Hawkesbury Canoe Classic
Encyclopedia
The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic is an annual marathon
canoe
race taking place on the Hawkesbury River
in Northwest Sydney
usually at the end of October. The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic consists of a 111 km paddle downstream starting in Windsor
and finishing in Brooklyn
. The race is Australia's fourth-longest annual canoe race after the 404 km Red Cross Murray Marathon
, the 208 km Murray 200 on the Murray River between Martins Bend and Morgan in South Australia and the 133 km Avon Descent in Western Australia. The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic has over 600 paddlers each year. John Harmer is the only person who has completed all 35 Classic races.
Around 600 paddlers travel 111km in moonlight, down the Hawkesbury River from Windsor to Brooklyn, to raise money for Charity.
Over the years the Hawkesbury Classic has developed into a great event. Paddlers, their land crew and hundreds of volunteers converge on the banks of the Hawkesbury River at Windsor on the day of the event to enjoy the fun and competition of an overnight paddle, and the now famous camaraderie and spirit of the event.
Paddlers leave Windsor between 4pm and 6pm on Saturday and pass 20 safety checkpoints during the night.
The fastest craft arrive at Brooklyn on Sunday morning in less than 10 hours, but the average time is closer to 15 hours.
The classic began in 1977 and is made possible by volunteers who put in hundreds of hours of time throughout the year, the landowners who allow the use of their land for the weekend and the paddlers and their support crews.
The Classic has raised more that $3.3 million for medical research, the major beneficiary for 2011 will be the Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation.
The 2012 classic will be held on 27-28 October 2012.
Entry fees and sponsorship monies raised by the Classic go towards supporting medical research. The first race in 1977 had 250 participants and raised A$
8,500. This has increased over time with $185,000 donated in 2008. Over 14 years, approximately $2 million has been donated to the Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation.
The 2011 Event is scheduled for the 22-23 October 2011.
, C2
, K1
, K2
and TK types being the most popular choices. TK2 boats are claimed to be the best boats for the Hawkesbury as they provide stability and speed at the same time. Despite the obvious strengths of the TK boats, professional and elite paddlers opt with Olympic-class boats for the extra speed component. Ocean Racing Skis are becoming the most popular craft for the out and out racers in this event.
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
race taking place on the Hawkesbury River
Hawkesbury River
The Hawkesbury River, also known as Deerubbun, is one of the major rivers of the coastal region of New South Wales, Australia. The Hawkesbury River and its tributaries virtually encircle the metropolitan region of Sydney.-Geography:-Course:...
in Northwest Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
usually at the end of October. The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic consists of a 111 km paddle downstream starting in Windsor
Windsor, New South Wales
Windsor is a town in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Windsor is located in the local government area of the City of Hawkesbury. It sits on the Hawkesbury River, on the north-western outskirts of the Sydney metropolitan area. At the 2006 census, Windsor had a population of...
and finishing in Brooklyn
Brooklyn, New South Wales
Brooklyn is a small suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Brooklyn is located 51 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region...
. The race is Australia's fourth-longest annual canoe race after the 404 km Red Cross Murray Marathon
Red Cross Murray Marathon
The is a 404 km, 5 day canoe/kayak flatwater race on the Murray River, bordering Victoria and New South Wales. One of the longest annual flatwater canoe races in the world, it starts in Yarrawonga on 27 December and heads downstream through Tocumwal, Picnic Point, Echuca, Torrumbarry and...
, the 208 km Murray 200 on the Murray River between Martins Bend and Morgan in South Australia and the 133 km Avon Descent in Western Australia. The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic has over 600 paddlers each year. John Harmer is the only person who has completed all 35 Classic races.
Around 600 paddlers travel 111km in moonlight, down the Hawkesbury River from Windsor to Brooklyn, to raise money for Charity.
Over the years the Hawkesbury Classic has developed into a great event. Paddlers, their land crew and hundreds of volunteers converge on the banks of the Hawkesbury River at Windsor on the day of the event to enjoy the fun and competition of an overnight paddle, and the now famous camaraderie and spirit of the event.
Paddlers leave Windsor between 4pm and 6pm on Saturday and pass 20 safety checkpoints during the night.
The fastest craft arrive at Brooklyn on Sunday morning in less than 10 hours, but the average time is closer to 15 hours.
The classic began in 1977 and is made possible by volunteers who put in hundreds of hours of time throughout the year, the landowners who allow the use of their land for the weekend and the paddlers and their support crews.
The Classic has raised more that $3.3 million for medical research, the major beneficiary for 2011 will be the Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation.
The 2012 classic will be held on 27-28 October 2012.
Entry fees and sponsorship monies raised by the Classic go towards supporting medical research. The first race in 1977 had 250 participants and raised A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
8,500. This has increased over time with $185,000 donated in 2008. Over 14 years, approximately $2 million has been donated to the Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation.
The 2011 Event is scheduled for the 22-23 October 2011.
Craft Types
The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic accommodates boats of all types (canoes, kayaks, outriggers) provided that they are propelled by human muscle. The majority of paddlers use canoes and kayaks with C1Canoe racing
This article discusses canoe sprint and canoe marathon, competitive forms of canoeing and kayaking on more or less flat water. Both sports are governed by the International Canoe Federation ....
, C2
Canoe racing
This article discusses canoe sprint and canoe marathon, competitive forms of canoeing and kayaking on more or less flat water. Both sports are governed by the International Canoe Federation ....
, K1
Canoe racing
This article discusses canoe sprint and canoe marathon, competitive forms of canoeing and kayaking on more or less flat water. Both sports are governed by the International Canoe Federation ....
, K2
Canoe racing
This article discusses canoe sprint and canoe marathon, competitive forms of canoeing and kayaking on more or less flat water. Both sports are governed by the International Canoe Federation ....
and TK types being the most popular choices. TK2 boats are claimed to be the best boats for the Hawkesbury as they provide stability and speed at the same time. Despite the obvious strengths of the TK boats, professional and elite paddlers opt with Olympic-class boats for the extra speed component. Ocean Racing Skis are becoming the most popular craft for the out and out racers in this event.