Rules 1999

western isles challenge
rules 99	faq

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This update 12 April 1999

"RC"	Race Checkpoint
"SC"	Safety Checkpoint
"EO"	The Event Organiser, Big Sand Ltd
"EOT"	The Event Organiser's Team, comprising those employed by or lent to the EO, in particular checkpoint, marshalling, safety and scrutineering staff
Foot Distance	That proportion of the route which must be completed on foot without the use of any vehicle whatsoever. Specification here
Sea Safety Officer	The person in charge of arrangements for all water sections, responsible to the EO
Scrutineer	Reponsible to the EO for the enforcement of the rules of the event
On-Course Member	The active team member in possession of the baton at any particular moment
Baton	Such article as will be provided to each team to be carried in relay by the active members of the team from the start to the finish of the course and the possession of which at any time by a team member signifies that s/he is the active team member at that time
Race Maps	The maps specified for the event
Racing Hours	The time between the start and finish of racing specified for each day
Team Contact	The person appointed by each team to be its agent and through whom information and instructions from the EO will generally be channelled
Route Plan	A plan of the proposed route of each team, to be filed with the EO at the time specified prior to the start of the event

1.1	The Challenge is a relay race for teams of up to four active members, together with a backup team of any number
1.2	No team not having at least one woman active member will be eligible to win any official team prize in the event

5.1	The route to be taken between checkpoints is the decision of each team but must be advised to the EO by means of a Route Plan in the format specified by the EO. Route Plans must be received by the EO at the address given by 1700 on 16 April 1999 at the latest. Unless a team can demonstrate exceptional reasons for the delay, a penalty of 30 minutes will be added to its time for each day or part thereof that the Route Plan is late. Once filed the Route Plan may not be changed except with the prior agreement of the EO.
5.2	Deviation from the Route Plan in any other circumstances than emergency will incur a penalty at the discretion of the EO. For the avoidance of doubt such deviation would include the use of e.g. a bicycle on a part of the Route stated in the Route Plan as to be covered on foot. Where such deviation is deemed to be the result of a genuine error, the penalty will normally be Code B, with addition of an estimate for any part of the route not covered because of the deviation. In other circumstances the penalty may include disqualification.
5.3	Any number of active team members may be used in relay between any two checkpoints, but the requirement to adhere to the Route Plan is emphasised
5.4	Active team members may if the team so wishes be accompanied on any part of the route by one or more of the other active or backup team members. Active team members from different teams may also accompany each other by mutual agreement. In such circumstances, however, the equipment specified in Rule 9 must be carried by all competitors. The baton must be carried by the active team member. Infringement of the equipment rules will incur a penalty Code C

6.1	Checkpoints may be closed at certain times on each day as specified in section E. Teams failing to pass such checkpoints by the time of closure may, with the prior agreement of the EO, either continue to the finish of the day's racing by a route involving roads only (if this is feasible) or may retire from that day's racing. Such teams will be marked as not having completed that day's racing, but will be permitted to resume racing on the following day
6.2	Where a team member is injured and cannot be replaced (see below) the remainder of the team may, by prior agreement with the EO (and if they cannot complete the full course) complete a curtailed course
6.3	Teams curtailing their course in any of the above circumstances will be disqualified from winning any team prize in the event and any certificate issued shall show them as having completed a curtailed course

7.1	The Foot Distance required will be 75 km of northing

9.1

Clothing suitable to the expected conditions must be worn at all times, to the satisfaction of members of the EOT, who may require further items to be worn or carried at their own discretion. The relevant map(s) and a suitable compass must also be carried on all off-road sections of the route (see below)

9.2

A personal first-aid kit comprising at least 1 crepe bandage, 4 safety pins, 1 wound dressing and 6 adhesive dressings must be carried by all competitors on all sections of the route, including cycle sections

9.3

In addition to the above all competitors setting out on any off-road section of the route must carry the equipment specified below. (Except as specifically notified by the EO, "off-road" for the purposes of this rule is defined as off a road marked in red/yellow on the Race Maps.)

