The course has multiple options with wind conditions depicting which course is chosen. The course will be predominantly downwind. All race competitors must keep outside of the race buoys. Directions and chosen race is confirmed and personally explained on race day at the race registration. Any competitor failing to round all buoys will be disqualified from the race. Paddlers must complete each leg of the course once and then return to the finish line. There will be directional assistance on the water. 9. Five Stroke Rule. If a competitor falls, he/she will be allowed 5 strokes to get back on his or her feet and stand up. This rule is in effect so a paddler does not achieve an advantage by not standing up. All competitors must complete the course in a standing position on their board. (If conditions suit this may alter on race director s decision). 10. Jostling/Hassling. Any jostling/hassling (involving contact) for position in transition area at finish line will cause disqualification. At no time during the race may a competitor impede another competition and un-sports man like conduct/actions will result in disqualification.
Additional Information for Paddlers - All paddlers are to sign an event declaration at the registration tent that they understand the risks and acknowledge that they have read and understood the event Water Safety Management and Emergency Response Plan including their responsibilities (eg helping a distressed paddler, rendering assistance, etc) - Paddlers are encouraged to carry a mobile phone in a waterproof bag. This can be used if withdrawing or in an emergency situation. - Paddlers are encouraged to carry a red or orange flare. - It is mandatory for Ski and SUP paddlers to wear a PFD and legrope attached to their board. - Prone paddlers must wear a legrope attached to their board.
WATER SAFETY MANAGEMENT and EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN for GOLD COAST CLASSIC OCEAN RACE (prepared 11 August 2016) 1. Event Context This plan has been prepared for the Gold Coast Classic Ocean Race which is taking place on Saturday 7th January 2017 2. Course Design The event will utilize one of two course formats:- i. Southport Beach to Tallebudgera Beach; or ii. North Kirra beach to Snapper Rocks, then to Tallebudgera Beach The event will take place across Gold Coast beaches on Saturday 7th January with a start time of 1030am. The course design has the following benefits from a safety point of view as there is good land access along both of the course designs. There will be volunteer SLSQ patrol members on all beaches, and in inflatable boats based along the course as competitors pass by all Gold Coast beaches The course passes eleven Surf Life Saving Clubs during the race whilst patrols are active. 3. Weather Conditions The plan for the race is to take place with northerly wind conditions. The benefit of such conditions is if a paddler did come off their craft and they were not be able to remount then the wind direction will blow them into or close to shore. With PFD on and connected to all craft this would mean that it would take ten minutes or less to float into shore. Slower paddlers will start the race before the strongest paddlers. Start times will be determined to ensure that finish times are close together for the different starting waves. This allows the faster paddlers to come through the field, which increases safety as they are able to spot any craft that may be in distress. 4. Paddler Requirements All Paddlers sign event declaration that they understand the risks and acknowledge that they have read and understood the event water safety plan including their responsibilities in it (eg helping a distressed paddler, rendering assistance etc.) Paddlers are encouraged to carry a mobile phone in a water proof bag. This can be used if withdrawing or in an emergency situation. Paddlers are encouraged to carry a red or orange flare. It is mandatory for ski and SUP paddlers to wear a PFD and legrope attached to their board. Prone paddlers must be wearing a legrope attached to their board.
Paddlers are required to be connected to their craft at all times by leg leash. This increases the capacity of each individual to self-rescue significantly. 5. Event Briefing At the race briefing for the event paddlers will be reminded of all the key safety aspects on which they have agreed to by signing the event waiver. This includes, but not limited to:- i. Competitors are advised that they are the skipper of their boat/paddle craft and therefore have primary responsibility for their own safety. ii. Competitors are reminded that all paddlers form part of the water safety plan and must look out for each other and provide assistance if you see a paddler in distress. iii. Competitors are reminded of withdrawal points and also the number to call if they withdraw along the course (0403482312). 6. On Water Safety Personnel There will be a minimum of one powered vessel. The Water Safety Coordinator will be on board this vessel. There will be a minimum of three paddlecraft assigned to water safety surveillance. Paddlers of these craft will have a minimum of four years ocean paddling experience. All water safety craft to carry VHF marine radio. Water Safety paddlecraft will also carry red or orange smoke flare and also a mobile phone for back up. One water safety paddle craft will be sent off with each starting wave. 7. On Land Safety Personnel - The Race Director will be present at the start and follow the race by land. - The event will have a half way checkpoint to count the competitors. - The Race Director will carry a mobile and also a VHF radio. This will allow the Race Director direct access to emergency services in case of emergency. - First Aid equipment will travel with the Race Director. - Finish Line Coordinator will be responsible for accounting for paddlers as they finish the race, and will have a mobile phone so that paddlers who withdrawal from the event can notify the finish line. 8. Communications A Race communications schedule will be developed and circulated to all key stakeholders and emergency services. This will be completed by the Thursday before the event and circulated to the following:- - Water Police - Gold Coast Volunteer Marine Rescue - All SLS clubs along the course - Any other stakeholders which are determined to require it.
