The Current to Killarney Canoefest Regulations
The Current to Killarney Canoefest Rules and Regulations are put in place for fairness and safety of all participants including racers, support crews and staff. The rules are defined by the race
committee which reserves the right to adapt them as circumstances dictate. The race committee
also reserves the right to disqualify, refuse entry or assess time penalties to participants for breach
of the rules.
Registration must be completed using the online registration form available at (still working on registration web page)
All paddlers must be at least 15 years of age at the start of the race to be eligible to participate
provided their waiver forms are completed. Paddlers under the age of 18 must have their waiver
forms signed by their legal guardian.
Entry fees are determined by race organizers. Participants are encouraged to
register early. The fee is $120 per paddler.
The deadline for entry is June 15th at 8pm. Under no circumstances will entries be accepted
after this time.
Paddlers who wish to change class can do so by contacting the race organizers.
Entry may be cancelled up to 7 days before the close of entries. A refund will be issued less
administration fee of $30. Cancellations after this date will not receive a refund.
(No substitutions of paddlers or watercraft are permitted during the race.)
Solo Sea Kayak: Sub categories for male and female paddlers.
Tandem Sea Kayak: Sub categories for male, female and Co-ed teams.
Tandem Canoe:Sub categories for male, female and Co-ed teams.
Big Canoe: Teams consist of a minimum of 6 paddlers and a maximum of 12. No sub-categories.
OC6: Teams consist of 6 paddlers
Watercraft Specifications:
(The open water nature of the course requires watercraft with appropriate buoyancy, stability and the ability to self rescue. The race committee reserves the right to make decisions regarding the suitability and eligibility of any craft within or beyond the guidelines outlined here. Paddlers are highly encouraged to contact the race committee with model and or specifications in advance to ensure compliance with the spirit of the guidelines below.)
Solo Sea Kayak: Most factory stock sea/touring kayaks. Specialized racing kayaks, surf skis and sit on tops are not permitted. Must be paddled with a double bladed paddle.
• Minimum length 16ft
• Minimum width 21 inches at the widest point
• Must have a cockpit enclosed by a skirt.
• Must have watertight bow and stern compartments capable of carrying mandatory safety equipment and gear.
Tandem Sea Kayak: Most factory stock sea/touring kayaks. Specialized racing kayaks, surf skis and sit on tops are not permitted. Must be paddled with a double bladed paddles.
• Minimum length none
• Minimum width 26 inches at the widest point
• Must have a cockpit enclosed by a skirt.
• Must have watertight bow and stern compartments capable of carrying mandatory safety equipment and gear.
Tandem Canoe:Most factory stock canoes that are built for back country/wilderness touring and cruising are acceptable. Pro-class marathon canoes are not permitted. Must be paddled with a single bladed paddles.
Length:Maximum of 18′6″/ Minimum 17’
Width:Minimum 31.5 at 4inch waterline
Depth:Minimum @ Bow (16”); Centre (12 ½”); Stern (16”)
▪ Canoes with concave hulls are not permitted. Pro-class or modified boats that are specifically designed for flat-water racing are not permitted.
▪ Skegs or rudders are not permitted.
▪ If you intend to use a canoe not included on the pre-approved list, please indicate the manufacturer and model at the time of registration to ensure specifications can be clarified in advance for pre-race approval.
Big Canoe:Celebrating the trading heritage and Anishnabe connections to this area and race route. All big canoes must be paddled with single bladed paddles.
Minimum length: 24 feet
Minimum widths are dependent on length and measured at the 6 inch waterline and widest point.
lengths 24-28 feet - minimum width 36.25”
lengths 28-34 feet - minimum width 44”
lengths 34 and above - minimum width 48”
OC6: No sub specifications
(http://www.omcra.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=13).
Racers who are uncertain of their class should contact race organizers for clarification.
All crafts must be powered solely by human power using non-fixed paddles. These include, but
are not limited to, canoes, kayaks, voyageurs, voyageurs (North canoes)
. Examples of excluded crafts are row boats, sail boats and pedal boats.
Crafts may not be substituted during the race. Mixed teams must contain
at least one third of women.
Race organizers may, at their discretion, measure crafts at the end of the race to ensure they fit
within specifications.
The following mandatory equipment must be carried by all teams for the entire race. In all cases the
Transport Canada requirements will be enforced.
