2023 RESULTS
2024 EVENT - ENTER HERE
Our mission is to INSPIRE, EMPOWER & ENGAGE paddlers to come together and compete in the sport they love. By creating a supportive and encouraging environment we aim to provide a race series where people feel safe to do a long Harbour event or to enter into their first ever surf ski event.
We are finishing off the series with the iconic Mosman Marathon. Paddlers can choose to take on the 20km full marathon challenge or the 10.5km half marathon challenge. Starting and finishing from Middle Harbour Yacht Club, your journey will take you through the beautiful Sydney Harbour and past world-famous icons like the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Fort Denison jail, Taronga Zoo and much more. Sydney Harbour is a stunning location to host the surf ski event and the Mosman Marathon will showcase what a beautiful harbour we have. We would like to respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we gather, the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in attendance.
Saturday 7th December @ 8am is a 20km full marathon and 10.5km half marathon course option. Followed by presentations held at the Middle Harbour from 10:30am.
20km Course: is a deep water start on the East side of Middle Harbour Yacht club marina and takes you to a turning making off Balmoral beach, before heading towards the Harbour Bridge. As you round Bradleys head aim slightly right and paddle to a turning marker off Kurraba Point, turn right and paddle back to Athol Beach to another right hand turning marker, then back to Bradleys head to turn left back to Balmoral for the last right hand turning marker to take you to the finish line on the beach of the Middle Harbour Yacht Club.
10.5km Course: is a deep water start on the East side of Middle Harbour Yacht club marina and takes you to a turning making off Balmoral beach, before heading around Middle Head and to the halfway marker off Clifton Gardens. Make a right hand turn here and paddle back to Balmoral for the last right hand turning marker to take you to the finish line on the beach of the Middle Harbour Yacht Club.
Your result that we count will go towards your overall NSW Surf Ski Championships ranking. If you compete in the 20km full marathon course, there will be bonus points on top of your positioning result that will be awarded to you for your overall NSW Surf Ski Championship ranking.
Podium place winners will receive cool Salty Cheeks prizes from our good friends @ https://saltycheeks.com.au/ and Tango Charlie Lights https://tangocharlielights.com.au/
The male and female race winner of the 10.5km course will receive cool Salty Cheeks prizes from our good friends @ https://saltycheeks.com.au/ and Tango Charlie Lights https://tangocharlielights.com.au/
All the paddlers’ names will be placed in a hat and the lucky ‘door’ prizes include a chance to win one a Bennett Carbon Paddle (valued $800) will be gifted out from Greg Bennett.
The big prize for the NSW Surf Ski Championships series is a chance to win a brand-new Ultra EPIC Surf Ski (valued $5250) or a ALLWAVE Corso Layup surf ski (valued $5250). All paddlers’ names will be placed in a hat and two names from this event will be drawn, for entry into the big prize draw on December 7th.
After the 5th and final race event The Mosman Marathon on December 7th, the names drawn across the 5 race series will be placed into a hat and the two surf skis will be gifted out to two lucky winners.
A big thank you to our amazing sponsors EPIC KAYAKS Australia https://www.epickayaks.com.au/ and ALLWAVE Australia https://www.allwaveaustralia.com.au/ for these generous prizes.
Remember, you have to be at the presentation if your name is drawn for any of the lucky door prizes.
We hope everyone has a great weekend both on and off the water.
20km Marathon Course:
Winds up to 18 knots - the course will be from Middle Harbour Yacht Club to Sydney Harbour Bridge and back.
Winds over 18 knots or large dangerous swells - the alternative course from Middle Harbour Yacht Club to Roseville Bridge will be employed.
10.5 km Half Marathon Course:
Winds up to 18 knots - the course will be from Middle Harbour Yacht Club to Clifton Gardens and back.
Winds over 18 knots or large dangerous swell - the alternative course from Middle Harbour Yacht Club to Bantry Bay will be employed.
14km Alternative Short Course:
Starting at the Spit Bridge, the course takes you up river towards Roseville bridge. Make the turn around the bridge pier and straight back to finish on the beach of the Middle Harbour Yacht Club.
20km Alternative Long Course:
Starting at the Spit Bridge, the course takes you up river towards Roseville bridge and beyond. At the 10km mark then is a turning marker and then paddle back to the Spit Bridge and finish on the beach of the Middle Harbour Yacht Club.