The Plan will include:- Outline of the course, including start time. Contact details of the Race Director (who will be start line coordinator) Contact details of the finish line coordinator call signs for the on water safety craft (will be using VHF radios). a copy of the Communications Schedule is included below in point 10. a copy of the Emergency Response Flow Chart is included below in point 10. 9. Shark Response Plan Role of Event Organizers with Regard to Shark Sightings If a shark is sighted and reported to SLSQ the event organizers will endeavour to advise paddlers that a shark has been sighted. Water safety craft will raise a red flag. The race will continue through the red flag. Paddlers are then responsible to determining whether to continue on their original course or head to shore to the nearest safe location. If the shark spotted is deemed to pose imminent threat (either attack has taken place or a feeding frenzy is happening, for example) then the water safety craft will raise a Black Flag and paddlers will be required exit the water. The Black flag will signal the abandonment of the event. Whilst under maritime law paddlecraft are classed as a vessel, it is still the paddler as the master of the vessel who has to determine their course of action. If a paddler chooses to stay on the water following being made aware of the raising of the black flag then the paddler will be banned from competing in Gold Coast Prone Paddleboard Club events for a period of 12 months. It also must be noted by paddlers that whilst water safety personnel will endeavour to advise all paddlers of the shark sighting or shark threat it is not possible to guarantee that the warning will reach all paddlers due to the spread of paddlers. If paddlers want to be advised of shark sightings immediately they should carry a hand held VHF radio and monitor the station advised by the Race Organizers. Handheld Radios are available from Marine Retail Outlets from approximately $120 -$200. These can be placed in the paddlers PFD front pocket or secure to the craft between the paddlers legs. 10. Communications Schedule Event: The Gold Coast Classic Ocean Race Date: Saturday 7th January 2017 Start Location: Southport Beach Finish Location: Tallebudgera Beach Start Time: 1030am Expected Participants No: 100 Expected Finish time: 1300pm Race Director Contact Details: James Paul 0403482312 Finish Line Coordinator: Kyle Hughes 0412785575
Water Safety Contacts (All water safety craft will have VHF Radios) Skipper of Lead Water Safety vessel: TBA Water Safety Surveillance 1: TBA Mobile: TBA Water Safety Surveillance 2: TBA Water Safety Surveillance 3: TBA Water Safety Surveillance 4: TBA Movement of Competitors: It is anticipated that participants will be passing the following locations at approximately: Northcliffe Beach SLSC Kurrawa Beach SLSC Mermaid Beach SLSC North Burleigh SLSC 11. General Comments This schedule is to be sent to the following bodies:- i. QLD Water Police ii. Gold Coast Volunteer Marine Rescue iii. QLD Ambulance Service iv. Surf Life Saving QLD v. Northcliffe Beach SLSC vi. Kurrawa Beach SLSC vii. Mermaid Beach SLSC viii. North Burleigh SLSC ix. Department of Marine Safety QLD x. Gold Coast Waterways Authority xi. Surfing Queensland Inc 12. Major Emergency Response Tasks and Flow Chart FIRST RESCUER Remove casualty from danger and proceed directly to shore, attend to casualty by providing first aid and emergency care SECOND RESCUER Cover first rescuer, assist first rescuer where and when necessary RACE CO-ORDINATOR Rescuer supervision area, arrange and communicate evacuation point, contact Emergency Services, Obtain information from witnesses, Crowd control