Hello everyone,
We hope you are looking forward to a great day to usher in a decade of paddling for the fight against cancer!
Below is the posted National Weather Service forecast for Fort Lauderdale for Friday night and Saturday. Please take notice that rain or clouds will not cause a delay of our event. If there are any additional updates regarding weather conditions you will receive them via e-mail.
Friday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 78. East southeast wind between 6 and 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Saturday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 90. East southeast wind between 9 and 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 80. East southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday (Happy Father’s Day!): Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 90. East southeast wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
As good as the weather looks it’s going to be hot! Please ensure you start hydrating now as complete cellular hydration can take up to 36 hours. That is under optimal conditions. Starting the event fully hydrated and continuing to hydrate will help you perform better and help to ensure you enjoy the event. If you go out the night before and have too good of a time, this will cause you to become dehydrated (Not a good plan!)
Sun block, Sun block, Sun block. We will have sunblock available for everyone but be prepared. We will of course have plenty of bottled water there on Saturday throughout the event.
******************* Extremely Important***********************
Please ensure you have all three required forms (Registration, Liability Waiver and Pledge Form), completed and ready when you arrive for registration. Please put all three forms in an envelope with your name, amount of monies raised and type of kayak/watercraft written on the outside of the envelope. If you are participating in the Coley Challenge, please also write this on the outside of the envelope.
Please also ensure you arrive in plenty of time to register and set up your kayak and gear. Our schedule again is:
6:00 AM – Registration begins
7:30 AM – Ceremony to remember those who have fallen victim to cancer.
7:40 AM – Event safety briefing.
7:45 AM – Participants enter water with kayaks and other self propelled watercraft.
8:00 AM – Start
8:00 AM to 12:00 Noon – Paddle time.
12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM – Participants, kayaks and gear out of the water.
1:00 PM to 4:00 PM – Kayak Against Cancer Appreciation party at Bahia Cabana.
Each year we unfortunately have those who push the time which can and has caused a delay in the start of our event. We will not compromise safety to start the event at 8:00 AM. Everyone will attend the safety briefing! If you’re that guy/gal who causes the delay, we will point you out. Several times! You can’t blame us! This may of course be cause for unsolicited splashing and/or kayak overturning. We will have a Fort Lauderdale Police patrol vessel as well as at least two other motorized chase/safety vessels to make sure it doesn’t get out of hand. If you are one of those super competitors/racers, more power to you!!! However, the main point of this event beyond the race aspect it to have fun! Feel free to bring your footballs, beachballs, water canons, supersoakers, etc. We also hope to get a few new costumes this year. We don’t know if the paddling santa and/or the flamingo lady will show but we certainly hope they do! Below is a list of required/recommended equipment. Remember, SAFETY FIRST!!!
Rules for the event:
1. All kayaks, canoes, and other self propelled vessels will be allowed to participate.
2. No wind socks/sails will be allowed to be used by participants. If these items are used, these participants will not be eligible for awards for first, second, and third place finish.
3. Self propelled vessels designed to carry more than one person will be allowed to participate. However, vessels carrying more than one participant at a time (Team vessel/tandem), will not be eligible for the awards for first, second, and third place finish.
4. Only one pledge form will be required per vessel.
5. All participants must check in with the Kayak Against Cancer volunteer staff regardless of where they end their participation. This allows us to ensure your safety and the safety of all our participants and volunteers.
6. All participants will display sportsmanlike conduct during all stages of this event. If someone needs your assistance, provide it and contact me immediately via marine radio and/or cellular telephone. Any participant who violates the Kayak Against Cancer rules and/or behaves in any manner that endangers other participants, volunteers and/or themselves will be disqualified and required to leave the event.
7. The Kayak Against Cancer Volunteer staff has the right to amend and/or change the rules for the event in the interest of the safety of the participants and volunteers.
Remember, the price for parking at the Fort Lauderdale lot at South Beach Park is $10.00 all day.
What should I bring?
1. Kayak or other self propelled vessel-It’s a long swim.
2. Seat/backrest-For your comfort.
3. Paddle-Just makes it easier!
4. Life jacket-Required by Coast Guard.
5. Throw cushion-Required by Coast Guard.
6. Water
7. Sunscreen
8. Hat
9. Wallet for party afterward
10. Marine radio (Recommended)
11. Cell phone (Recommended). Contact numbers are: 954 232-2109, 305-345-5279
See you all on Saturday
Chuck “Captain Kayuba”
