2002 Weyerhaeuser AuSable River Canoe Marathon
Sprints
For Positition –
Additional
Rules & Information
SPRINTS
FOR POSITION
PENROD’S
CANOE LIVERY
THURSDAY,
JULY 25 AND FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2002
The
Sprints determine the starting
positions for the lemans style run to the river on Saturday night. The lineup on Saturday night will be in rows
of five (5) teams in order of the Sprint results-fastest first. The Sprints also determine the order of
canoe inspection-fastest first, immediately following the Pre-Race Briefing at
noon on Saturday at Citizens Bank. The
Sprints will be conducted Thursday, July 25 from 5:00 to 8:15 PM, and Friday
July 26 from 2:00 to 5:45 PM.
The
Sprints for Position are conducted on a predetermined looped course. Contestants are required to paddle
downstream to a set buoy, where they are to execute a counter-clockwise turn
around the buoy, and return upstream to the start/finish line. The canoe and both paddlers must completely
turn the buoy on the downstream side.
Neither the canoe, the contestants, nor any part of their body or their
paddles may pass in front of or over the buoy.
A representative from the Marathon Committee will observe the buoy turn
for each team. Unintentional failure to
successfully complete the buoy turn will result in the assessment of a thirty
(30) second penalty which will be added to the team’s Sprint time. Intentional failure to successfully complete
the buoy turn will result in disqualification from the Sprints, and the team
will be placed at the back of the pack for the start of the Marathon Saturday
night.
Immediately
downstream of the start/finish line, in front of Penrod’s cabins, are four (4)
orange buoys. Contestants paddling
downstream or returning upstream are required to pass all the buoys on the
right. Unintentional failure to pass on
the right will result in a thirty (30) second penalty added to Sprint time for
each buoy missed. Intentional failure
to pass the buoys will result in disqualification from the Sprints, and the
team will be placed at the back of the pack for the start of the Marathon. If failure to stay to the right results in
interference with another team, a further sanction may be imposed, and the team
interfered with will be afforded the option of starting over.
Running
in the river with the canoe is permitted, provided the canoe and both
contestants stay in the riverbed (shoes wet) at all times. No ropes or other towing devices may be used
at any time. Both contestants must be
in the canoe for the last ten (10) yards of the Sprint to the finish line.
No
contestants will be allowed on the Sprint course between 5:00 PM and 8:30 PM
Thursday, or between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM Friday except at their designated
Sprint time. Any team violating this
rule will be subject to a two (2) minute penalty, added to their Sprint
time. The turnaround buoy will be in
place at least two (2) hours prior to the start of the Sprints both days for
practice runs. Warm-up paddling will be
permitted upstream of the start/finish line as long as it does not interfere
with any other special events such as the Business Relays on Thursday or the
Special Olympics race on Friday. Breaks
have been set up during the Sprint schedule to allow livery canoes to pass
through. No Marathon contestants are
allowed on the Sprint course during these breaks.
Any
team which is not ready to paddle at its designated time will be assessed a two
(2) minute penalty, added to Sprint time, and will be moved to the end of the
day’s Sprint schedule.
The
Special Olympics race will start at 4:30 PM on Friday. The Paddlers’ Dinner will be held at the
Grayling Holiday Inn at 6:30 PM.
Official measuring of the canoes will be available at the Sprints on
Thursday and Friday. A decal will be
placed on the canoe by the Marathon Committee if the canoe meets all the
required specifications outlined in the rules and entry packet. All canoes must be presented for
inspection (lifejackets, flares and whistles) following the Pre-Race Briefing
at noon on Saturday. The canoes will be
presented Saturday in the order of Sprint results-fastest first.
The
Marathon Committee will measure the canoes of the five (5) fastest Sprint teams
(first row for the Marathon) as part of the Official Inspection process
following the Pre-Race Briefing even though such canoes may have already been
measured at the Sprints on Thursday or Friday.
Any team which chooses not to have their canoe measured during the
Sprints, or their canoe failed to meet all required specifications when
measured at the Sprints, must present their canoe for measuring at the Official
Inspection following the Pre-Race Briefing on Saturday. The Marathon Committee reserves the right to
re-measure any canoe as part of the Official Inspection on Saturday.