KING OF THE HARBOUR SURFSKI AND VAA WORLD CUP

 

 

 

RESULTS

 

COURSE

REGISTRATION

ENTRY FORM

INTERNATIONAL

TEAMS RACE

RACE DAY DETAILS

RULES

SPONSORS

PRIZEGIVING

CONTACTS

ACCOMODATION

 

TRAINING

SKI/OC1 CHARTER

 

GENERAL

 

Date: Saturday April 8th and Sunday April 9th 2006, Auckland, New Zealand

The 2006 King of the Harbour Surfski and Vaa (OC1) World Cup will be the first of four Surfski World Cup events for the year, and will also be the first single outrigger competition to be raced with a World Cup format.

The essentials of a World Cup format are to have teams of top international paddlers racing over two days in some of the most spectacular ocean settings on the planet. The other three Surfski World Cups for 2006 will involve racing between beautiful islands in Tahiti, in huge southern swells along the South African coast in Durban, and being pushed along by the Fremantle Doctor in Perth.

 

       

Inaugural Surfski World Cup, Cape Town, South Africa, 2004

 

At least one of the days will involve conditions that typify the philosophy behind the Surfski World Cup: races of around two hours duration, with at least 80% expected to be downwind paddling. After all, it is the ability to surf ocean swells that absolutely sets surfskis and outriggers apart from other canoe disciplines, along with the ability to hold races in some of the world’s most challenging ocean conditions.

 

The two day format of the 2006 King of the Harbour has been accompanied by a change in venue; previous events were based in downtown Auckland at the Viaduct Harbour. However, Takapuna Beach will be the base this year, as it is logistically mores sensible to run the event from the Takapuna Boating Club. The North Shore City Council has also expressed an interest in having another major sporting event held on the North Shore.

 

Day 1 will be a 28km two person relay based totally at Takapuna Beach. Each paddler will complete two separate loops of a 7km course set off Takapuna Beach and dictated by the prevailing wind. There international team points from Day 1 will count for the total international team points for the World Cup. However, it is the individual combined paddle times from Day 1 that will carry over to Day 2.

 

Day 2 will be a 25km downwind race in the Hauraki Gulf between Takapuna and Gulf Harbour, Whangapaoroa. This si the same open water used for America’s Cup yacht racing, and can have wind from almost any direction, with sea conditions ranging from calm up to 2 meter swells. Thus, the starting/finishing points and final course will be determined by the wind direction on race day, with the aim of maximising the downwind and minimising the headwind (see COURSE for details).

 

The individual times from Day 2 will combine with Day 1 times to find the individual World Cup placegetters, and will combine with the relay times to find the top international team. Prize giving will be held at the Takapuna Boating Club after the racing on Day 2.