Full waterproof overclothing, preferably brightly coloured, balaclava and gloves

Spare dry clothes suitable for a night out of doors and including trousers and a thick long-sleeved fleece(or woollen equivalent)

Emergency food supply (at least 300 grammes of energy-giving food). This supply must be in addition to any food expected to be eaten whilst en route and must not be eaten except in an emergency

Survival bag of at least 2m x 1m of polythene or heat-reflective material manufactured for the purpose. Foil blankets will not be sufficient

Whistle

Torch, spare set of alkaline batteries and spare bulb. Minimum lens diameter is 30mm. Pen lights and miniature torches are not acceptable

Receptacle for water

All items except waterproof overclothes, balaclava and gloves will be sealed by the EOT in a polythene bag prior to the start of the event, and should thus be extra to equipment required by any particular competitor during the event. The sealed bag must be carried in a rucksac or equivalent. Any requirement by the EOT to upgrade the equipment worn or carried must be complied with before departure from a checkpoint can be allowed, and no time allowance will be made while this takes place.

Equipment is checked prior to the event by experienced staff who will be stringent in interpreting the requirements for kit that may save your life. Please do not come to the event with equipment that attempts to cut corners. If you do, and cannot replace it in time, you will not be permitted to compete.

9.4

Helmets must be worn by cyclists

9.5

Any infringement of the equipment rules will incur a penalty Code C

10.1

Water sections may be undertaken only in expedition sea-kayaks (see below) and competitors must be in possession of a valid Sea Proficiency Certificate/Sea 4-Star of the BCU, Armed Forces or other national or international equivalent. Qualifications other than the above will only be considered by the EO in exceptional circumstances and at the latest at the time of submission of Route Plans. Should a Sea Certificate not be shown or other qualifications not be accepted by the EO, the team may compete on the land sections of the route, but will not be eligible to win any prize

10.2

The decision as to whether conditions are suitable for water sections will be made by the EO and/or the Sea Safety Officer. In the event that conditions are unfavourable an alternative route or routes may be set by the EO, or the day may be declared to be land-based only

10.3

Notwithstanding the decision of the EO that conditions are favourable, any competitor not wishing to undertake a water section may retire, in which case the team of which that competitor is part may continue with the land sections of the day's racing. In this event the team will be considered to have curtailed its route and the provisions of Section 6 will apply

10.4

Escort boats will be provided for canoeists under the direction of the Sea Safety Officer. Any instructions of the Sea Safety Officer must be complied with promptly. Private escort boats may not be used except with the consent of the Sea Safety Officer

10.5

As part of their general duty under Rule 13.1, all competitors on water sections must assist any other competitor in distress and put such assistance before any other consideration. Where assistance is given, the provisions of Rule 13.2 will apply. Failure to provide assistance will incur a penalty Code D

10.6

Any use of canoes or other craft other than on specified water sections must be clearly noted in the Route Plan and agreed with the EO prior to the event. Canoeing on freshwater is not permitted

10.7

Boats must be of a type designed for sea-kayaking and not an adaptation of a General Purpose or river boat. A general description of what constitutes an expedition sea-kayak would be as follows:

Build:	Fibreglass or plastic in good repair
Fittings:	Bulkheads, hatches, toggles, decklines which must not be capable of fouling the cockpit area; tight-fitting spray deck; optionally skegs or rudders
Buoyancy:	Compartment buoyancy, airbags or ethafoam filling all remaining space

Some types of boat that would normally conform are: Nordkapp, Vyneck, Anascuta, Pintail, Skerray, Selkie, Voyager, Eskimo, Baidarka, Icefloe, Fjord, Sirius, Dawn Treader, Orion, Chinook, Sea Lion, Huntsman, Alaska, Shoreline, Fuego, Unmak, Sea King

This is not intended to be a comprehensive list and does not preclude any home-built boats, but it should serve to demonstrate what has been referred to as an expedition sea-kayak

10.8

All canoes will be inspected prior to the event and are liable to further inspection at any time during the event. In the event of a canoe being disqualified for apparent lack of seaworthiness or any other reason, the team to which it belongs may continue with the land legs of the event and will be judged to have curtailed its route. In this event the provisions of Section 6 will apply. Notwithstanding any of the above, the seaworthiness of canoes is the responsibility of competitors alone and any decision to permit their use by the EO will be on the basis that no such responsibility is assumed on the part of the EO

10.9

Bouyancy aids (minimum 50N and to BACT/BCU specification) must be worn. The following clothing must also be worn:

	Wetsuit longjohn/trouser/shorts with a high-cut waist; or
	Thermal trousers
and, unless otherwise advised by the Sea Safety Officer on the day, a thermal top and a windproof layer. Helmets should also be brought to the event and may be required for some or all legs

10.10

The following equipment must be carried:

	In-date set of flares comprising at least one hand-held red flare, one red parachute flare and one orange smoke; or combination flares to the same specification; or five mini-flares and one orange smoke. Suitable sets may be obtainable on loan from the EO
	Orange exposure bag designed for the purpose
	Waterproof strobe light

10.11

Swimmers must have gained experience of open water swimming in water temperatures unlikely to be much above 12 degrees C. In signing the indemnity form for the event, competitors swimming specifically warrant their experience in this respect. Swimming sections may be shortened or cancelled if water temperatures do not meet the Met Office's predicted temperatures for the area at the time of the event.

