Wednesday Night Fitness Paddle Information
Results are available from the Members Area.
Welcome to the Lane Cove River Kayakers' Wednesday Night Fitness Paddle. Our aim is to have a well organised, safe & fun paddle that improves your fitness and skills. Please read the following so that you are aware of your responsibilities on and off the water.
Location
The Wednesday Night Fitness Paddle takes place on the Lane Cove River, starting at the Chatswood War Memorial Athletics Field on the corner of Epping Rd and Mowbray Rd, Lane Cove West. There is ample parking for cars and access to the water from a pontoon.
Eligibility
There are three ways for paddlers to be eligible to join the Wednesday night paddle:
• Be a paid up member of LCRK and pay $3 for the night
• Be a member of PaddleNSW or another PaddleNSW-affiliated paddle club and pay $6 for the night
• Before paddling, fill in a form to gain temporary membership and pay $6 for the night.
Temporary members may attend two Wednesday night paddles paying $6 each night after which full membership fees must be paid.
Also note that:
• First time paddlers must do the course with an experienced member
• All members are expected to take part in timekeeping duties when requested, usually twice per year
Registration for the time trial
Enter your number and name against your handicap time, sign form and affirm that you are a member of PaddleNSW (for insurance purposes).
Regulations and Safety Requirements
• Your first start time will be given to you by a committee member. Following a discussion with you regarding your experience and your craft 2nd start time is based on your time from your previous start.
• Lights bow and stern are required by law at night. Lights must be attached to the kayak and be solid white and visible for 360 degrees. No flashing or red lights are permitted.
• An approved PFD must be worn after dark and it is wise to carry one in daylight.
• Your kayak must have sufficient buoyancy to allow it to float parallel to the surface when full of water.
• Allow sufficient time to get on the water before your start.
• Starts are at 5 minute intervals and commence from 6.25PM.
• Respond to your name being called by the starter who will count down to your start time.
How the Wednesday time trial works
• Every paddler must display a number or letter board identifying them to the timekeepers. Fully paid-up members will receive a number board which is theirs to keep, and visitors or first-timers will receive a letter board which they use for that night only.
• There are 2 measured distances available for paddlers, with a 6km distance for beginners or those in slower craft, and a 12 km distance for regular paddlers. The 12km distance will take anything from 55 minutes or less for the faster paddlers to 90 minutes for the slower paddlers.
• Your first start time will be given to you by the Wednesday Night Convenor, or a committee member. Subsequent start times are based on your first timed result.
• Paddlers start at various intervals (usually 5 minutes) from 6.25pm, for the slower paddlers, to 6.50pm for the very fast ones.
• An illuminated timing board shows you your time at the start and finish, and the results are also posted on the LCRK website each week.
Time trial course
• Once on the water at the pontoon, paddlers go downstream 200m (keeping to the Right Hand Side of the river) to the start line, which is under the Epping Rd Bridge, then turn around and face upstream for the start.
• When the paddlers’ start time is called, paddlers line up near the start and are accounted for by the timekeepers, before being started at the appropriate time.
• The 12km course follows the river upstream to Fullers Bridge, turning anticlockwise around the right hand pylon, then downstream past the pontoon and all the way to the last red (port) marker pylon before the Figtree bridge. Paddlers turn anticlockwise around this marker also, before returning upstream to the finish line under the Epping Rd Bridge.
• The 6km course is similar to the 12km course, except that instead of going all the way to Figtree Bridge, paddlers turn anticlockwise around the first red floating buoy downstream of the footbridge, before returning upstream to the finish line at Epping Rd.
Etiquette
• Kayak with bow in front at each turn has right of way.
• Keep to the right of the channel at all times. Veer right to avoid an oncoming kayak.
• When overtaking on a corner, go wide and to the outside of the slower kayak. Give a boat length clearance before cutting in. The boat in front has right of way. Do not call a warning to the boat in front as this can lead to confusion. The onus is on the passing boat to pass safely and courteously.
• Be aware of fishermen and stay away from their lines.
• Do not call your number at the finish line unless requested to do so by the timekeepers.
• If you do not complete the course for any reason you must return to the start line and make the timekeepers aware of your presence so they can mark off your number. This is necessary to avoid instigating a search procedure.
• Paddlers passing the 6km turn buoy after 7.30pm on their downstream leg, must turn back to the start to avoid unnecessary search procedures being commenced.
Safety Procedures
• If a paddler is in the water, stop and ask if you can assist. If you have any concerns stay with the paddler and call for assistance from other craft. If necessary, send another craft back to the start/finish line to get assistance from the starter. The club's procedures will be followed including issuing tow lines and first aid kit. If there is any serious concern, authorities will be contacted as per the club's written procedures.
Parking
• Please do not park close to the amenities building unless you have equipment required for the running of the time trial. Park in the designated car park area.
We hope you enjoy being part of the Lane Cove River Kayakers experience on the beautiful Lane Cove River.
Lost paddler search procedure
The following procedure is to be implemented in the event of a paddler being overdue during a Wednesday night time trial.
A paddler is deemed to be overdue if he/she has not returned to the start/finish point, or has not notified the timekeepers of his/her intention to return, by 8.15pm.
The Club President shall be the person responsible for controlling the search. If the President is unavailable, the hierarchy shall be the Wednesday night coordinator, then the rostered timekeeper.
A rescue kit, packed in a dry-bag and comprising the following items, shall be available for search teams: first aid kit, torch, mobile phone holder, map, emergency blanket, tape and tow-line, whistle, copy of procedure.
1. A search party comprising 2 teams of at least 2 boats per team shall be appointed.
2. The last known whereabouts of the missing paddler shall be determined if possible. The search plan can be modified based on information available about the paddler's last known position.
3. One team shall be nominated as the “downstream team” and shall search from the launching pontoon to Figtree Bridge and return.
4. The other team shall be nominated as the “upstream team” and shall search from the launching pontoon to Fullers Bridge and return.
5. The downstream team shall be provided with the rescue kit.
6. Each team is to carry a mobile phone and at least 1 torch per boat. The search controller shall also have a mobile phone and the relevant numbers shall be exchanged between the teams and controller. The controller shall have a list of emergency phone numbers, eg. Water Police, Ambulance, etc.
7. Search teams shall depart at the instruction of the controller.
8. The upstream team shall continue downstream when the upstream leg has been satisfactorily searched. The intention here is to meet the downstream team on their return from Figtree Bridge.
9. The controller shall decide the frequency of communication required. For example, get the teams to report back when they have reached certain landmarks.
10. If the paddler is located, the controller is to be immediately notified of the paddler's condition and what steps are to be implemented to get the paddler back to the launching pontoon.
11. If the paddler needs medical attention, the Police and Ambulance are to be called immediately, and the search party is to remain with the paddler.
12. If both teams return to the launching pontoon without the missing paddler, the controller shall immediately notify the authorities and all persons shall remain at the launching pontoon.