Brand New 8.5-mile course (NO portaging or shuttling necessary!): a single out and back loop between the dock at Turning Basin Park in Princeton and the entrance to the Rte 1 underpass (serving as our "no-go" zone) will be open to the following categories: kayaks 12ft+, canoes, surfskis/K1, and all doubles.

NO OTHER TYPE OF PADDLING CRAFT ARE PERMITTED. See Policies and Procedures below for details.

This race will be casual in an effort to keep the cost at a minimum: the race will be self-timed, no awards will be distributed, and no food or drink will be served, so please plan to bring your sports watch, hydration, and nutrition.

Although there is no awards ceremony, please feel free to join us for lunch and to celebrate the end of the race season at the Tiger's Tale (1290 US-206, Skillman, NJ 08558).

Register through October 27 to guarantee getting the gift.

Upon signup, please keep your calendar open for both the 12th and the 19th of November, in case the race is postponed to the rain date. If the race runs on the 19th instead of the 12th, there will be no refunds. A decision will be made 48 hours before the scheduled date. Please see the Cancellation and Refund policy below in red for full details.

Racers will drop their boats off at Princeton Canoe and Kayak Rentals, across the street from Turning Basin Park in Princeton, NJ. The canoe/kayak rental area will serve as the launch and landing site, unless otherwise decided by the director. Parking will be in Turning Basin Park and in other designated areas.

$35.00 flat rate fee/paddler

(tandem teams pay $70.00)

BEFORE RACE DAY: Mandatory Virtual Captains' Meeting. (Registrants will receive an email with a Zoom invite and details.)

Saturday, November 12

9:00AM-10:00am- Check-in. All racers verify that they have already signed the electronic waiver and pick up their gift (for those registered on or before October 27). A few extra gifts will be available on a first-come/first-served basis.

Safety Inspection. (begins immediately after you check-in) Every paddler must show: a PFD of Type I, II, III, IV, or V, and in good repair (Mocke and Vaikobi PFDs are also acceptable); a pealess whistle. Upon approval at inspection, the paddler will complete the sign-in sheet (and/or pick up their bib #), which will ensure entrance on the water.

ALL RACERS MUST HAVE SUBMITTED TO, AND PASSED A SAFETY INSPECTION IN ORDER TO BE ADMITTED ON THE WATER:

10:00am: Boats called to the water and attendance taken.

10:30AM- Mass start or first wave (TBD).

Optional lunch at the Tiger's Tale will culminate the day.

Policies and Procedures

REGISTRATION: No walk-ons! Registration will close either when we have reached a maximum (to be determined closer to the date of the race) or on Wednesday, November 9 at NOON EST-- whichever comes first.

Due to the narrowness of the canal, rowing shells are not permitted. Due to the presence of low bridges, paddle boards are also forbidden on the course.

Minimum age is 18 years. No junior subdivision.

Cancellation and Refund Policy: In no circumstance will refunds be issued. In the unlikely event that the organizer must cancel both the 12th and the 19th of November due to weather or to a government mandate, registrants who sign up for this race in 2023 will receive a $10 credit.

Inclement Weather Policy: The race will be postponed to the 19th of November, or cancelled completely if the forecast predicts lightening, flooding, or icy conditions at/near the launch. Otherwise, the race will run, regardless of the air temperature and most high winds.

Safety requirements will include, but will not be limited, to the following:

1) Participants must e-sign a digital waiver PRIOR to race day. When you register, you will see a link within paddle guru's waiver text box that will bring you to a new site. Be sure NOT to quit the paddle guru site: your registration is not complete until you return to paddle guru to pay. So we recommend that you keep paddle guru open in another tab when you sign the electronic waiver.

2) A mandatory virtual Captains' Meeting will be held 24-48 hrs before the day of the race. Day/time TBD

3) Every paddler and craft must pass a safety inspection the day of the race. Anyone arriving later than the inspection time will automatically be recorded as DNF.

A USCG approved personal flotation device must be worn or carried on every vessel for each padder at all times. Mocke and Vaikobi life vests also acceptable.

4) Every paddler must carry a pealess whistle AND hydration.

5) Paddlers are responsible for dressing appropriately to avoid hypothermia, especially in case of submersion.

6) Kayaks must be at least 12 feet from bow to stern, and will be checked at the safety inspection. Shorter "recreational" kayaks not meant for competitive flat water racing will not be permitted.

7) Participants are expected to know how to perform a self-rescue, especially in cold water. If you are paddling a craft that makes self-rescuing impossible (e.g. a K1 Olympic kayak), you are expected to know how to bail water from your boat and reenter without necessarily having the ability either to stand with your face above water or to exit on dry ground. If you cannot depend on rescuing yourself, please do NOT register.

8) Everyone in attendance must comply with the current COVID-19 mandates set by the state of New Jersey at the time of the event. If you test positive for the coronavirus, think you have come in close contact with someone who tested positive as early as November 2 (if the race is on the 12th) or November 9 (if the race is on the 19th), or, you are feeling sick, you are responsible for staying home.

9) Compliance with the most up-to-date New Jersey state travel restrictions in accordance with the prevention of communicable disease spread must be observed. Registrants who cannot reasonably obey the travel restrictions in NJ near race day must withdraw from the race.

10) Everyone will abide by the NJ State Park Service Carry-In/Carry-Out program. Anyone caught leaving trash behind may be subject to fines.

11) Upon exiting the water, racers must clean and dry their boat, apparel, equipment, and any other personal objects that came in contact with the water in an effort to reduce the spread of "aquatic hitchhikers" (harmful species ranging from plants and fish to pathogens), as required by the NJ DEP and the Division of Parks and Forestry.

12) Drafting is accepted within one's class.

Any unsportmanlike behavior will be grounds for automatic disqualification.

The race director reserves the right to deny entry to any competitor at any time and at her sole discretion.