LCRKers and the 2017 Hawkesbury Canoe Classic

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HCC Dates: Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 October 2017

'The Classic' was Started by NSW Outward Bound Ex Students Association in 1977. It now always runs overnight at the end of October (to fit with school terms) 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, some 500 paddlers took part with fundraising approaching $200,000. 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.

LCRKers at the 2017 HCC

 LCRK PaddlerHCC/Dash?ClassAge DivBoatStart p.m.Record
1Richard Barnes & Chris Stanley111BoB250+7304:15 
2Seth Berrange1ORS1OpenV?4:458:27:48
3Alex Brown1LRec1OpenFlow Aspire4:459:37:50
4Adrian Clayton1UN170+Rapier4:45|13:07:24
5John Duffy1BoB150+Sonic4:45
6Gerard and Tina Effeney1BoB240+Vindicator4:15 
7James Farrell1UN150+Tourer4:458:57:42
8Peter Fitzgerald1BoB1(50+)V123:45 
9Paul Gill1ORS140+??4:458:51:12
10David Hammond1BoB1(50+)V10S3:45 
11Ian Hofstetter1ORS150+Spark ski4:458:45:28
12Tim Hookins1BoB1(60+)Fenn Ski3:45 
13Tony Hystek and Alanna Ewin1UN2Mix 50+Epic ski4:4510:08:05
14Naomi Johnson, Sophie Johnson1K2W openClub K24:009:47:50
15Robert Llewellyn-Jones1ORS160+Vault4:459:06:32
16Phil Newman, Bob Kenderes, Emma Ridgway1BoB2--Murray Racer canoe4:15 
17Trevor Nichols1BoB1(M Open)V10S3:45 
18Justin Paine & Kenji Ogawa1BoB2M60+Vulcan4:15 
19Carlos Perez1ORS150+??4:458:45:28
20Suzie Rhydderch1ORSW OpenVault4:4510:16:24
21Craig Salkeld1BoB1(50+)V123:45 
22Tom Simmat1K160+??4:4510:24:50
23Chris Thompson1BoB1(50+)(580)3:45 
24Meg Thornton1ORSW 60+SR4:00new
25Brendan Trewartha1ORS1OpenV12?4:458:27:48
26Elke Van EwykDash(LR1)(Open)Challenger3:45 
27David Veivers1BoB150+Flash3:45 
28Darren Williams1BoB1(50+)V10S3:45 
29David Young1ORS150+V144:458:45:28
30Richard Yates & Craig Ellis1BoB240+ or BoB2V10 double4:45 
MaybeGlen Orchard    

2017 Support jobs and volunteers

Further role details in Club Support section below

Thank you Volunteers!

Volunteer's NameLocationJobComment
Naomi J and her correspondentsOmnipresentWrite race report 
Oscar C with Wade RFrom Shed to WindsorTransport club stuff from the shed 
Wade Rowston, Oscar CWindsorSet -up marquee, table, chairs etc"We'll be setup by around 8:00am" is usual claim
Tony CarrWindsorSell Club caps and shirts and issue club cylumes (already procured by John D"Wear a white cap on the water
Get your land crew to wear a club shirt or cap"
Ian W, Tom H, Jana O, OscarWindsorPhotos 
Many (anyone still there)WindsorTake down marquee, clear club site, pack carsFrom 4:45
Oscar C with Wade RWindsor/WisemansTransport marquee, table, chairs, etc to Wisemans and set up 
Ian W or Tom HPitt TownPhotos & cheer squad 
Ian W or Tom HCattaiPhotos & cheer squad 
Tim McNSackvillePaddler checklist and arriving paddler lookoutGood eyes and operates radio
Peter HarrisSackvilleCoordinator|Meeting point, supports LCRK sign and flag, operates radio, announces paddler arrival to land crews 
NettySackvilleCoordinator /checklist coordinatorGood eyes also
Paul vKSackvilleBoat handling coordinator, also with radio to find landcrewsAssists land crew at beach
Rodrigo MatamalaSackvilleIn-water assistance 
Jana O & ?SackvillePhotos 
Andrew in Tony Hystek's vanWisemansDirect transportBring clock/battery, hose, BBQ gas bottle(s), tables (2), folding chairs, urn, toolbox
Tom H, Matt S and Duncan J with AndrewWisemansSetup marquee, clock, lights generators, etc. at Wisemans site 
Wade RowstonWisemansPaddling checklist, arriving paddler lookout, departing paddlers list 
Andrew and JoanneWisemansSPECIAL free catering for LCRKers 
Tom H, Jana OWisemansPhotos 
Tom HWisemansBoat Handler 1"Mud lark" or cold water lark organising/supporting land crews
Oscar CWisemansBoat Handler 2"Mud lark" or cold water lark organising/supporting land crews
Duncan JWisemansBoat Handler 3"Mud lark" or cold water lark organising/supporting land crews
Matt SWisemans"Libero"Coordination/Assistance across all roles
Don RowstonWisemansMassage service"It's famous"
Paul vK and RodrigoWisemansLibero 
Andrew and everyone still thereWisemansTake down and load all itemsFrom 1am
Oscar CTransport from WisemansLoad and transport some items to Tony's 
AndrewWisemans to home (next day)Transport all remaining itemsmorning
Ruby Ardren and Phil GMooney MooneyClub member welcome (with LCRK flag) and assistance, video recordingfrom arrival at Deerubbin Reserve 1:00am until at least after peak paddler arrival period
Any LCRK landcrewerMooney MooneyPhotos +1:00 am onwards

