RULES AND REGULATIONS

THE ISLAND SHAMAAL, MAURITIUS OCEAN CLASSIC 2010 by EPIC KAYAKS

The 2010 Island Shamaal Mauritius Ocean Classic by Epic Kayaks (hereafter “Mauritius Ocean Classic”) is a single surf ski event though double ski and OC 1’s and 2’s are welcome.

Date of race: 11th of September 2010
Race Briefing at Tamassa Resort at 18h00 on 10th of September 2010

11.09.10
Check in at Coast Guard Car Park from 08h30 to 09h30
Final Race Briefing at 9h40
Water opens at 10h10
Start at 10h30

• The 28 km race starts in the river mouth west of Souillac and ends at Les Pavillons Hotel at Le Morne

• The start is a wet start in the river mouth some 600 meters from the channel out to sea.

• The start procedure will be determined by the number of paddlers – the front row of paddlers will be seeded as per the results of the fun race as will the second row then followed by the rest.

• The route out to sea will be indicated by marker buoys out to a large marker boat which all paddlers have to keep to their right. The channel through the Coral will also be indicated by a marker boat then with buoys leading to the finish line which is in the water.

• Safety will be provided by a four craft – a boat following the tail end of the field, another sweeping through the field and a lead boat and the marker boat at the channel entrance at Les Pavillons. Added to this the Mauritius Coast Guard will provide additional support.

3.1 Supplied branding (race decals) of the event is to be applied to all craft and paddles prior to the completion of race registration. Race decals are to be applied to the craft and paddles in the positions indicated by the organizers at race registration, all these decals are to remain visible throughout the event.

3.2 NO other stickers or decals (other than as per 5.1 and the standard craft manufacturer decals) are to be present on the craft ahead of the front seat. Pirate brand marketing will not be allowed and Race Organizers may request such to be removed for the duration of the event (i.e. flags, banners, branded vehicles, decals etc).

3.3 The participants race number (the number provided by the race organizers) is to be displayed on the ski, in the case of a double ski, the front participant’s number is to appear on the ski. Incorrect or incomplete numbers may result in disqualification from the race. Numbers are to appear on both sides of the top deck of the ski, not more than 2m from the nose of the ski. No other numbers are to be displayed.

3.4 Only one ski may be used for the duration of the race. In the event of a ski been damaged, anyone may help a participant repair his/her ski, provided no unfair advantage is gained. E.g. On a boat moving forward while repairing ski.

4.1    All participants are to heed directions and instructions of the race officials.

4.2    A participant, who rides the wake of a motorized craft, in an attempt to gain advantage, may be disqualified.

4.3    Any participant who receives physical support or physical assistance, or who boards a boat, may be disqualified, with the exception of those doing so to repair their craft or to recover from illness, in which case the boat is to ensure that it does not travel in the direction of the race finish.

4.4    A time limit may be announced for each day and/or section thereof.  The time limit may be lengthened at the discretion of the Race Director. All participants failing to meet the specified time limit may, for safety reasons, be removed from the water and may not continue the Challenge further.

4.5    A safety mobile phone number for emergencies as well as for notifying the Chief Race Official of withdrawals will be provided at race registration.

4.6    All participants are to have a leash, whistle, and an approved Personal Buoyancy Aid (PBA) (“life jacket”) as compulsory items of their race kit. Inflatable PBA’s must be fully inflated at all times. The PBA must be worn at all times whilst on the water; all other items must be fitted to your craft or person.

4.7    Starting procedures will be explained at Race registration and at each day’s race briefing.

4.8    The Race director may decide whether a participant should be prevented from continuing the race at any time. The Race Director’s decision will be final.

4.9    No participant may use any illegal, detrimental or dangerous drugs, stimulants, depressants or other substances or procedures with the intent to improve performance, eliminate the sense of fatigue or for any other purpose.  The Medical Control Rules set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) (WADA) regulations and policies on banned substances, will be binding on all participants. In addition, other rules and regulations even if not recognized by the IOC may be instituted, which if such occurs, you agree to abide by.  Participants may be requested to undergo drug-testing procedures, before and after the event.  If you are requested to do so, you hereby agree to abide by such testing procedures.  Should any participant test positive for any substance banned by the IOC regulations and policies and is not vindicated by the administrative appeal process, or test positive for any other item as mentioned above, the participant, at the judgment of the Challenge officials, may be banned from participation for a period of two years.  A second offence may result in lifetime suspension of participation in the Challenge event.

4.10    Fraud, theft, cheating or attempting to do any of these, abusive treatment of volunteers or others and acts of poor sportsmanship are grounds for immediate disqualification and may result in contestants being suspended from competing in any Challenge event in the future.

4.11    The onus is on the participant to ensure that timekeepers have registered their number at the finish of each leg.

4.12    Craft must be removed from the finish line area immediately once their number has been recorded. A 5-minute time penalty may be imposed on participants who fail to clear the finish line.

4.13    It is the onus of all participants to cross the finish line or advise the organisers that they have withdrawn from the event as soon as possible.

4.14    It is the onus of the organisers to institute a search for any participant who has not crossed the finish line or advised of his withdrawal.

4.15    If a participant decides to withdraw from the race at any time, it is the responsibility of the participant to report to the race referee and turn in his/her race number immediately.  It is essential that race officials know where the participants are on the course at all times.  FAILURE TO NOTIFY THE RACE REFEREE AFTER WITHDRAWING FROM THE RACE MAY RESULT IN THE PARTICIPANT BEING PREVENTED FROM COMPETING IN FUTURE EVENTS.

4.16    The Race Organisers may institute a search for any competitor who has not crossed the finish line or advised the Race Organizers of his/her/their withdrawal. The costs of the search will be borne by the competitor/s who had withdrawn and not notified the organizers.

4.17    Race Organizers reserves the right to make rule changes at any time provided all participants are notified in writing and/or at the race briefings.

5.1    Participants must wear, as instructed by a race official, the clothing, if any, supplied for the event.

5.2    No other branded clothing may be worn whilst paddling or talking to the media. This includes headwear. Participants are permitted to wear only unbranded clothing under the supplied race clothing – unless having been specifically granted permission by the Race Director.

5.3    Anybody seen to be blatantly advertising products other than the race sponsor(s) stands to be disqualified or to have their participant disqualified in the case of a second.

6.1    Only competitors, registered team managers or race officials may lodge protests or disputes. An arbitrator will hear all protests and disputes. A list of persons whom the parties may agree upon to chair a protest or dispute or who the parties may appoint to serve on a panel to hear a protest or dispute during the race, will be made available at race registration.

6.2    Where the parties (participant / race organizers) agree on an arbitrator to deal with the protest or dispute, the protest or dispute will be heard by that person only. Where the parties do not agree on a single arbitrator, the protest or dispute will be heard by three arbitrators. The decision taken by the arbitrator / panel of arbitrators will be final and binding on the parties.

6.3    The arbitrator / panel of arbitrators may impose penalties for breach of any of the rules or regulations. Penalties may include time penalties or disqualification, without being limited thereto.

6.4    All protests and disputes will be heard within 1 hour of the completion of the event.

6.5    In addition to a dispute or protest lodged above, the arbitrator / panel of arbitrators may make decisions on all disputes pertaining to the safe and orderly conduct of the event and may seek assistance and advice where needed.

6.6    Protests and disputes must be delivered to the Race Organizers within 10 minutes of the event finishing, in writing.

6.7    All disputes and protests lodged by competitors delivered to the race organizers must be accompanied by a fee of 100 Euros.

6.8    Fees will be refunded where the party lodging the dispute or protest is successful, or at the discretion of the Race Organizers.