race RULES
Race Rules- The Impossible
  1. All entrants will conform to ICF Ocean Racing Rules (2022) unless varied by the local race rules listed below.   
  2. All craft may be scrutineered for safety. They must have positive buoyancy, be watertight and meet the specifications for the class that they have been entered.
  3. Competitors must follow the course as described in section 2 or surpassed by the official briefing.
  4. Competitors must obey any instruction given by an official, including the command to abort the race.
  5. Competitors must give assistance to others in difficulty – time redress may be claimed upon application to the chief official.
  6. Competitors must be able to confidently swim 400 metres in the open ocean with or without a PFD.
  7. Competitor must be able to re-enter or re-mount their craft after a capsize in conditions that will be predicted by the BOM on the day of the race,
  8. All paddlers must carry at least 700 mls of drink. This must be attached to the person or craft.
  9. Minimum age for all competitors is 17 years on the day of the race, unless approved by the Race Director.
  10. Race number must be affixed securely to the left side of the front (bow) deck (right hand side if the course is reversed).
  11. All paddlers are to wear Type 1, 2, 3, or 50 PFDs and fluoro hi-vis vests/shirts on their outermost layer. A hi-vis PFD will negate the need for a separate vest.
  12. Paddlers must carry at least one “in date” personal, orange smoke day-flare or red signal flare attached to the craft or person.
  13. Paddlers must carry either a mobile phone in a water-proof bag that is attached to their person or an approved personal locator beacon.  Devices must have the mobile phone number of the race safety officer (provided on race morning at briefing) saved as the last number dialled. A location tracking App may be required. This will be advised in the "Directions for competitors"  sent to all entrants prior to the event. 
  14. Paddlers must have a leg leash attached to a fixed point on their craft and the paddler’s leg. It is also recommended that a paddle leash attaches their paddle to their craft. (In the event that a paddler loses contact with his/her craft, it is often not possible to swim freely with a paddle). Leg leashes must be removed when within a surf zone.
  15. Competitors may only use a paddle that conforms to the craft specifications or arms in the case of cat e. No sails or other means of propulsion are allowed.
  16. Organisers reserve the right to accept, reject and cancel entries.
  17. Protests must be made in writing and given to the Race Director within fifteen minutes of the announcement of the provisional results. All decisions of the Race Director will be final.
  18. Each entrant must agree to the indemnity declaration on the entry form upon submitting their entry. If under 18, a parent or guardian must sign.
 
PENALTIES
  1. New rules from the ICF state that "Marks must be rounded as described in the race instructions".  This means that anyone missing a buoy or not completing the entire course will be disqualified.