HCC 2017 Tides and Weather and Moon

The conditions for 2017 (at least from a moonlight and tide perspective) are likely to see a low tide at Windsor at 15:29 on Sat 28 Oct, a high tide at Sackville at ~18:30 on Sat 28 Oct and a low tide at Wisemans Ferry at 00:36 on Sun 29 Oct noting the current change will have a bit of a lag [please check this for yourself!]


Above: 2017 Tide info per RMS

Above: 2017 Moon phase

Above: Some of the LCRK participants at Windsor in 2016


HCC Famils 2017

These are the details for the 2017 LCRK Supported Hawkesbury Familiarisation/Training Paddles. These have become a key component of the support that LCRK provides any Member participating in the HCC be it for the first occasion or the 31st occasion. A more detailed briefing will be released two weeks prior to each paddle. For any information on our Hawkesbury Paddles please contact Duncan Johnstone 0433 133 206


Above: LCRKers at one of the 2016 HCC Famils - the more the merrier!

FAMIL 1

SUNDAY July 30th 1st Leg of Hawkesbury Classic: - Windsor to Sackville (EARLY START) Start: Macquarie Park, Windsor Cost: $5.00/Paddler (Parking at Ulinbawn Ski Park, Sackville) Distance: 30kms (allow 3-4hrs) Tide: High at Windsor 6:14am (1.41m) First start 8:00am Low at Sackville 11:18pm (.54m)

Report: Windsor to Sackville , a breeze!! 15 stalwart LCRKers ignored the strengthening Northerly winds to work their way from Windsor to Sackville on a falling tide. Tom Simmat briefed us on what to look for in this year's race. Beware the double incoming tides! Nothing to worry about if you know where to be on the river and when. Realising the tides are not big tides and knowing how to use the back eddies can gain you many metres on every corner or make your ride down the mighty Hawkesbury a whole lot easier and maybe 20 minutes quicker. Of note: Tom had the stealth submarine out. Rob and Don decided to test the waters on the hottest July day in living memory. Anjie and Jana tested the Epic double closely shepherded by Alanna! What do you think girls? A new partnership? Tim Hookins confirmed he's ready to take on the Avon in preparation for the Fish River Marathon in South Africa later in the year. Alex and Rodrigo showed they will both be strong paddlers in this year's Classic. David V. Got his Hawkesbury training underway and our President, Phil, shows the form it takes to take on the Hawkesbury again. So you see, many reasons to make the next FAMIL on the 13th August, Mooney Mooney to Spencer return with an extension to Low Tide Pitstop for the more adventurous. Happy paddling!

FAMIL 2

SUNDAY 13th August 3rd Leg of Hawkesbury Classic: - Wisemans to Spencer Start: Wiseman’s Ferry, Left off Old Northern Road before Ferry (Naughty Wiseman’s) Distance: Approx 32kms (allow 3 to 4.5hrs). Tide: LOW at Wisemans 08:22am (.37m) First start 9:00am. HIGH at Spencer 1:22pm (1.5m). Against the Tide all the way. Tom’s tips will count big time here!

