Local Race Rules & Regulations
For Participation In The 2018 Georgia Cup - Paddleboard
For Participation In The 2018 Georgia Cup - Paddleboard
PERSONAL FLOATATION DEVICE & WHISTLE:
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has officially classified stand up paddleboards (SUP) as a vessel. With the rapid growth of SUP in recent years on the West and East coast of the United States, the Coast Guard recently classified “paddleboards”, meaning SUP’s as “vessels.” SUP, the newly classified vessels must comply with federal Navigation Rules and “carriage” requirements when operated beyond the limits of a swimming, surfing or bathing area. Adult stand-up paddlers are required to have a USCG-approved life jacket also known as Personal Floatation Device (PFD, Type III) for each person, a sound signaling device (whistle), visual distress signal and navigation light (flashlight).
A PFD & Whistle Is Mandatory For All Georgia Cup Participants, Either Worn or Affixed/Aboard Your SUP.
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has officially classified stand up paddleboards (SUP) as a vessel. With the rapid growth of SUP in recent years on the West and East coast of the United States, the Coast Guard recently classified “paddleboards”, meaning SUP’s as “vessels.” SUP, the newly classified vessels must comply with federal Navigation Rules and “carriage” requirements when operated beyond the limits of a swimming, surfing or bathing area. Adult stand-up paddlers are required to have a USCG-approved life jacket also known as Personal Floatation Device (PFD, Type III) for each person, a sound signaling device (whistle), visual distress signal and navigation light (flashlight).
A PFD & Whistle Is Mandatory For All Georgia Cup Participants, Either Worn or Affixed/Aboard Your SUP.
PADDLES:
All participants/racers entered in the Georgia Cup (SUP Events) are required to utilize a single bladed paddle. Double blade paddles are not allowed in the Georgia Cup Paddleboard Race.
Kayaks and OC will employ industry and race standard design paddles.
All participants/racers entered in the Georgia Cup (SUP Events) are required to utilize a single bladed paddle. Double blade paddles are not allowed in the Georgia Cup Paddleboard Race.
Kayaks and OC will employ industry and race standard design paddles.
PADDLE CONTROL:
To be considered a finisher in any race category, you MUST maintain paddle control through the finish gate.
To be considered a finisher in any race category, you MUST maintain paddle control through the finish gate.
DRAFTING:
Drafting Will Be Allowed As Follows:
1) A Racer May Only Draft In The Same Board Classification And Race Category. For Example 12'6" Displacement Hull Elite Or 12'6" Planing Hull Recreational Race.
2) A Racer May Only Draft Within The Same Gender.
Drafting in Stand Up Paddling
Drafting is a topic that is often discussed in SUP paddling and in certain quarters hotly debated. Some people feel it should be allowed and that it actually adds to the sport while others seem to think, for various reasons, that it is something that should be banned. Although I wasn’t at the Battle of the Paddle this past weekend I’m sure it was pretty much like last year in terms of drafting. When you’ve got up to 400 boards in a race there is only so much water available to paddle on. At some point, unless you’re leading, you either have to draft or just wallow in all the wash so I figure this is a timely post. I’ll express my reasons for being pro-drafting in a bit, but first I want to describe how to do it properly and effectively. If you are going to add drafting to your arsenal of racing skills you might as well do it well.
Drafting in a paddled watercraft is something that comes from marathon canoe racing and, to a lesser extent, sprint canoe-kayak. People that cycle or have watched an event like the Tour de France on television are familiar with drafting in that sport. While the physics of it are different, the concept is basically the same in paddling. Drafting is also known aswash riding in Canada and parts of Europe, wake riding in many places in the US and wave riding or hanging in many places in Europe. As most people who paddle SUP seem to prefer the term ‘drafting’ that is the term I’ll try to use here.
The purpose of drafting is either:
Drafting Will Be Allowed As Follows:
1) A Racer May Only Draft In The Same Board Classification And Race Category. For Example 12'6" Displacement Hull Elite Or 12'6" Planing Hull Recreational Race.
2) A Racer May Only Draft Within The Same Gender.
