Full Moon Rising

Ramblings of the Hawkesbury Howler – June 2010

2010 Hawkesbury Canoe Classic – 23rd / 24th October – Four Full Moons to go !!

There are only four full moons before the 2010 Hawkesbury Canoe Classic. Enter now by going to www.canoeclassic.asn.au and following the easy links.

Go on – do it today and commit to a training regime to get you comfortably from Windsor to Brooklyn – 111km overnight !!

When entering online be sure to download the HCC Landcrew Declaration, complete the form and have your landcrew sign it and then email to entries@canoeclassic.asn.au. This is the only document that cannot be completed and submitted online.

By entering early you maximize the opportunity for friends and supporters to donate to your fundraising efforts…...as well as easing the last minute burden on our fantastic Entries Secretary, Wendy McLean.

Important : Make sure you complete the paddler profile area on the website once you have entered. This enables potential sponsors to find you online, read about your exploits and DONATE !! You can upload a photo of yourself and / or your kayak. You can update this information at any time by logging in.

Sponsor needed for Volunteer T-Shirts

We are looking for a sponsor for our 500 volunteer t-shirts. For a tax deductible $5500 you can have your company name emblazoned across the volunteer t-shirts.

Wouldn’t it be great to have bragging rights on the day of the big event and at the same time assist us in keeping our running costs to a minimum?

Other sponsorship packages are available for the event so please contact Claire Braund on 02 4369 6006 or sponsor@canoeclassic.asn.au

Getting wet !!

Inevitably, at some stage in your paddling career you are going to come unstuck in your kayak.

We strongly recommend that you practice falling out so that if it happens during the Classic it should not be a drama.

The big thing is …DO NOT PANIC. Your craft will float if you have stringently complied with the Classic rules surrounding buoyancy and you will be wearing your PFD at all times when on the water throughout the Classic. Check your craft’s buoyancy at a suitable location by filling it with water so as to ensure that it will float level when full of water.

Some manufactured craft DO NOT meet this safety requirement so it is therefore the responsibility of the paddler to ensure the craft complies with our high standards. Acceptable forms of buoyancy include foam in the form of polystyrene blocks, airbags which cannot be dislodged, core mat and air-tight compartments with secure hatches.

Train in your PFD

Our suggestion is that you wear your PFD whilst you are training on the water. You will soon work out if there are any issues with the PFD as far as chaffing is concerned. This will allow you plenty of time to remedy any problems and make for a hassle free night come the 23rd October

Yes, I know that some people think that it is uncool to be seen wearing a PFD but word is that it could become mandatory for all forms of water sport in NSW.

• Special Prize Draws for 2010 – Thanks, Apollo Craft !!
• Paddlers who raise over $5,000 will go into a draw for a Apollo X1 kayak donated by Mark Osmond at from Apollo X1 www.apollocraft.com.au
• Nominate your landcrew for the “Tea Bag Award” and your name will be put you in the draw for a paddle & paddle bag donated by Apollo Craft.

Theses prizes will be drawn at the presentation dinner.

2010 Fundraising Target – $500,000.00

We have set a fundraising target of $500,000.00 for the 2010 Classic.

This follows on from your record-breaking effort last year when paddlers raised a massive $313,000.00. Of that fantastic figure The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic Association Inc. donated $280,000.00 to the Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation www.arrow.org.au

The HCC has been associated with Arrow for 15 years and in that time paddlers have raised over $2 million for leukaemia research and patient support services.

The major recipient for 2010 will again be the Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation. We encourage you to take a look at the Arrow website www.arrow.org.au and see where your hard-earned fundraising dollars are put to very effective use.

PFD testing

Your PFD must be tested for flotation either before the event or prior to the Start. All PFD’s require their Australian Standard Compliance label to be attached. Conforming PFD’s are Type 2 or Type 3.

In the next month or so we will be announcing a list of dates and venues for PFD testing prior to the date of the Classic. Watch the website and look out for next month’s newsletter.

The Classic Raffle

One easy way to raise your $200.00 minimum fundraising amount is to sell raffle tickets.

The prizes this year are 1st - $2500 worth of travel of your choice, 2nd - $500 worth of Coleman Outdoor products and 3rd - $300 worth of Bunning Vouchers.

If you require more raffle ticket books simply email entries@canoeclassic.asn.au

Web site - www.canoeclassic.asn.au

The HCC website provides just about every piece of information you are going to need to know about the Classic.

Encourage your friends to visit the website and to take advantage of the “Sponsor A Paddler” facility as an easy means of supporting you

We welcome suggestions of ways to improve our online presence so please drop us an email at info@canoeclassic.asn.au

Wanted – “Tag and Tester”

We need someone to volunteer their services to test our electrical cables and tag them.

The person will obviously need be a suitably qualified tradesperson.

If you can help please contact Jeff Brown on 0419 434 386 or email info@canoeclassic.asn.au