DOWNWIND DECISION TO BE MADE SATURDAY MORNING
COFFS HARBOUR (December 10): A 9.30 am decision tomorrow morning will determine the downwind course for Saturday's 25km Australian Outrigger Canoe Racing Association's (AOCRA) National Marathon OC1 and OC 2 Championships in Coffs Harbour.
Race organisers have kept a close eye on the weather patterns for the past 48 hours and will make a "last minute call" to ensure they get call right.
More than 100 of Australia's best Outrigger Canoeists and Stand Up Paddlers from Opens and Masters to Age group competitors have converged on Coffs Coast for a weekend of paddle madness.
Saturday will feature the 25km Championship for men and women with the short course race set for Sunday (decision to bed confirmed Sunday morning).
The first 12 competitors in the men and women will be nominated for selection for the Outrigger Canoe Racing Association's (AOCRA) National squad for the next year's Molokai Channel race.
"We have been waiting for the southerly to hit and it's expected top come through late Friday so we will have a good idea in the morning just what conditions should be like for the day," said experienced local race director Mike Mills-Thom.
"We don't want the wind swinging around mid race, so we have to get it right."
If the conditions remain from the south then it is almost certain the race will start from Coffs Harbour Yacht Club at the Jetty Foreshores and finish in Woolgoolga, with the likely race start at 11am.
It should see the leading male competitors reach Woolgoolga in under two hours (around 1pm) and the leading women in around two-and-half-hours (from 1.30pm).
Defending men's champion Greg Long is not expected to arrive into Coffs Harbour until just before the race after travelling for two days from the North West Shelf where he works as a project manager, via-Brisbane and the Gold Coast, before the drive to Coffs Harbour.
He can expect his major opposition to come from fellow Gold Coaster Travis Grant and the Sunshine Coast's Todd Cohen.
With yesterday's withdrawal of defending women's champion Kai Bartlett from Hawaii, it opens the race up with Port Macquarie's Lauren Grant, Coffs Harbour trio Gail Mills-Thom and her 17-year-old daughter Jesse and veteran Andrea Polkinghorne as well as Mooloolaba's Sonia Adams will be among the major contenders.
RACE INFORMATION
The 25km Long Course will remain a downwind race between Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga, this race will take priority in relation to weather conditions.
The race is scheduled for the Saturday, December 12, however the program may be altered in the event of adverse weather conditions.
All age divisions will be eligible for National Medals in the Long Course (provided there are three participants or more in the division).
The Short Course will be a 12k downwind race between Sawtell and Coffs Harbour scheduled for Sunday.
All age divisions will be eligible for National Medals in the Short Course (provided there are 3 participants or more in the division).
(Please consult the Full Race Program on www.coffsoutriggers.com )
NATIONAL SELECTION EVENT
The 25km Iron event is a National Selection Event. The first 12 competitors for each gender over the line (including open/master/senior master/golden master) will qualify for the National Team training squad. AOCRA is supporting an Open Men's and Open Women's team to attend the Molokai Changeover races in Hawaii. Initially 24 paddlers (each of men and women) will be selected to train as the national squad via a selection process.