10.12

Swimmers must wear a neoprene suit specifically made for swimming, with a neoprene hood and a brightly coloured swim cap . Wetsuits designed for e.g. waterskiing/windsurfing will not be suitable. Goggles and neoprene gloves and boots may be worn at the swimmers discretion. Flippers and other aids are not permitted. Reference to guidance on wetsuits provided by the British Triathlon Association may be useful and can be found here

10.13

Teams must provide their own safety boat cover for swimmers (boat with oars and optional outboard motor or canoe), even at crossings specified in the Route where motorised boat cover may also be provided by the EO

10.14

Swimming is not permitted by any competitor who has been active on the course during the 30 minutes preceding the swim

10.15

Swimming at places other than those specified by the EO must be clearly notified in the Route Plan and the cover to be provided agreed with the EO at the time of submission of the Plan. Notwithstanding any safety boats that may be provided by the EO, all water sections are undertaken entirely at the competitor's own risk

10.16

Each infringement of the clothing or equipment rules above will incur a penalty Code C. In the event of a paddler being rescued and brought ashore by a safety boat, the average time for the leg will be taken and a penalty of 1.5 hours added.

11.1	The result of the Challenge will be determined by the addition of the times taken by each team over the various stages of the event
11.2	Depending on the number of canoe legs that are possible, a whole or part of the time differential of each competitor to the winning time on each canoe leg may be added to the actual time taken for the leg
11.3	Times will be measured in hours and minutes only
11.4	Competitors will be processed through checkpoints in the order of arrival and no account will be taken of any time taken by competitors to be thus processed
11.5	In the event of a tie for any position at the end of the event, the team having covered the greater Foot Distance will be adjudged the winner

12.1	A trophy will be awarded to the winning team, which must be returned to the EO at least two weeks prior to the next staging of the Challenge. Other prizes may be awarded at the EO's discretion
12.2	The first 10 teams will automatically receive an invitation to compete in the next staging of the event

13.1	All competitors have a general duty to other competitors in distress, whether on land or sea, and this duty must take precedence over any other perceived responsibility
13.2	Where assistance is provided to another competitor, the time estimated in the Route Plan for the section where assistance was provided will apply, but may be modified, at the discretion of the EO, by reference to the actual times taken (compared to estimated times) on other sections of the route, where these are greater or lesser than the estimated times by an average of 20%
13.3	Where the provision of assistance entails the missing of a checkpoint closing time the estimated time for the missed leg will be taken, subject to modification as in 13.2 above
13.4	Failure to provide assistance will incur a penalty Code D
13.5	Teams may be required to assist with the search for or rescue of a member of their team and if necessary may be instructed to retire from the event for this purpose
13.6	All competitors are expected to treat the environment with respect, to avoid leaving any litter (especially at campsites) and to observe the Country Code. Competitors are reminded in particular of the rules governing cycles and vehicles off tracks, failure to observe which will incur a penalty Code C. In line with the Country Code, fences should not be climbed and where particular gates have been noted in the Route, failure to use them will incur a penalty Code B. It should also be noted that many island roads, which will continue to be used by ordinary motorists during the event, are very narrow and that great care must be exercised in passing along them
13.7	All competitors are expected to observe the spirit of the Challenge, which is an amateur event intended to promote friendly competition and the enhancement of fitness, teamwork and outdoors skills

14.1	All instructions of the EOT must be complied with promptly.
14.2	Instructions of the EOT passed through the Team Contact will be assumed to have been disseminated to all team members affected within a reasonable time
14.3	Scrutineering staff are empowered to stop and question competitors on all matters relating to the rules of the event and in particular the adherence of teams to the Route Plans filed. Failure to stop for scrutineering staff will result in a penalty Code C. Checkpoint staff are empowered, inter alia, to check equipment and to require its upgrading prior to a competitor's departure. Where an apparent offence has occurred the matter will be referred to the EO prior to the relevant penalty being imposed. Teams may in the meantime continue with the event
14.4	The decision of the EO on any matter is final

