Hawkesbury Canoe Classic

The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic (HCC) is a fun paddle with a serious purpose. Each year around 600 paddlers paddle 111 km overnight in the moonlight, down the Hawkesbury River from Windsor to Brooklyn, to raise money for charity. The Wisemans Dash, a shorter version of 67 Km finishing at Wisemans Ferry was introduced in 2016. This is a great introduction for newer paddlers, or a warm-up for returning paddlers. Over the years the event has build into a great community event, with paddlers, their landcrew and hundreds of volunteers converging on the banks of the Hawkesbury River at Windsor on the day of the event to enjoy the camaraderie and spirit that the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic has built. The organisers of the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic are genuinely excited at the prospect that this year's Classic is going ahead on the 24th October. For competition and participation-starved paddlers to have such an iconic event within their sights is fantastic.

There are three options as far as how you take on the mighty Hawkesbury. There is the Classic 111km distance, the 65km Dash from Windsor to Wisemans Ferry or the Relay. The first paddlers leave Windsor at 4:00pm on Saturday and pass 21 safety checkpoints during the night. The fastest craft arrive at Brooklyn in less than 10 hours, but the average time is closer to 15 hours.

Entries open on the 1st July for Early Bird entries. The entry fee is $150 from 1st July to the 4th September. After that the entry fee is $200. Each paddler is required to raise a minimum sponsorship amount of $250. Our support organisations such as NSW Marine Rescue, WICEN NSW and NSW SES each receive small donations, with the balance going to our principal charity Arrow.

Since 1994, when our association with Arrow, The Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation began, paddlers in the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic have donated almost $4 million million for leukaemia research and patient support services. The HCC also contributes funds to a number of supporting charitable community organisations.

Register you entry including: - Your Details - Your Canoe Details - Your Land Crew Details - Complete Payment for Entry - Download and read the Race Rules www.canoeclassic.net/copy-of-how-to-enter

Checkpoints are identified by a large letter, usually illuminated by a flashing light. Paddlers can obtain assistance at the checkpoints. They are the only places that paddlers are permitted to withdraw from the event. Safety Network As you pass through each checkpoint your number is relayed by radio to the next checkpoint which then marks you off when you arrive. If you stop between checkpoints for any length of time or do not call out your number you will be considered as overdue. This will result in radio messages trying to confirm your whereabouts and a possible search. Please keep the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic safe by making this only necessary in a real emergency. Orange Lights - Flashing Paddlers are required to call out their craft number to officials whose position is marked by an orange flashing light. The checkpoint officials may be on a boat or on the shore. The orange lights may be a short distance from the checkpoint identification sign. Remember not to call out at the same time as another paddler – leave a gap if possible. Land-based checkpoints are sited to give spotters the best vantage point, so they may not be right at the checkpoint site. Spectators on the river bank have been known to request craft numbers. Just think of it as practice for the next real checkpoint and report the incident there. Major checkpoints D and I have an IN and an OUT station requiring paddlers to give their number twice. Please call out your number clearly and loudly to ensure it is recorded at both control points. Toilets Toilets are available at all land checkpoints and the L - M low tide pit stop. First Aid and Physiotherapy Volunteers from the Australian Physiotherapy Association and VRA will be available at Start, D, I, O and Finish for any paddler problems. Major Checkpoints Major checkpoints at A, D, I and O provide access for landcrew to their paddlers. Landcrew must visit D and I. Checkpoints A and O are optional. Should circumstances affect the running of the event, organisers rely on the fact that landcrew can be contacted at the next major checkpoint. Major checkpoint locations: Start: Macquarie Park, Windsor Checkpoint A: Cattai National Park Checkpoint D: Ulinbawn Waterski Park, Sackville Ferry Checkpoint I: NSW Waterski Grounds, Wisemans Ferry. Wisemans can be seen from 3km upstream. It should be easily identified by a strong white ashing light near the In-station and bright red flashing lights on the boat ramp. This is also the end of the event for paddlers entered in the Wisemans Dash Checkpoint O: Boat ramp at Malaluka Caravan Park Finish: Deerubbun Reserve. North West side of Expressway Bridge, Mooney Mooney Low Tide Pit Stop About half way between checkpoints L and M, a pit stop with soup, tea and coffee, and a warm fire will be operating when the tide permits. The pit stop is the last convenient landing place and toilet before the finish if you do not wish to detour via Spencer. Minor Checkpoints Minor checkpoints are set up primarily as safety control points, while providing minor support to paddlers. Landcrew access to minor checkpoints is prohibited except at the special request of Officials. The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic relies on the goodwill of landowners for the checkpoints, so landcrew must respect this no-access rule. A landcrew’s failure to do so will result in immediate disqualification of their paddler(s). Vessel Checkpoints Where land access is not possible, minor checkpoints are on board vessels owned by members of the Volunteer Marine Rescue NSW and staffed by them and volunteer officials. Withdrawal at vessel checkpoints should only occur in an emergency as landcrew access is not possible and transfers are difficult. The vessel’s position is largely determined by radio reception and anchorage places and may not be on the best paddling line. All paddlers are affected in the same way, so please detour as needed. Paddler Waypoints Paddlers must ensure that they are checked through all checkpoints. Paddlers not checking through Checkpoints F and I will incur a 15 minute time penalty. These checkpoints are on the outside of bends in the river and not on the paddling line