2009 Southern Shamaal Team Relay

 

Welcome to the World’s first international Team Relay Championships. Three seriously competitive paddlers in two surfskis (a double and a single) will vie for the glory of been crowned World Champions and taking the $9000 first prize.

 

But it is not going to be easy – four days, 260 km of paddling on a scenic but demanding route covering the distance from Port Elizabeth’s Bluewater Bay Beach to East London’s iconic Nahoon Beach.

 

So how does this all work.?

 

Well firstly the race is a downwind event (assuming that he wind will blow). I will determine the race route (by looking at various forecasts and other crystal ball methods) and announce such at the briefing which takes place the day before. Start times will be determined by what the wind is forecast to do, but the objective is to start between 08h00 and 12h00. Each team will have to submit a paddle schedule straight after the briefing (ie what ski is doing what leg) – once submitted it cannot be changed and will be made known to all. This means that the teams will have to access the weather, surf and guess what other teams are going to do – so brain power is also required.

 

So the relay works as follows – start of the day off goes the designated paddler say in a single – when he hits the beach at the change over point the double goes off to finish the day. The total elapsed time is logged and the four days times are accumulated and the fastest time wins.

 

We will be doing batch starts with the slower teams going off first – this is done in an effort to compact the field.

 

Ok so that is the race up front, but the event is also about experiencing an awesome coastline, paddling with the Worlds’ best, enjoying the beach vibe and the campfire tall stories – made greater by the free flowing Zulu Blonde. All this comes courtesy of our Shamaal sponsors and Zports logistics and event management.

 

So sign up your team – play safe and have fun.

 

Anton Erasmus

Race Director

All paddlers must register and attend the race briefing as race route and start times for day 1 will be finalised at the briefing. The team will also have to hand in which craft will be doing what leg immediately after the briefing.

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Start at Bluewater Bay Surf Lifesaving Club if Westerly or Woody Cape if Easterly:
Check in time as determined at the Friday Race Briefing.

Relay hand over at Sundays River:
Check in time will be determined at the briefing. Note you will have a bit of a walk to the beach.

Finish at Woody Cape (westerly) or Blue Water Bay (easterly):
Paddlers will arrive some 5h30 after the start time

Race Briefing for Day 2:
This will take place on the beach within two hours of the first team finishing.

All teams must attend the race briefing as race route and start times for day 2 will be finalised at the briefing. The team will also have to hand in which craft will be doing what leg on day two immediately after the briefing.

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Sunday 6 December:

Start at Woody Cape Beach if Westerly or Port Alfred if Easterly:
Check in as determined at the Saturday race briefing.

Kenton Beach Relay hand over:
Check in time will be determined at the briefing.

Finish at Port Alfred West Beach (westerly) or Woody Cape (easterly):
Paddlers will arrive some 4h30 after the start time.

Race Briefing:

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Monday 7 December:

Start at Port Alfred West Beach if Westerly or Hamburg if Easterly):
Check in as determined at the Sunday race briefing

Mpekweni Relay hand over:
Check in as determined at the briefing

Finish at Hamburg Beach (westerly) or Port Alfred (easterly):
Paddlers will arrive 5h30 after the start time.

Race Briefing:

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Tuesday 8 December:

Start at Hamburg Beach if Westerly or Haga Haga if Easterly:
Check in as determined at the Monday briefing.

Kidds Beach Relay hand over (westerly) or Yellow Sands (easterly):
Check in as determined at the briefing.

Finish at East London’s Nahoon Beach:
Paddlers will arrive some 4.5 - 5.5 hours after the start time.

 

Prize Giving:
This will take place at Nahoon Beach as soon ast the last team is in. The usual after party will take place at Blue Lagoon.