DATES

Saturday 16th March and Sunday 17th March 2024

VENUE

Large Broad Whitlingham Country Park

ADDRESS

Whitlingham Adventure Whitlingham Lane, Trowse Newton Norwich, NR14 8TR (What3Words: ground.legend.family)

The timetable, lane numbers and progressions will be available on the Linktree.

Registration is at Whitlingham Boathouses (the location of Norwich Canoe Club). This can be found 100 meters away from the Regatta Lake between the small broad and the river. Please see the map.

Check in times: Friday: 15th 18:00 - 20:00 (Main room upstairs at Whitlingham Boathouse)

Saturday 16th 08:00 - 10:00 (Office - Upstairs at Whitlingham Boathouse)

The timetable for the event is available HERE.

Please park in Lime Tree Car Park which will be signposted.

It is the closest car park to the Regatta Course on the Large Lake at Whitlingham. It is Pay and Display. Parking charges are as follows:-

Monday to Sunday: 

Betty’s Bar (Upstairs at Whitlingham Boathouses - home of Norwich Canoe Club) has a large kitchen which serves great food and is opening longer hours especially for the BUCS event.

Opening times are:

There is a safety boat on the Big Lake during racing (but not on the river). If you warm up on the river, you do so at your own risk.

Warm Up Paddling:

The lake is open at the following times for warm up:

We strongly recommend there should be a minimum of two paddlers on the water, together, for any warm-up.

Return Lane and Warm up Area Once Racing Has Begun

The return lane is on the near side. Please use this to access the start of the 200m and 500m. You can warm up in the top half of the lake beyond where racing is taking place at any time. The safety launch may not see you if you go to the very top of the Large Broad, so we recommend you stay within 500m of the start.

Accessing the Lake

There are two points to launch - one with a hard bank opposite the finishing line and one from a beach area near the 200m start. Please be aware that because of the recent rainfall the launch area may be partially underwater and very slippery. This year the finish line officials will also be sharing the area as the far side is flooded so allow plenty of time to get on before your race. The beach area opposite the 200m start is a simple alternative - you will get wet feet.

Boat Weighing

K1’s must weigh 12 kilos or more and K2s 18 kilos or more for all Championship races including the 5K. C1s must weigh 14 kilos or more. There will be boat weighing scales on the deck of Whitlingham Adventure which you can use from 9.00am Saturday and 9.00am Sunday. Boats will be called to boat weighing randomly after each race. If your K1 or K2 is found to be less than the prescribed weights you will be disqualified. To access the boat weighing paddle up to the main decking of the center and get up over the steps. Be aware the final step is likely to be underwater and may not be easily visible. You will get wet feet.

Lane Numbers

Please bring racing lane numbers for your boat. Lane numbers will also be available from a box in the tent by the launch area. Please return your lane numbers there after each race.

Lanes

The lanes are numbered 1 to 5 starting from the car park side. Lane 5 has buoys on one side only. There are no buckets so please listen carefully to the race starter. There will be three commands eg “Ready Set Go” Please wait for the Go. They will call you back in the event of a false start. You may receive a time penalty.

5K Course

The 5k races have held starts. Boats will be backed up to the decking on Whitlingham Adventure and held. There is no line up order. One lap is down the lake around all five buoys delineating the 500m start anti clockwise (i.e. go down the return lane side of the lake) and back towards the finish and go around all 5 of the buoys delineating the finish. That is one lap. There are four long laps as described. The last additional lap is a shorter lap - paddlers go around all 5 of the boys at the start of the 200m course and then finish in lanes 4 or 5 at the normal finishing line. In summary;- held start at Whitlingham Adventure and then 4 long laps and 1 short lap. Boats must be sprint weight. Sprint rules to 5K regarding missing a buoy will apply. There is a briefing for all competitors racing 5K at 13.40 on Saturday on the main deck of Whitlingham Adventure.

200m Relay

The 200m relay will start at the finish line and the first person in the relay team will race to the 200m start. The sending person in the relay team will race down the same lane and finish at the normal finish. The 2nd person in each team must wait behind the line and wait until the first person in their team has cross the line. Marshalls will be watching closely. There is a briefing for all competitors taking part in the 200m relay (and 5K) at 13.40 on Saturday on the main deck of Whitlingham Adventure.

Buoyancy Aids

All paddlers ranked in Men’s D or Women’s D must wear a buoyancy aid. If you are unranked then you must wear a buoyancy aid. The safety committee will make a decision on any buoyancy aid requirements for all other paddlers in the event of bad weather. Please bring your own buoyancy aid. If you do not have one you can borrow one on payment of a £20 deposit in cash which will be returned to you afterwards.

Any paddler who is required to wear a buoyancy aid but who is found on the water not wearing a BA will be immediately disqualified.

Bibs

Please wear the bib number you are given at check in when racing. These should be returned at the end of racing on Sunday to Race Control at Whitlingham Adventure Centre.

University Colours

Please wear university colours under your bib.

Scratching / Retiring

Please contact Race Control which is located at Whitlingham Adventure to inform them if you are unable to race.

Showers

There are no showers at Whitlingham Adventure due to the flooding. Showers can be found at Whitlingham Boathouses (Where Norwich Canoe Club is located)

Toilets

There are no toilets at Whitlingham Adventure because of the flooding (other than two portaloos). Toilets will be at Whitlingham Boathouse (where Norwich Canoe Club is located)