2x2 Relay 2026
| Upcoming 2026 Dates | Reports from previous 2x2's | |
|---|---|---|
| * 2x2 Event Overview | * REPORT: 'Australia Day Theme' 25 Jan 2026 | |
| * 'Easter Spirit Theme' 22 Mar 2026 | * REPORT: 'Acronyms Theme' 22 Feb 2026 | |
(click on link in table above to jump to that section)
2x2 Relay - Entries & Procedure
Make it as social or as competitive as you like ... it is a handicap event after all.
- Please enter your team (or as an individual) by emailing lcrkers@gmail.com by Fri before the race
- Handicaps will be emailed to you the night before
- Your team must start on the allocated time
- Keep to the right of any oncoming paddler
- Anti-clockwise turn around the 6km marker and 2nd of the 2 buoys at Wirrong rocks
- Standing start at changeover for same course, boats to overlap when switching to the other course
- Please make yourself familiar with the new course (see description below)
2x2 Relay - Join in the fun!
2x2 means 2 boats x 2km laps for a total 8 laps (4 alternate laps for each boat).
This is a fun handicapped team event that is held on a Sunday once each month (except during winter).
Starting at around 7:45am (depending on your handicap) and finishing within 2 hours it does not take up too much of your Sunday. It is followed by a post race gathering and debrief and usually morning tea for those that can stay. Enter as a team of 2 boats (any boat combo) or enter as a single and we will try to match with someone.
It starts and finishes at the pontoon, with changeovers at the pontoon as well from a standing start. Each team of 2 boats, alternate between 2000m sprint efforts from the pontoon to the 6km marker and return. The relay is completed when each team has completed 8 laps i.e. 2x 4x 2000m (16 000m of sprint total).
It is a great social event too. All standard of paddlers are welcome as handicaps are applied based on speed. Family teams are encouraged as it is a great way to introduce kids to racing for fun.
Sprint paddling 2km as fast as you can is a great workout. And each team boat does that 4 times. This is a very valuable exercise when leading wash ride packs and to practise managing physical and mental exhaustion. It is a mental exercise just as much as a physical one as 2000m (estimated 9-13 minutes) is a long distance when paddling at 80 - 100% effort.
Watch the club website for the next up and coming 2x2 relay. It will always be on a Sunday once each month but which Sunday in month will vary to fit around other paddling events.
Fundamentals:-
- Enter by emailing lcrkers@gmail.com by Fri before the race
- Handicaps will be emailed to you the night before
- Your team must start on the allocated time
- Keep to the right of any oncoming paddler
- Anti-clockwise turn around the 6km marker
- Standing start at changeover
Left: Team paddlers change over each lap (Photo: Wade)
Right: Trying to catch the paddler ahead is the main aim (Photo: Wade)
Course The course alternates every 2 team laps between a downstream course and an upstream course.
- Laps 1 and 2 - from pontoon to 6km marker return
- Laps 3 and 4 - from pontoon to the 2nd of the two buoys at Wirrong Rocks return
- Laps 5 and 6 - from pontoon to 6km marker return
- Laps 7 and 8 - from pontoon to the 2nd of the two buoys at Wirrong Rocks return
Note that change overs on the same lap course are from a standing start. Change overs when switching to different course the team boats just need to overlap and can be moving.
Sun 22 Mar 2026 - Easter Spirit Theme
Please enter your team (or as an individual) by emailing lcrkers@gmail.com by Fri before the race. Include your team name that (somehow) fits into the theme - be as creative as you wish.
Start will be around 7:45am on the water (depending on your handicap) and finishing within 2 hours it does not take up too much of your Sunday. The event is followed by a post race debrief and morning tea for those that can stay. Enter as a team of 2 boats (any boat combo) or enter as a single and we will try to match with someone.
Sun 22 Feb 2026 - Acronyms theme
2x2 Report (from Caroline)
With temperatures predicted to hit the mid-thirties again, we decided for an ESA (Early Start Again) and launched at 0700am. In a plot twist worthy of MIR (Miracles In Racing), everyone actually arrived on time. However, punctuality didn’t prevent the last-minute debate about which direction the course goes. A pandemic of NRB (Not Reading Briefing) disease spread through the teams, as paddlers were confidently unsure about turns, transitions, and the general concept of “the plan.”...
(FULL report at link above)
Sun 25 Jan 2026 - Australia Day theme
Thank you very much for your great enthusiasm at our first 2x2 relay this morning. Thank you for embracing the earlier than usual start times to keep us safe from the heat and bringing delicious breakfast for us. - Caroline
Lots of great team names, outfits and boat signs today embracing the theme of Australia Day! There were lifesavers, green & gold, convicts, hats and signs on boats to name a few.
Above: Team Shark Patrol looking the part