Canoe O August 21st
-
Topic created by brambles6 on Sun Aug 14, 2011 at 3:57 pmThe Canoe O is less than a week away so make your plans accordingl!
First, the rules (as Steve stated earlier) are:
The format will be the same as the first canoe O about six years ago. There will be four boxes printed on your map at the four corners of the lake. When you are not in one of the boxes, your entire team most be in the boat. When you enter a box, one or more members of the team may leave the team to go and get the flags in that box, and then return to the boat, which the remaining team mate(s) has/have moved to a pre-arranged spot. You will have 90 minutes (note the change from 60; this is a longer course) to get as many flags as possible and return to start. There will also be four flags out of the boxes that the team will get together.
Although this is billed as a "canoe O" it can also be a "kayak O." Both are available for rental at French Creek. We've contacted the rental concessionaire and have a discount on the rentals BUT we need to know how many people need to rent either canoes or kayaks. Please email us (use the eBoard's messaging system if you don't have our direct emails handy) ASAP. We have some takers already but we want to contact French Creek later this week to finalize the count.
There will be white/yellow land courses in the morning from 10 to Noon. The white course is also doable from a canoe so if you want to practice your paddling, this is a good opportunity. The Canoe O will be a mass start at 1 pm but please come early for the instructional session before the fleet launches! This will be an ePunch event so make sure yours are tethered; retrieving lost punches from the bottom of the lake may lead to a SCUBA O some day, but not this weekend.
The current forecast for the 21st is 85 degrees and partly sunny. May the weather hold! -
Reply by rgbortz on Sun Aug 14, 2011 at 7:19 pmMy understanding is that a person may use their own canoe without a state registration unless your are launching from a Fish and Boat Commission ramp, which I believe is possible on Hopewell Lake. Does anyone know for sure that this is correct ? Or must I bring my slower canoe with the registration sticker ?
-
Reply by furlong47 on Sun Aug 14, 2011 at 8:38 pmAre the kayaks for two people or is it possible to do this event solo as a kayak-O?
-
Reply by Steve on Sun Aug 14, 2011 at 8:42 pmMy understanding is that if the lake is on state property you need the sticker. Your understanding is more in line withe Lake Erie and the public waterways. That being said, last time around we did have a few people launch from our picnic grove without getting a sticker. Since there is no one at the office on weekends, it is hard for them to file a complaint, but you had better be willing to buy the sticker at a moments notice.
The park has one and two man kayaks. The way the course is laid out, you will be leaving the lake for a K or two at a time. As a two man team, one person can move the boat while the other gets points. If you are in a one man kayak, you can still be part of a team by paddleing side by side. If you really want to go solo, you will either portage your boat, or you will have to leave it and return to the boat, thereby adding distance to your run.
One last thing, there will be no drinking water on the course. Bring a jug of some type and leave it in your boat.
-
Reply by WindWalker on Sun Aug 14, 2011 at 11:25 pmState Parks require a Launch Permit, either issued from the Fish and Boat or DCNR. Either one works at both State Parks and Fish and Boat.
For rivers and other lakes, such as Blue Marsh (owned by the Army Corps) you do not need a permit, unless you use a Fish and Boat Launch site.
Mike -
Reply by camperpat on Mon Aug 15, 2011 at 4:27 pmBob and I plan to come out and we will bring our own kayak. Should we also plan to picnic , is anyone bringing a grill etc. thanks pat
-
Reply by BevH on Fri Aug 19, 2011 at 9:29 pmFred and I are interested in coming. We have a pair of single (river) kayaks (but no PA stickers). We could rent a double kayak or a canoe. Please let us know if it is too late. Bev Hartline
-
Reply by Steve on Fri Aug 19, 2011 at 11:17 pmit is never too late. We are looking forward to seeing you.
-
Reply by WindWalker on Sun Aug 21, 2011 at 8:57 pmHad a great time today paddling and chasing controls.
Got to admit some were hidden pretty well, specially the one on the bouy, it was under the water.
The weather held out, although it didn't sound to good when we all got in the boats.
Great job and thanks for putting this together.
Mike