All Transport Canada requirements for mandatory safety equipment must be followed. The list
below is given as guidance, the official list is available at the government website
(http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/tp-tp511-equipment-
1140.htm#minimum_safety_equipment_requirements). Due to the nature of this race, gear
exceptions for racers do not apply.
· One lifejacket or PFD for each racer which must be worn at all times when on the water
· One buoyant heaving line at least 15 m long
· One bailer or manual bilge pump or bilge-pumping arrangements
· One watertight flashlight (even if boat is less than 6 m long)
· One sound-signaling device or appliance
· Navigation lights
The following additional race specific mandatory equipment is required
· Maps covering the full course of the race
· Canoe number supplied by race officials
Communication device (SPOT GPS )
Manitoulin Brewing Company (MBC) and Killarney Mountain Lodge (KML) put together a video last October 2018 to unveil MBC’s new beer, Killarney Cream Ale https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDQsE4r_YI4. The video concept was built around the delivery of the first keg of this signature Ale being made by 30 foot Voyageur Canoe from the Home of The MBC, Little Current, Manitoulin Island to the KML, in the Town of Killarney on the shore of Georgian bay. Once this epic Voyage was completed the owners of both companies said “We need to share this with others” and so “The Current to Killarney Canoe fest” was born.
The race is a marathon canoe race approximately 40 km in length. It starts from Little Current Ontario and finishes in Killarney Ontario crossing the expansive waters of Georgian Bay. Racers will be required to navigate to four different “check points” while paddling from the start to the finish.
Little Current is located on the North East corner of Manitoulin (Largest Fresh Water Island In the World) where the historic swing bridge announces “your now on Island time”. Minidoo Mnis “Spirit Island” is the home for six Anishinaabe reserves (M'Chigeeng, Sheguiandah, Sheshegwaning, Aundeck Omni Kaning, Wiikwemkoong and Zhiibaahaasing.)
Killarney located on the shore of Georgian Bay first non-Anishinaabe settlers were French Fur traders who set up a trading post named Shabahonaning “Canoe Passage”. It is now the access point for some of the top 10 paddle destinations in North America as rated by a number of Canoe and Kayak magazines.
The route follows the traditional passages paddled by the Anishinaabe and then followed by the Voyageurs. It is particularly well suited for the traditional “Big Canoes” of the Fur Trade (no portages, big open water) and organizers are attempting to make it the largest gathering of these big canoes of any of the Ontario Marathon Canoe Races. But we will also be including Tandem canoes, Tandem Kayak, Solo Kayak (due to open water nature of this race please see race regulations for boat specification) and a new arrival OC6 boats. Big water skills and open water navigation will be real assets in this paddling marathon.
Come on out and try your skills against some of Ontario’s most scenic paddling country, make some memories, tell some tales over an Ale in one of the most beautiful places Georgian Bay has to offer after paddling through some of North America’s most historic canoe routs.
A pre-race meeting must be attended by all participants. The meetings will take place at The Manitoulin Brewing Co, Hwy 6 Little Current 05 July 2019 at 7 PM This meeting will provide participants with last minute updates and race instructions.
There will be one mass race start at 0800 am Friday from Spider Bay Marina, Little Current. Note that the mandatory cutoff time apply to all racers. Late starts are accepted up to 10:30am Saturday, however race times are calculated from the race start times, not team start times.
All racers must have reached the finish line by 4pm Saturday. In addition,
a cutoff time of 12 pm has been set for racers to reach Haywood Island. Anyteam which does not meet a cutoff time will be eliminated from the race.
The race course has no portages. Racers must be aware of possible boat wash and significant activity around heavy boating areas such as Little Current Swing Bridge and Killarney Town area. Racers may choose to portage across certain points of land however may not portage across any major road crossing.
The Current to Killarney Canoe fest is a non supported canoe marathon.
A team may resign from the race at any time by contacting race officials and completing a
resignation form. Race officials must be informed at the earliest possible time.
All participants are expected to adhere to sportsmanlike conduct. The North Channel waterway is
used by many interest groups and as such impact to other groups must be minimized. Land along
the channel must be respected. Trespassing on private property/ First Nation Territory is both prohibited and not required.
The use of drugs and alcohol is strictly prohibited.
Inappropriate behavior by supporters and/or competitors will be penalized at the discretion of
race officials.
Protests must be addressed in writing to the race organizers within two hours after of completing
the race. The protest must clearly indicate the rule which was violated and details of the
complaint. A fee of $30 will be levied which will be returned if the protest is upheld.
Published by Google Drive–Report Abuse–Updated automatically every 5 minutes