FAMIL 3

SUNDAY 10th September (1 week to the Myall Classic – Good training) FINAL Leg of Hawkesbury Classic: - Mooney Mooney to Spencer return (We will be offering an extended option above Spencer to increase famil above the 24k distance) Start: Deerubbin Boat Ramp, Mooney Mooney Point Distance: Spenser return 24kms. Extended leg will be approx. 34 plus kms (allow 3-5hrs) Tide: LOW at Mooney Mooney 05.09am (.29m). HIGH at Spencer 12.07pm. (1.62m) First start 8:30am HIGH at Mooney Mooney 11.27pm (1.62m). Part of this famil will be done against the tide

Hawkesbury Training Paddle (FAMIL) 4

SUNDAY 1st October 2nd Leg of Hawkesbury Classic: - Sackville to Wisemans Start: Ulinbawn Ski Park, Sackville. Cost: $5:00/Paddler (access to Ulinbawn Ski Park, Sackville) Distance: 30kms (Allow 3-4hrs). Tide: HIGH at Spencer 9:54am (1.22m). First start 9:30am LOW at Wisemans 2:08pm (.64m)


Club Support

At Windsor - From 10am to 5pm


Above: Wisemans Ferry Support. Photo Jana Osvald 2015
  • 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 5pm


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

  • Radio warning to your land crew of your approach
  • Illuminated 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 8:30pm 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 and Joanne!)
  • 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!)


2017 HCC 'Calculator'

LCRK is please to provide this Microsoft Excel based 'calculator' which is preloaded with HCC 2017 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
  8. 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 2017 calculator


Above: Calculator produces prepopulated map showing ETA's

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 4 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

Nutrition

Clothing

Stretching/Injury Prevention

Landcrew Advice

Maps & Planning

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.

BoatClassNameYearTime
K1Vet60+Tom Simmat200911:09:12
K1Ladies Vet60+Ann Lloyd Green201613:57:29
K2Vet50+Bruce Goodall, Jeremy Spear20149:33:57
K4LadiesMargaret Cook, Merridy Huxley, Buzz Powell, Sandra Burwood20069:29:40
K4Mixed Vet40+Margaret Cook, Merridy Huxley, Warren Huxley, Bernard Craggs200810:07:36
K4Mixed Vet50+Margaret Cook, Merridy Huxley, Warren Huxley, Rob Cook201010:18:23
K4Ladies Vet50+Our Rae Duffy with Merridy Huxley, Dee Ratliffe and Clare McArthur201310:53:59
TK1LadiesMargaret Cook198510:44:49
TK2Ladies Vet40+Margaret Cook, Merridy Huxley200310:46:04
Short RecVet50+Tom Simmat20079:58:35
Short RecVet60+Tom Simmat201210:35:24
Med RecOpenToby Hogbin20109:18:22
Med RecLadies Vet50+Rae Duffy201210:55:09
Med RecVet60+Tom Simmat20109:54:05
Long RecOpenBruce Goodall20009:37:50
Long RecLadies Vet50+Liz Winn200810:59.33
Long RecLadies Vet60+Ann Lloyd-Green201314:02:57
Long RecVet50+Bob Turner201410:02:49
Long RecVet60+Tom Simmat20119:59:07
Long Rec 2MixedKristy Benjamin & Bob Turner20128:58:02
Rec 2Vet40+Kenji Ogawa, Genkai So200010:36:34
Long Rec 2Mixed Vet 50+Urs Mader, Arni Mader200710:06:20
Ocean Racing SkiLadies Vet50+Roz Green201512:47:59
Ocean Racing SkiLadies Vet40+Anjie Lees201411:08:12
Ocean Racing SkiVet40+Glen Orchard20168:51:12
Ocean Racing SkiVet60+Tony Hystek20169:06:32
SSK2Mixed Vet40+Joy and Rich Robinson20159:28:31
UnrestrictedOpenToby Hogbin20128:18:19
UnrestrictedLadiesJulie Stanton200610:13:30
UnrestrictedLadies Vet40+Anjie Lees201511:41:14
UnrestrictedVet60+Tom Simmat201610:16:02
UnrestrictedVet70+Adrian Clayton201613:07:24
Unrestricted 2Mixed Vet40+Bruce Goodall, Christine Lalor20078:57:57
Unrestricted 2Vet50+Tony Hystek, Timothy Hookins20078:57:00
SSK2Mixed Vet40+Joy and Rich Robinson20169:05:38

HCC - The Whiddon Trophy (Fastest Time)

  • 2009 Matt Blundell
  • 2010 Matt Blundell

HCC - Participation (incl 2016)

CompletedName
35 or moreRichard Barnes
20 or moreKenji Ogawa
15 or moreMargaret Cook, Don Rowston, Merridy Huxley, Peter Fitzgerald, Tom Simmat, John Duffy
10 or moreMartin Dearnley, Bruce Goodall, Rob Vallis, Warren Huxley, Urs Mader, Derek Simmonds

(go to LCRK's 2016 Hawkesbury Classic Pages)