RULES

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:

1. Download the GPX route to keep you always on course you.  You can use this with the OS Maps App or similar device.
2. Obey the instructions of the Police, wardens and the Loch Awesome Marshals.
3. Keep out of the way of rowers and other water users.
4. Paddles should beware of approaching rowers and assume they cannot be seen. If there is danger of collision, shout “Ahead Rowing Boat” very loudly and change

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:

• Draft or wash-hang from any vessel not in the challenge
• Relieve themselves in public
• Dispose of litter except in a public waste bin that is not overfilled.
• Use trolleys or portage devices unless they have carried them, at all times, from the start.

Teams are permitted to receive:

• Assistance from any source in the event of a dangerous circumstance.
• Food and drink at any point along the course unless otherwise directed
• Replacement boards, paddles, board fittings, clothing and emergency rations if used, lost or damaged.
• Help with the repair of the board, provided it is not moved away from or along the course.
• Medical assistance in the event of illness or injury.
• Crews may stop anywhere along the Course provided they stay within 100m of the course and they do not trespass on private land without permission.

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:-

• Appear to be more than five years old.
• Have been subjected to heavy use thus degrading their flotation value.
• Have been tampered with or modified in any way.

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:

• Checkpoint
• Marshal
• Challenge Control

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.