15.1	Teams are responsible for their own transport, accommodation and catering arrangements and costs, including the costs of any special ferry, accommodation or catering arrangements the organisers may make and which teams may be required to use. Organised campsites should be used wherever possible
15.2	The Team Contact is responsible for having available at the event next of kin details for all team members
15.3	Teams are responsible for the welfare of their members and should be equipped and ready to supply e.g. basic first aid, warm clothing etc
15.4	In the event of emergency or the requirement for professional medical assistance the emergency number provided for each day by the EO should be contacted in the first instance and only failing a reply from this number should the 999 service be used. Teams must not contact any of the emergency services directly by radio or telephone
15.5	Where briefings are arranged for competitors, whilst every effort will be made to ensure its accuracy, any information provided by the EOT regarding the route (including water sections) is not to be construed as a recommendation or as implying any responsibility on the part of the EO. EOT members are not permitted to provide any route information to competitors except in the case of emergency

16.1	Where teams are sponsored by actual or possible competitors to the sponsor(s) of the Challenge, such sponsorship must be notified to and agreed by the EO prior to the event and at the latest by the time of submission of Route Plans

17.1

By accepting a team for the event, the EO accepts no responsibility for the fitness of such team to undertake it. All competitors are required to sign an indemnity in the form provided by the EO. In doing so they warrant that they understand the risks involved in an event of this nature and that they have arranged any insurance they consider necessary against injury to their own persons or others and damage to their own property or the property of others, howsoever incurred. All competitors, including backup team members, further acknowledge that they indemnify the EO and the event sponsors from all claims howsoever arising, directly or indirectly from the event. Active Team Members must sign the indemnity form individually. The consent of backup team members will be considered as having been given by the signature of the Team Contact named on the form

17.2

The confirmation of entry and indemnity forms must be returned to the EO at the address given by 1700 on April 16 1999. Failure to do so may mean that a team's place in the event will be given to another team

18.1	The EO reserves the right to alter or amend any rule of the event at any time and to vary penalties specified


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4.1	Except on sections of the route stated in the Route Plan as making up the Foot Distance required, active team members may use any form of transport which is driven by human energy, with the exception of tandem cycles or double canoes. For the avoidance of doubt permitted forms of transport exclude sailing dinghies, windsurfers and hang or para-gliders. Use of roller-blades or other skating/skiing equipment cannot be counted towards Foot Distance. No form of transport involving motors (including electrical motors) or the use of animals will be permitted to active team members while on the course
4.2	Bicycles may not be used beyond the limits of tracks marked with a single broken line on the Race Maps, except as specifically instructed by the EO from time to time
4.3	Motorised transport (except as noted below) is permitted to teams for the positioning of equipment and active team members who are at the time of such activity off the course
4.4	Motorised transport may not proceed beyond the limits of roads marked in yellow on the Race Maps, except as specifically instructed by the EO from time to time.
4.5	Helicopters and all terrain vehicles/quads may not be used for any purpose whatsoever
4.6	The baton may not be transported in any motorised vehicle within Racing Hours. Discovery of the baton within such a vehicle at such times will incur a penalty Code C
4.7	Satellite navigation systems may not be used
4.8	Except to overtake or to provide sustenance or medical or breakdown assistance, vehicles may not come within 100 metres of any active team member they are supporting while s/he is on the course. Infringements will incur a Penalty Code A
4.9	Where the use of a road is banned in the route (e.g for running), this ban extends to the area 100 metres either side of the road. Infringement will incur a penalty Code B

8.1	Team members injured or otherwise incapacitated may, by agreement with the EO, be replaced from among the backup team members. In judging incapacity the EO may at his own discretion require a medical examination. While any such examination is being arranged a temporary replacement will be allowed. No other form of substitution will be permitted
8.2	The EO or any member of the EOT may require the withdrawal of a team member whom s/he considers to be unfit to continue with the event, without specifying a reason

3.1	The baton comprises a tag and ring. At each of the Race Checkpoints a piece of Harris Tweed (all different) will be issued which must be attached to the ring. Once attached the tweeds may not be detached and at the end of the event the ring holding the whole set of tweeds must be produced on request to the EO
3.2	The baton may be carried only by active team members and must be passed directly from hand to hand
3.3	Loss of the baton or failure to produce it at a checkpoint will incur a penalty Code C