This is a team challenge, teams must be a minimum of 3, maximum of 8 participants.
We recommend to have a person with First Aid experience on your team.
Teams will need to prepare themselves and abide by the minimum equipment requirements.
For safety reasons, paddlers must complete challenge sections within preset time limits.
Teams must complete all sections and check in at all checkpoints to complete the challenge.
All participants must leave no trace on the environment, please take more litter than you bring.
Per Person
PFD :
CE or ISO rated 50KN. Can be a self deployment belt type. (we advise PFD's are as slimline as possible to assist with board remount in rough water. If using self-deployment belt, make sure you have tested the system and have a spare canister with you on the water)?
Leash :
Can be a quick release or coiled ankle leash.
Communications :
Mobile phone in water proof case, carried on person with event control number saved and the What Three Words app installed. Familiarise yourself with this app! At least one team member should be on vodaphone or O2 as other networks do not work on the loch.
Survival Equipment :
Bivy bag/foil blanket bag to be carried on person. Whistle for signaling distress.
Clothing :
You need to be dressed in appropriate clothing for the weather, neoprene or dry suits are required. You must be prepared for cold water immersion. You must carry a spare full set of dry clothing in a dry bag. You must have appropriate footwear with you for use on land.
Sustinance:
Sufficient food and hydration for up to 12 hours pf paddling.
Per Team
GPS tracker (supplied)
Waterproof First aid kit
Route map with marked EAP's (supplied)
Note: Craft carrying packs must have it tethered to the board to assist with re-flipping the board. A min 2m tether from pack to board required.
The Loch Awesome is run by SALTWALK Events Ltd. The Organisation is referred to variously and interchangeably as ’SALTWALK’ the ’SW’, the ‘Organisation’, the ‘Organiser’, and the ‘Company’. The event is run entirely by volunteers.
The rules of the Loch Awesome must be read by all participants and their supporters.
Course Information
The course starts at and ends at Dalavich Village on Loch Awe. The course is a total distance of approximately 75km.
Entry information
All competitors must be aged 18 or over and must sign the Indemnity Declaration when checking in. No persons under the age of 18 may enter the Loch Awesome challenge.
Entries are only accepted on this basis.
Please note that an acceptable challenge team consists of a minimum of 3 paddlers and a maximum of 8.
Any changes to crew (team) information must be notified to the Loch Awesome Secretary at Check-In. Team entries must be completed online.
No late entries will be accepted. The Organisation reserves the right to refuse any entry.
Challenge Format
This is a team challenge not a challenge or a relay. Good times will favour well trained and organised teams that plan their stops and drafting tactics. Participants will not be disqualified if a team member drops out. If a team member does drop out your team will not be able to continue until your paddler is designated safe by the challenge safety crew (failure to comply with this rule will result in instant disqualification).
At The Start
Crews must report for Kit Check at least one hour before their designated start time. Each team will be allocated a start time and all team members must be prepared to enter the water no less than 15 minutes before hand. The clock will start at the teams designated start time.
Checkpoints & Team Tracking
All team members must start and finish together, the clock stops when the last team member checks in. We will be using GPS tracking for safety and to track the teams progress along the course. All team members will be manually checked in at each stage by our Marshall’s. Failure to check in to a checkpoint may cause an unnecessary call out of our rescue team and therefore is mandatory.
The following rules apply, and any breach of them may lead to disqualification:
General
Loch Awesome Officials, acting on the instructions of the Safety Director, can stop any crew for any reason at any time. Time allowances are at the Safety Director’s discretion; they will normally be awarded for kit checks, should everything comply with the Rules; or when crews are stopped on the course to permit larger craft to navigate, or when the challenge is stopped for safety reasons.
Time allowances will not normally be given when a team member has been injured or involved in an accident.
