2011 Leg #7 Information Sea Kayak Course Length: Approx 5 miles (4.3 NM)

Updates made in 2011 New and Former Racers: Please Read.

May 20, 2010 - Larry Bussinger, the Ski to Sea Bay Conditions Leg Chair for the Kayak Leg has created a one pager on the Kayak Course Coordinates for those who may want to practice the course on the Bay.  Thanks Larry! Click here for Course Coordinates

DROP OFF KAYAK AND CANOE ON SATURDAY

Attn: All Canoe and Kayak Racers-You can drop off your kayak and canoe the day BEFORE the race, on Saturday, May 28, starting at 12:00 Noon, at Riverside Park in Everson (canoes) and Zuanich Park in Bellingham (kayaks).  The Boy Scouts will watch them overnight.  We strongly advise you to take advantage of this as it will make race day much easier for your team.  There is a small charge but well worth it, as you won’t have to deal with your vessels on race day.

REGISTRATION:
A designated team representative must pick up the team’s race packet prior to the race. Please refer to procedures at the front of the race guide or on the website (www.SkiToSea.com) for pickup times and location. The packet includes the team timing chip, racing bibs & T-shirts. The designated team representative must distribute items to team members. There will be no extra racing bibs at the exchange areas.

TIMING CHIPS
Race Timing Chips will consist of the chip on a wristband, and must be passed onto the next racer at each leg exchange area according to the rules. After the Kayaker has crossed the Finish Line in Marine Park, the timing chip must be given to an attendant at the Finish Line or the team can be charged $95 for replacement costs.

PRE-RACE MEETING:
There will be a pre-race meeting at NOON on race day in Zuanich Park to discuss race rules, the course and answer any questions. It is important that all kayakers attend this meeting.

EQUIPMENT. SKILLS & SAFETY:
Kayaks must be paddled by one person with a double-bladed paddle as the sole means of propulsion. Single outrigger canoes are allowed in all divisions except Recreational Division and must be paddled with a single-bladed paddle. Olympic flat-water kayaks and trainers are not allowed because they are unstable for Bay conditions.

All kayakers must be capable of performing some form of self-rescue (e.g., paddle float rescue, cowboy rescue, Eskimo roll, etc.). All users of ‘sit-on-top’ kayaks and surf skis must be capable of performing remounts.

All boats must have positive flotation such as bulkheads or airbags that will stay in place. All paddlers are required to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket (PFD) and have a whistle. Paddle or boat leashes are highly recommended for surf skis and outrigger canoes. It is recommended that spray skirts be used for sit-inside kayaks, but only if you are skilled in how to wet exit while wearing a spray skirt. Paddle floats, flares and/or signal devices are highly recommended.

RECREATIONAL DIVISION:
The Recreational Category is intended for NON-COMPETITIVE kayaks only. Recreational kayaks must be wider than .095 times the overall length. For example, an 18’ long kayak must be at least 20.5” wide to qualify. Most sea kayaks qualify for this category.

No racing hulls or down-river boats are allowed in the Recreational Category. For example: Impulse, Glider, Seal, Mariner II, Arluk II and Seastar would qualify. In contrast, for example, Heron, Arluk I, Phantom and nearly all Surf Ski’s do not qualify. Single-paddle outrigger canoes are allowed in all divisions except recreational.

SAFETY NOTE: The water in Puget Sound is cold. It averages about 50º +/- year round. At this temperature, sudden immersion can cause shock and hypothermia within 10 minutes without proper thermal protection. All kayakers are advised to wear appropriate clothing and paddling gear in the event of inclement weather or sudden immersion (spray jacket, poly-pro or fleece clothing, dry suit or wet suit, sun hat). Any kayaker viewed not wearing their life jacket or wearing it unzipped during the race risks having their team disqualified.

COURSE:
The kayak course is begins at the launch dock in Zuanich Park in Squalicum Harbor and ends at Marine Park in Fairhaven. Each kayaker will receive their timing chip from their team’s mountain biker at the timing exchange area (near the boathouse in Zuanich Park). Kayakers should be in position ready to receive the timing chip immediately after it is announced that your biker is approaching. After you receive your timing chip, carry it past the timing grid to record your biker’s finish time and your start time. Then proceed to launch your kayak.

• From the launch dock, paddle straight out of Squalicum Harbor out to and around RACE BUOY #1 (Georgia Pacific "Outfall Buoy” marked by large, colorful balloons).
• Then, paddle toward shore to and around RACE BUOY #2 (ORANGE inflatable buoy) near the Log Boom. 
• Then, paddle parallel to the shore past RACE BUOY #3 (ORANGE inflatable buoy) at the north end of Boulevard Park. Keep the buoy on your RIGHT.
• Continue paddling past RACE BUOY #4 (ORANGE inflatable buoy) at the south end of Boulevard Park. Keep the buoy on your RIGHT.
• Finally, paddle around the last RACE BUOY #5 (ORANGE inflatable buoy) located just off the end of the Concrete Dry Dock in Fairhaven and proceed to the finish line at Marine Park. 
• When you get to the finish line beach, get out of your boat, run up the beach through the timing chute and ring the bell.
  

NOTE: Due to limited space in Marine Park, all kayakers must remove their boat from the finish line area within 5 minutes after crossing the finish line.

All remaining kayakers will be released from Zuanich Park by 5:00 PM. Any racers who are not making forward progress or are still on the course at 7:00 PM will be disqualified and asked to leave the course. This is for your safety and as a courtesy to the safety officers and volunteers who will have been on the water all day.

For spectators, the kayak leg can be viewed from Zuanich Park, the Hotel Bellwether, the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, Boulevard Park or Marine Park.

SAFETY NOTE: The kayak race course may be shortened in case of inclement weather. While conditions may be calm in Bellingham Bay (5 knot wind with 1 foot chop plus boat wakes), the Bay can quickly become much windier and rougher (10-20 knot winds with 2-3 foot chop). In the event of extreme weather conditions, this leg of the race may be canceled at any time. Some safety boats will be patrolling the race course area and others will be anchored at various locations along the course. If you need assistance, please notify one of the safety boats. Please note that race participants are solely and completely responsible for their own safety when participating in this race.

INFRACTION OF RULES:
Infraction of the rules by one team member may disqualify the entire team.


VOLUNTEERING FOR SEA KAYAK LEG:
If you want to volunteer for the Kayak Leg of the race or help at the final finish line, please visit www.SkiToSea.com and fill out the online Volunteer Form.