Suomeksi

Why competing in canoe sailing?

To compete in a pleasant hobby does not appeal to everyone but a sailing canoe competition includes many positive values – even less could form a basis for competition event.

IC-class canoes in the start of the world championships in heavy weather. Photo: Unknown

Values of the sailing canoe contest

A fast growing sport needs publicity and a competition usually causes more outside interest than an event alone. Normally some other event such as sailing canoe exhibition, training session, outing or social evening is attached to the competition.

Sailing is a noble and traditional skill. Canoe sailing is everyone's hobby – a perfect way to enjoy sailing. A way of sailing unhindered by limited boating lanes or landing spots.

In competition every sailor tries to go beyong his skills and equipment, which get better with constant training and re-evaluation process. The constant learning is rewarding and minimizes security risks involved in canoe sailing. A close community learns faster from inventions and mistakes from the others. In one type sailing canoes such as ACA-class each participant has similar set of sails. That limits effectively the financial overinvestments – the sailors compete with their skills, not their purse.

Most of the competing sailing canoes double as touring canoes. The ACA-classer is a good example of this philosophy of many uses, by removing the rig, leeboards and rudder you end up with an ordinary open canoe.

During winter months when sailing is not possible, there is plenty of time to build new pieces of equipment for the next summer's competitions. It is a year-round hobby.

Nobody is motivated by big prize money in canoe sailing. The canoe sailing is a common language carrying old traditions and connecting many different paddling cultures. A sailing canoe contest creates a common, ethical way of thinking that enables a fair and respectful racing with other participants. The fair game is visible on water and on shore.

The rules combine paddling and sailing

The rules from paddling world are those defining in general how to organize a competition and how to participate. These rules are common in different canoe sports and familiar to paddling clubs, who have organized such races before. The technical rules of canoe sailing define the special rules not found in other canoe sports. In the rule supplements are defined all the canoe class rules.

All the land activities related to a sailing canoe contest are done according to the canoe rules but after launching canoes are sailed according to the international sailing rules. Canoe sailing on a triangle track does not differ from other sailing contests. The routes of a touring contest can be planned in such way that sailing has beed made difficult and the paddling properties of a sailing canoe play a role.

The racing classes offer a start for everyone

The Finnish National Championships are currently sailed in ACA and Touring classes. In next few years the most propable new racing classes here will be the C/5m2, III B and IC-class but there is plenty of room on the start line for skippers and canoes. In ACA-class about half of the skippers compete – there is much humor involved in events. No spotting of a skipper competing with taste of blood in his mouth has not been made yet.

ACA-classers start in ideal conditions. Photo: ACA-archives.

In World Championship races of the International Canoe Federation there are contests in IC-class only. The discussion about the championship value of ACA class has begun. In addition to North America and Europe one or two continents with sailors and race participants would be needed. The sailors of technical IC-class had not been interested in a simpler class, with an overwhelming potential in every continent.

The skipper and the crew

Usually only a skipper sits in a sailing canoe but crew is also allowed. A roomy, longer ACA-canoe can transport even two crew members in addition to skipper, who should be at least 15 years old. In a decend weather the crew can be of much use as a moving ballast or user of paddle.

The age of the skipper determines the suitable racing serie. The youth series are for youngsters, aged 15-18. If there are not enough participants, girls and boys can be joined as the same serie. The same is possible in adult series.The objective is to organize a canoe sailing contest always when at least three sailing canoes have entered for the race. The following diagram shows how to combine different series and classes:

Diagram: combining series and classes in a canoe sailing contest.

A contest needs at least three sailing canoes. If not enough juniors or masters (veterans) had not entered, they are joined to a general serie. If some class does not fill, it is joined to the Touring class. The Touring class is an open class where all sailing canoes are welcome. The only criteria is the safety equipment and that the organizer recognizes the vessel as a sailing canoe ;)

About organizing a canoe sailing contest

The race track or some of its turn marks is worth placing as close to the spectators as possible. The sailing canoes don't require much depth so shore proximity is a must if wind conditions allow. The winner should clear the course in 45 minutes and the last should not finish more than 30 minutes after the winner, if he wants to increase his point score. An elegant solution is to sail several smaller rounds so that the spectator interest would remain high. The announcer should be expert and entertaining.

The skipper meeting must be arranged at least 90 minutes before the first start. There can be starts only 1½ hours after each other if the wind conditions are good and the race committee keeps up with the time table. Different classes can sail simultaneously but if there are lot of vessels the starts can be scheduled in 5 minute intervals. In that case the start signal of one class can be also the 5 minute signal of the next class.

The main officials are the chief official, the competition manager, the security manager, the measurer and the secretary. Before race the secretary assists the measurer and then the competition committee. Able hands are needed in rescue boats. In bigger canoe sailing contests the preparations should be given enough time and make a special security plan.

The local special features of a canoe sailing contest are described in the sailing plan, which is clarified precisely at skipper meeting. If there is a meeting of canoe sailors after the race, that should be informed in advance with possible accommodation arrangements.

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