All crews and their supporters shall challenge in a fair and considerate manner and maintain a satisfactory standard of conduct throughout the Challenge. Unsporting conduct by either paddlers or their supporters will not be tollerated. The decisions of the Organisation on all matters shall be final.
Inspected kit which has been presented and passed at the start must be used throughout the Challenge. Any competitor found not wearing or replacing the inspected kit with an inferior or non-compliant version will be disqualified.
Challengers must wear buoyancy aids at all times in low light and if instructed to do so by the Safety Marshals. Safety leashes must be correctly worn at all times. Failure to comply with these rules can cause loss of life and a Team will be disqualified if found in breach.
All team members including ground crew must be able to swim 100 metres in stand up paddle board clothing.
Competitors are NOT permitted to:
Teams are permitted to receive:
Ability of Competitors
By entering this challenge you must be able to paddle long distances, you must have carried out a minimum of a 40km paddle. You should have experieince of ocean or open water paddling. You must be a confident swimmer and can swim a minimum of 200 meters.
Drugs & Alcohol
The taking of performance enhancing drugs or illegal substances is forbidden and will result in team disqualification. Alcohol is forbidden until challengers pass the finish line.
Retirement
If crews are compelled to retire from the challenge, challengers or support crews must, WITHOUT FAIL, inform Challenge Control immediately. All crews must have completed the course and vacated the Finish Line before dark.
Boards & Equipment
Stand Up Paddle Boards, Kayaks and Canoes
are referred to in these Rules as boards.
Propulsion is by single paddle only- rudders are not permitted.
Each Team and individual will have to carry Compulsory Equipment. See Compulsory Equipment List Document.
Boards can be of any length but must contain sufficient buoyancy to support their paddler and the mandatory equipment and must be in water worthy condition. Only production quality boards can be used – strictly no homemade craft allowed.
Substitution of personnel, or transport over land or by water for the purpose of shortening the course, is forbidden. If a crew cannot paddle the course they may walk it, carrying their board, paddles and full kit. No short cut or transport is allowed.
Buoyancy Aids.
Competitors must wear an Integral Foam or inflating PFD.
Buoyancy aids or lifejackets are not acceptable under any circumstance if:-
Emergency Foil Blankets.
It is recommended that paddlers carry one emergency foil blanket each on their board. This should be production quality and designed to maintain you body temperature, wet without a wetsuit until help arrives.
Disciplinary matters
Inappropriate behaviour by supporters and/or teams will be penalised.
Any failure to observe the rules or obey the instructions of any Challenge Official at any time may render the Team liable to disqualification or other penalty, which may include the individual, team, club, school or unit being barred from entering future challenges.
Breaches of the Rules must be communicated to Challenge Control
Complaints and protests
Complaints/protests must be registered, at the time of the incident or prior to, the team’s departure from the course. To register a complaint/protest you must inform one of the following:
It is the responsibility of the Team to establish whether a complaint has been raised against them. This can be done either by checking their results on-line, if there is a “P” against the crew details a protest has been made; or by telephoning Challenge Control, Any such complaint will be raised at the Protest Meeting on Monday morning.
Protest meeting
Teams will have the opportunity of explaining what occurred to the Challenge Officials.
That committee meets within 2 hours of the last paddler leaving the water. At this time any team, reported or already penalised will have the opportunity to be heard, or their written statements presented. Any penalty, including disqualification, may be imposed.
There is NO APPEAL against the decisions of the Challenge Protest Committee.
Assaults and/or abusive behaviour
Abuse and/or threatening behaviour of any kind, including verbal or physical assault, will not be tolerated. Any team member found to have carried out a verbal or physical assault, or whose supporters/support crew do so, will be disqualified and may also be banned from taking part in future events.
Anyone impeding any Loch Awesome official in the conduct of their duties will be severely penalised.
The Organisers will not hesitate to report incidents of verbal or physical assault to the police. They also reserve the right to notify such incidents to any organisation(s) with which the paddler or individual concerned is involved.
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