DRAFTING
"If you can catch it, you can have it"
Drafting is a fantastic skill to have in your paddling repertoire, working together as a team, taking it in turns to "pull" saving energy, it's particularly useful on long paddles, races, windy paddles and adventures.
Race Fleet: From the start line at The Suspension Bridge to Newark Castle Lock, this section is OPEN DRAFT.
“If you can catch it, you can have it” this means you can draft any board, any class, any sex. Except for those paddlers in the Adventure Fleet who have opted out. This paddler will be identifiable by having No Tape attached to the back of their board.
NO TAPE = NO DRAFT
Adventure Fleet: You have the option, you can opt in to drafting, or opt out of drafting. This will be identified with tape on the back of your board. If you opt in, same rules apply as race fleet. If you opt out. No paddler will draft you and you will not draft other paddlers.
The Royal Finish: No drafting permitted. Once you have reached the Newark Town Lock. This last section is no drafting.
Time penalties will given for breaches of draft rules.
New to drafting? Read this blog post from our friends at SUP Boarder Mag
the royal finish
The final section of the event, no drafting is permitted. This is all about you baby!!
The previous 30+km you may have been working in draft team, shaking off a “rival ;)” or you may have hitched yourself onto the back of a train. We know you have all paddled your hearts.
You have now reached the final lock at Newark Town. You can see the Castle. The crown is nearly yours. All that stands between you and the end is The Royal Finish.
Once you re - enter the water this last section is NO DRAFTING. We like to think its the final sprint. It's the last part of your event strategy, the final 2.5km. You will continue the downriver paddle to the bridge make your left turn and then race back upriver to finish is a blaze of glory in front of the castle.
Execute it well and you will wear the crown.
