A 15 mile rowing and paddling race in Jamestown, Rhode Island August 28, 2010
Race Date is August 28, 2010
Race Information
The Jamestown Counter Revolution is a 15 1/2 mile circumnavigation of the island of Conanicut, the home of the Town of Jamestown. Competitors will row or paddle in ocean conditions that can change very quickly. Occasionally the water can be very rough, with strong winds and surf. While we have some powerboats on the course to monitor checkpoints, we do not provide boat escorts. You should expect to be out of their sight and fully independent most of the time. Unless you have solid experience in difficult conditions with the boat you plan to use, you should not enter this event. Always plan an escape path to safety, and if you encounter any problems along the way, pull out and call race officials to let us know you have withdrawn from the race. The orderly, safe and sportsmanlike conduct of this event is your personal responsibility, and is essential to guaranteeing the future of this race. We have no rain date and no alternative course for rough weather conditions. The Jamestown Counter Revolution is open to all seaworthy oar or paddle-powered boats. A final breakdown of classes will be announced at the competitor’s meeting.
Schedule of Events
6:00 am Registration at Mackerel Cove, we'll have it clearly marked, you must register in person between 6 and 7 am
7:00 am Competitors Meeting at Mackerel Cove (don't be late)
8:00 am Launching
9:00 am Shotgun start for all competitors
11:30 am Fort Getty Pavilion opens
12:30 pm Food service begins
1:30 pm Awards Ceremony
3:00 pm Time to go home
Parking
Please off load your boat and equipment at Mackerel Cove then move your car to the designated parking area. Do not leave your car at Mackerel Cove, as it will be towed. Please allow ample time to park and walk back or take the trolley back to the Cove.
Launching
All boats will launch from the beach of Mackerel Cove. Please allow plenty of time to unload your boat, park, register, attend the competitor’s meeting and launch.
Entry Information
The deadline for entry is 8/22/09. Entries postmarked later than 8/22/09 will not be accepted. Register as early as possible!
Entry Fee: $50 per participant
Fees include a cool tee and a nice water bottle when you complete the race, race management and post race food, beverages and entertainment.
The Jamestown Counter Revolution Committee reserves the right to refuse to register any individual or boat. The Committee may also expel or refuse any participant or boat before or during the event for lack of required equipment, unsafe operation, disregard for event rules, or unsporting behavior.
First and foremost sportsmanship and safety are the top priorities. At the end of the day, the satisfaction you get from assisting a competitor in need will last far longer than the joy you will get from placing higher at the finish. We will also frown on blocking, interfering or taking any shortcuts with regard to safety or, for that matter, any shortcuts across the island. There are no subways on Jamestown.
Equipment
Each participant must carry or wear a PFD (life jacket). Each participant must also carry an attention-getting noisemaker, such as a whistle on a lanyard. Participants may also find bailers, compasses, a chart of the area and a cell phone useful. Remember to bring the fluids or food you plan to consume during the event. Those of you planning to remain in the race in fog must have a chart, compass/GPS, and whistle/noise maker.
Boat Classes
As we hold the Blackburn Challenge as the east coast model for open water racing, we're going to follow their rules for paddle classes. The Blackburn has recently changed their rules to model their classes after the Sound Rowers Classification System. In the hope of gaining a consistent format nationally, we think this is the way to go.
Kayaks
The kayak classification will be based on a system originated by the Sound Rowers, a consortium of race organizers in the Puget Sound area. In this system, kayaks are classified into one of three categories “based on waterline length to width ratio. Those boats with a L:W ratio less than 9.25:1 are in the Sea Kayak class (SK); between 9.25:1 to 10.99:1 are in the Fast Sea Kayak class (FSK); greater than 10.99:1 are in the High Performance Kayak class (HPK)”.
You will be placed in an appropriate category by the race committee based on the information you provide about your boat on your registration form. We ask that when you register, you provide exact information about the manufacturer and model of your boat, so that we can reference our copy of the Sound Rowers’ classification list for known boats. (I.E.: please don’t enter an “Epic Kayak”, rather, enter “Epic 16X Sport”, or “Epic V10 Surf Ski”).
All boats of similar dimensions will end up in the same classes:
The Sea Kayak (SK) class includes familiar boats such as Aquaterra’s Chinook, Chesapeake Light Craft’s Chesapeake 16 and Chesapeake 17, Current Designs’ Caribou, Eddyline’s Falcon 16’, Necky’s Looksha IV, P&H’s Capella, and Wilderness System’s Tempest 165 Pro
The Fast Sea Kayak (FSK) class includes models such as the Epic Endurance 18, the Impex Force Category 4, the QFC 600x and 700x, and the Seda Glider and Impulse.
The Unlimited or High Performance class (HPK) includes virtually all surf skis, the Valley Rapier 20, the Van Dusen Mohican, and virtually all Westside Boat models.
There are no kayak class distinctions based on paddle type. All paddle types (wing or straight blade) of any material (composite or wood) are acceptable in all classes. We encourage you to choose all of your equipment (boat, paddle, pfd, etc.) based on your own skills and capabilities, and with your main consideration towards personal safety and comfort. (Note that the breadth of boat profiles in each category allows most individuals the option to change boats the day of the race while staying in the same class – for example, a person who registered in the Unlimited class on a Mako Millennium surf ski can change to a Futura II on race day and remain in the same class.)
Single Sculls We think two classes for sculling will suffice. If entries warrant a change, we will add a third class. (Please keep in mind we will allow only ocean worthy shells. If there is any question, please ask)
OW I (Open Water I) is any boat 21' long or less OW II (Open Water II) is any boat greater than 21' long
Double Sculls (Please keep in mind we will allow only ocean worthy shells. If there is any questions, please ask)
We have only one class for Double Sculls so go fast
Awards
As this is our first year and we're investing a ton of time, resources and dollars, we are planning on awarding first place, second and third place medals for men and women. If the event gets really big and we think its prudent and we get a chunk of change we may break down categories further but for now we will award a medal to the faster 50+ competitor in each category. Rest assured with a great graphic designer in the family and a business that makes medals, it will be one of the coolest medals you've seen in a while. We will also present each competitor who completes the race with a stainless steel water bottle featuring our ultra cool logo and we'll have the coolest tee you've seen in a while. GPS waypoints are posted under News. Below is a chart from Google Maps, click on it for a large version.
