From LANE COVE RIVER KAYAKERS

Main: LCRKers and the 2016 Hawkesbury Canoe Classic

Page Navigation:

• LCRK Pictures from 2016 HCC on Flickr
• Hawkesbury Heroes - LCRK 2016 Results
• Volunteers - names, locations, roles
• Details of Club Support at key checkpoints
• HCC 2016 Ready Reckoner/Calculator
• Preparation advice and articles
• Hawkesbury Canoe Classic home page
• HCC Facebook Chat Group
• HCC Flyover Video (6 minute version)
• HCC Flyover Video (12 minute version)
• LCRK's 2015 Hawkesbury Classic Pages

HCC Dates: Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 October 2016

'The Classic' was Started by NSW Outward Bound Ex Students Association in 1977. It always runs overnight close to the full moon in late October or early November starting at Windsor and finishes at Mooney Mooney. In 1977 the race had 250 paddlers and raised $8,500 for the Arrow Foundation. In 2016 the 40th anniversary of the race, the aim is to approach previous peaks of 600 paddlers and fundraising exceeding $300,000. Those paddlers just wanting to have a fun and social evening can enter the Brooklyn or Bust or Dash classes whilst the more competitive paddlers challenge themselves to beat previous records or their own PB's.

Above: Some of the LCRK participants at Windsor in 2016

Lane Cove Hawkesbury Heroes - 2016 Results

2016 Support jobs and volunteers

Thank you Volunteers!

Above: LCRK paddlers and support crew at Wisemans Ferry. Photo Jana Osvald 2015

Club Support

At Windsor - From 10am to 6pm

• LCRK Marquee for shade and meeting point
• Club shirts and caps for sale
• Issue of LCRK tokens for ID at Wisemans BBQ
• Issue paddler, start list and contact list
• Experts to offer advice, smiles and positive vibes
• Group photo 2:15PM (Be at the LCRK marquee at 2:10pm)
• Mandatory race briefing is at 2:45pm
• Marquee will be moved to Wisemans at 6pm

At Sackville - from 6:30pm until last LCRK paddler through

Radio warning to your land crew of your approach
Lighted LCRK sign to identify our shared meeting point
Shared land crew support in landing and re-launching each paddler
Informal tracking of LCRK craft passing through\\Reminder to paddlers to check out at 2nd Sackville checkpoint

At Wisemans - from 7:30pm until last paddler through

• LCRK meeting point 40 metres downriver from main launching ramp (see photos below - look for the red electronic timing board used for our Time Trials)
• LCRK marquee
• Free catering for LCRK land crew and social HCC paddlers (thanks Andrew MacKay!(
• Informal tracking of LCRK craft passing through
• Club support for land crews in landing and re-launching their paddlers
• Reminder to paddlers to check out at 2nd Wiseman's checkpoint.

Low Tide Pit-Stop

If you need a last stop on your down-river run and succumb to the "sirens", you will, as usual, be offered smiles, "mud angel" landing and re-launching services, sometimes "paddle through" service; fire for warmth; smiles; hot food and drink; and more smiles - this is not a club facility but a wonderful service volunteered annually to all participants. Remember the location this year is about half a kilometre upstream from its former spot shown on the maps –it is at a boat ramp (= less mud!)

2016 HCC 'Calculator'

LCRK is please to provide this Microsoft Excel based 'calculator' which is preloaded with HCC 2016 Tides all the way up to Windsor and incorporating associated tidal and riverine flows (all other things being equal which they never are!!). To use, download the tool, open up Excel, adjust ONLY the yellow shaded cells ie:-

1. Update your Windsor start time
2. Update your expected base speed (either constant for whole 100km, or you can slow yourself down as your energy flags)
3. Adjust your expected stop time (eg if it's 1/2hr then enter as =0.5/24 to keep excel happy!)
4. The calculator will then derive your ETA at respective checkpoints, including adjustments for current.
5. The course map (separate worksheet) will be automatically updated and can be printed out on a single A4 page for you &/or your landcrew.
6. Print out different versions eg at 9km/h, 10km/h, 11km/h base speed - you'll know by your first stop which one you should be using!
7. How do you work out your base speed? See Tom Holloway's excellent article for more detail but he recommends assuming you paddle at 90% of your time trial speed. Stops are additional as are delays waiting for one or more car ferries. Your average speed overall will probably be around 85% of your time trial speed, all else being equal.

See: http://www.lcrk.org.au/pmwiki/uploads/Main/HowFast_HCC.pdf

1. Note that whilst there's a bit of science behind this tool - there are many other important variables in play including wind, river knowledge, washriding etc - which can make the tool a bit of sideshow. Use the tool in conjunction with ALL your planning.

Download the 2016 calculator

For those wanting more detail. The new calculator identifies tides at Fort Denison (HH, LL, H, L), then adjusts that tide all the way up to Windsor some 5-7 hours later. Current patterns have been modelled for 3 sections of the river (between stops) using data from MHL, DPW etc. Your ETA at a particular checkpoint is adjusted based on your base paddle speed and the anticipated current at the time you are travelling. Short or long stops will affect the tide you catch (or are caught by). Further fine tuning CAN be done - but no point over-engineering it, you might be affected by winds, unplanned swims etc. Good luck!

Preparation Reading

General Advice

• Tips for First Timers by Paul van Koesveld
• Race Strategy by Rob Vallis
• Race Strategy by Graeme Jeffries
• Race Tactics 2013 by Tom Simmatt
• LCRK Seminar Takeaways 2013
• Race Rules by Roger Deane
• Pace Guide: How Fast Can You paddle the Classic by Tom Holloway

Nutrition

• Ultramarathon Nutrition by Tony Hystek
• Classic Food by Ian Hofstetter
• Nutrition by Vitality Health Services
• Energy management for the Hawkesbury Classic by Phil Geddes

Clothing

• Race Clothing by Michael Mueller
• What to Wear by Tom Simmat

Stretching/Injury Prevention

• Basic Stretch Routine by Vitality Health Services
• Injury Prevention by Vitality Health Services
• Stretching Exercises by Matt Blundell

Landcrew Advice

• HCC Landcrew Talk by Alanna Ewin
• Tips For Landcrews by Justin Paine

Maps & Planning

• LCRK Land Crew Guide
• HCC in one section
• HCC in three sections
• HCC in 5km sections

Garmin GPX Track

• HCC.zip Unzip, copy into your Garmin, and set to visible using garmin menu.

For planning and safety purposes please note: The HCC is not 111km, it is actually 100km. Also, it does not finish at Brooklyn, it finishes at Mooney Mooney (Deerubbin Reserve)

HCC - Current Class Record Holders

LCRK members past and present currently hold over 20 class records.

HCC - The Whiddon Trophy (Fastest Time)

• 2009 Matt Blundell
• 2010 Matt Blundell

HCC - Participation (incl 2016)

(go to LCRK's 2015 Hawkesbury Classic Pages)