• Hawkesbury Canoe Classic home page
• 2024 Entries - open till 22 Oct (webscorer)
• 2023 Results (incl Handicap results)
• 2023 LCRK Flickr album (200+ pix)
• 2023 ALL Paddlers Flickr album (500+ pix)
• 2006-2018 Results Chart, 2019 Pace Guide
• HCC Facebook Chat Group
• HCC Flyover Video (6 minute version)
• LCRK's 2023 HCC Page
• LCRK's 2019 HCC Page
• LCRK's 2018 HCC Page
• LCRK's 2017 HCC Page
• LCRK's 2016 HCC Page

Hawkesbury Canoe Classic 26-27 October 2024

The Hawkesbury Classic Paddle is a unique opportunity to pit yourself against the physical and mental hurdles thrown up by a 111km, overnight, paddle from Windsor to Mooney Mooney on Sydney's majestic Hawkesbury River.

Lane Cove River Kayakers is a longstanding supporter of the HCC with substantial experience amongst our paddlers. The Club always provides support at the event, and in the lead-up. The content below provides info for new & seasoned paddlers.

Above: Team LCRK

LCRK Club Support

2024 HCC 'Calculator'

LCRK is please to provide this Microsoft Excel based 'calculator' which is preloaded with HCC 2024 Tides all the way up to Windsor and incorporating associated tidal and riverine flows (all other things being equal which they never are!!). To use, download the tool, open up Excel, and read the instructions:

1. Update your Windsor start time, your base speed, your stop times.
2. The calculator will then derive your ETA at respective checkpoints, including adjustments for current.
3. The course map (separate worksheet) will be automatically updated and can be printed out/laminated on a single A4 page for you &/or your landcrew.
4. How do you work out your base speed? See Tom Holloway's excellent article for more detail - he recommends assuming you paddle at 90% of your Time Trial speed. Stops are additional as are delays waiting for one or more car ferries. See this PDF.
5. Note that whilst there's a bit of science behind this tool - there are many other important variables in play including wind, river knowledge, ferries, swims etc - which can make the tool a bit of sideshow. Use the tool in conjunction with ALL your planning.

Download the 2024 calculator

Above: Calculator produces prepopulated map showing ETA's

At Windsor - From 10am to 5pm

Above: Wisemans Ferry Support. Photo Jana Osvald 2015

• LCRK Marquee for shade and meeting point
• Club shirts and caps for sale
• Issue paddler, start list and contact list
• Experts to offer advice, smiles and positive vibes
• Group photo 2:30PM (Be at the LCRK marquee at 2:25pm)
• Mandatory race briefing is at tba pm
• Marquee will be moved to Wisemans at 5:30pm

At Sackville - from 6:30pm until last LCRK paddler through

• Sackville stop point is no longer at the beach around the corner, due to residents concerns about hundreds of feet damaging the flood remediation work. Stop point will be 50 metres downstream from the ferry, before the right hand bend into the beach

• Illuminated LCRK sign to identify our shared meeting point
• Shared land crew support in landing and re-launching each paddler
• Informal tracking of LCRK craft passing through\\Reminder to paddlers to check out at 2nd Sackville checkpoint

Above: Location of Sackville HQ (boatramp just downstream from Ferry)

At Wisemans - from 8:30pm until last paddler through

• LCRK meeting point 40 metres downriver from main launching ramp (see photos below - look for the red electronic timing board used for our Time Trials)
• LCRK marquee
• Informal tracking of LCRK craft passing through
• Club support for land crews in landing and re-launching their paddlers
• Reminder to paddlers to check out at 2nd Wiseman's checkpoint.

Low Tide Pit-Stop

If you need a last stop on your down-river run and succumb to the "sirens", you will, as usual, be offered smiles, "mud angel" landing and re-launching services, sometimes "paddle through" service; fire for warmth; smiles; hot food and drink; and more smiles - this is not a club facility but a wonderful service volunteered annually to all participants. Remember the location this year is about half a kilometre upstream from its old spot –it is at a boat ramp (= less mud!)

Preparation Reading

General Advice

• Tips for First Timers by Paul van Koesveld
• Race Strategy by Rob Vallis
• Race Strategy by Graeme Jeffries
• Race Tactics 2013 by Tom Simmatt
• LCRK Seminar Takeaways 2013
• Race Rules by Roger Deane
• Pace Guide: How Fast Can You paddle the Classic by Tom Holloway
• 2006-2017 Results Chart, 2018 Pace Guide

Nutrition

• Ultramarathon Nutrition by Tony Hystek
• Classic Food by Ian Hofstetter
• Nutrition by Vitality Health Services
• Energy management for the Hawkesbury Classic by Phil Geddes

Clothing

• Race Clothing by Michael Mueller
• What to Wear by Tom Simmat

Stretching/Injury Prevention

• Basic Stretch Routine by Vitality Health Services
• Injury Prevention by Vitality Health Services
• Stretching Exercises by Matt Blundell

Landcrew Advice

• HCC Landcrew Talk by Alanna Ewin
• Tips For Landcrews by Justin Paine

Maps & Planning

• HCC in one section
• HCC in three sections
• HCC in 5km sections

Garmin GPX Track

• HCC.zip Unzip, copy into your Garmin, and set to visible using garmin menu.

For planning and safety purposes please note: The HCC is not 111km, it is actually 100km. Also, it does not finish at Brooklyn, it finishes at Mooney Mooney (Deerubbin Reserve)

HCC - Current Class Record Holders

LCRK members past and present currently hold over 40 class records.

HCC - The Whiddon Trophy (Fastest Time)

• 2009 Matt Blundell
• 2010 Matt Blundell

HCC - Participation

(go to LCRK's 2019 Hawkesbury Classic Pages)