Drafting in Stand Up Paddling
Drafting is a topic that is often discussed in SUP paddling and in certain quarters hotly debated. Some people feel it should be allowed and that it actually adds to the sport while others seem to think, for various reasons, that it is something that should be banned. Although I wasn’t at the Battle of the Paddle this past weekend I’m sure it was pretty much like last year in terms of drafting. When you’ve got up to 400 boards in a race there is only so much water available to paddle on. At some point, unless you’re leading, you either have to draft or just wallow in all the wash so I figure this is a timely post. I’ll express my reasons for being pro-drafting in a bit, but first I want to describe how to do it properly and effectively. If you are going to add drafting to your arsenal of racing skills you might as well do it well.
Drafting in a paddled watercraft is something that comes from marathon canoe racing and, to a lesser extent, sprint canoe-kayak. People that cycle or have watched an event like the Tour de France on television are familiar with drafting in that sport. While the physics of it are different, the concept is basically the same in paddling. Drafting is also known aswash riding in Canada and parts of Europe, wake riding in many places in the US and wave riding or hanging in many places in Europe. As most people who paddle SUP seem to prefer the term ‘drafting’ that is the term I’ll try to use here.
The purpose of drafting is either:
- To paddle with less effort by riding the wave generated by another board or,
- To paddle faster than you would normally be able to by riding the wave generated by another board or,
- Some combination of the above (i.e. paddling faster and with less effort) by riding the wave generated by another board
FIVE STROKE RULE:
This Event Is A "STAND-UP PADDLEBOARD RACE"
You Must Be Standing – 5 Five Stroke Rule
If you fall you will have 5 strokes to get back on your feet and stand up. This rule is in effect so a paddler does not achieve an advantage by not standing up. You must complete the course standing upon your board.
The stand up rule is not in effect in the area from shore through the surf zone, both coming in and going out of start/finish area.
Elit Race
Remember - Knees Only In The Event Of A Fall, Then Only 5 Strokes From Your Knees Before You Stand. You will be allowed to your knees at the start of the race thru the surf zone only.
If You Elect To Knee Paddle For Any Other Reason Than A Fall, You Will Be DISQUALIFIED, DNF.
Short Course/Rec Race.
You Will Not Be Disqualified. However, Eliminated From Top Three Positions.
This Event Is A "STAND-UP PADDLEBOARD RACE"
You Must Be Standing – 5 Five Stroke Rule
If you fall you will have 5 strokes to get back on your feet and stand up. This rule is in effect so a paddler does not achieve an advantage by not standing up. You must complete the course standing upon your board.
The stand up rule is not in effect in the area from shore through the surf zone, both coming in and going out of start/finish area.
Elit Race
Remember - Knees Only In The Event Of A Fall, Then Only 5 Strokes From Your Knees Before You Stand. You will be allowed to your knees at the start of the race thru the surf zone only.
If You Elect To Knee Paddle For Any Other Reason Than A Fall, You Will Be DISQUALIFIED, DNF.
Short Course/Rec Race.
You Will Not Be Disqualified. However, Eliminated From Top Three Positions.
TIES
In The Unlikely Event Of A Tie In The Money Race The Two Competitors Split The Finnish & $$$.$$.
Example: Two Tie For 2nd Place; These two will Split The $$$.$$ For The Second Place & Third Place Finish And The Next Finisher Will Be 4th.
In The Unlikely Event Of A Tie In The Money Race The Two Competitors Split The Finnish & $$$.$$.
Example: Two Tie For 2nd Place; These two will Split The $$$.$$ For The Second Place & Third Place Finish And The Next Finisher Will Be 4th.
5 RACER MINIMUM RULE:
There Shall Be A Minimum Number Of 5 Race Participants In Any Category Or That Category May Be Eliminated At The Desecration Of The Race Director.
There Shall Be A Minimum Number Of 5 Race Participants In Any Category Or That Category May Be Eliminated At The Desecration Of The Race Director.
Protest
It is the competitor’s responsibility to act in a sportsmanlike fashion, avoid a collision at all times, and obey the rules as listed by the race director. If there is contact or unsportsmanlike conduct during the time of a race that affects the outcome for any racer and they feel they have been penalized or interfered with that has caused the racer to lose position and or time, the competitor that was deemed penalized must file a protest within 15 minutes of the last person to finish the race in question. In doing so, the competitor must inform the other party(s) that may have fouled them during the course of the race and also bring in any witnesses to attest to their claim and or protest to the race committee. All protest decisions are final upon the committee’s review, and the protest committee may rule in favor or overrule the protest.