Event programme: NSW Surf Ski Championships NSWSSC
Thursday, 5th December
1159 NSWSSC Registration closes
Friday, 6th December
1030 NSWSSC Harbour conditions inspection
1600 NSWSSC briefing/course emailed to all competitors
1630 NSWSSC entries listed online
Saturday, 7th December
0600 Course Start and Finish Event Crews arrive
0630 Water Safety put in turning markers
0630 Competitor Check in Opens
0700 Competitor Check in Closes
0730 Race Briefing upstairs at the Middle Harbour Yacht Club
0745 Competitors warm up time
0800 NSWSSC Race Start – Ocean Skis and Spec Skis
0930 onwards NSWSSC Course finished
1030 NSWSSC Presentations (upstairs @ Middle Harbour Yacht Club)
Registration and Safety Equipment Inspections:
Registrations and mandatory Safety equipment (PFD) inspections will be held at the start line of each race event, 30 mins prior to the race start.
Once inspection of your mandatory equipment has been completed your race number provided will be written on your right hand, plus your race number sticker will be placed on the front right hand side of your craft.
By entering the NSWSSC you agree to the following:
- You understand the risks associated with Ocean Racing and acknowledge your responsibilities to help a distressed paddler
- You will comply with the mandatory safety equipment rules of:
Lifejacket
- All surf ski paddlers must wear an approved minimum Level 50 / Level 50S Lifejacket. Your lifejacket must be Hi-Vis or a Hi-Vis top is to be worn over the top of the lifejacket. No bum bag inflatable lifejackets are permitted.
Safety Leash
- All competitors must be attached to their craft via a safety leash.
Hi-Vis Clothing
- All competitors must wear a piece of Hi-Vis clothing.
- This can be a Hi-Vis lifejacket or Hi-Vis top worn over your lifejacket.
Mobile Phone using SafeTrx Tracking App or VHF Radio
- All competitors are required to have either a mobile phone with the SafeTrx tracking app OR a VHF Radio and a distress beacon (EPIRB or PLB) with them during the race.
- In the event of an emergency, a competitor’s location can be tracked either by the SafeTrx app or a distress beacon. The race event channel will be channel 77 to those using VHF Marine Radios.
Whistle
- All competitors are required to have a pealess whistle attached to their Lifejacket.
Hydration
- It is also recommended that a minimum of 1L of water is to be carried during the race, and sun protection such as a hat and sunscreen.
- We strongly recommend that competitors are hydrated before, during and after the race.
- Competitors should be Sun Safe, including wearing appropriate clothing and sunscreen.
Starting the race
All competitors will be on the water to the Eastern side of Middle Harbour Yacht Club marina for a deep water start.
Two (2) minutes prior, the Race Director will align all boats ready for the start.
Once all boats are aligned the Race Director will start the race with a shot from a gun or shouting the word “GO”.
A start flag may be used if the conditions do not allow for an audible signal.
Finishing the race
The finish line will be on the beach at Middle Harbour Yacht Club between two NSWSSC flags.
Please make sure you advise the race finishers of your race number through the finish line transition area - if you fail to advise the race finisher of your number you will be disqualified.
Evacuation Points
Course safety vessels will be with you on the course for the duration of the race.
If you need assistance during the race, raise your paddle above your head so a safety vessel or other paddlers can see you until help arrives.
In case of an emergency on land or water the patient will be transported to the closest Emergency Areas.
Water Evacuation Points will be the closest beach access point. On the course if Life Support is needed the Volunteer Marine Rescue will be the first responders to enable First Aid, DFIB and fast boat access to an Emergency Medical Access point.
Award Presentations
The NSWSSC presentations will be held after the event @ 10:30am upstairs at Middle Harbour Yacht Club.
Competition rules
The NSWSSC are conducted under the ICF Canoe Ocean Racing Rules - Current Version dated 1 January 2019. It is the responsibility of the competitor to be familiar with these rules.
I would also like to acknowledge and thank this year’s volunteers who have generously donated their time and resources to ensure the NSW Surf Ski Championships are a great success.
Yours in paddling,
Luke Horder
Race Director
