Race Planning Tips

• Advertise Your Event
  
  
• Put up fliers at local canoe/kayak rental facilities to get some recreational paddlers
  
  
• Write a press release and invite local papers to cover the race
  
  
• Promote your race through other canoe/kayak racing organizations:
• Maine - www.mackro.org
• North East Surfski - www.nesurfski.net
• New York - www.nymcra.org
• East Coast Outrigger - www.eastcoastoutrigger.com
• Rhode Island - www.ricka.org
  
  
• Insurance
  
  USCA: The United States Canoe Association works hard to keep their canoe & kayak event insurance affordable for member event organizers. Current rate for 2008 has gone down to $3.75 per paddler. - More Info -
  
  
• State Guidelines/Permits
  
  Connecticut: A Marine Event Permit Application must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the date of the proposed event.

NECKRA Race Director Best Practices

In the interest of safety, and to ensure a positive experience for all racers, NECKRA encourages the adoption of the following Best Practices for Point Series races:

1. Hold a pre-race meeting where the course is briefly described, starts explained, the PFD policy reiterated, and participants alerted to any course hazards.  The pre-race meeting may be held on-land or on-water at the Race Director’s discretion.
   
   
2. Race directors and/or timers should remain at the finish line until every racer has completed the course.  There should be a system in place for making sure that the course is clear of participants at the conclusion of the race.
   
   
3. Finishing times should be provided for review before the awards ceremony so that any timing or race category corrections can be made prior to the ceremony.
   
   
4. Any protests by race participants must be made prior to the awards ceremony. 
   
   
5. Race results should be posted to the “Paddlers Connection” Yahoo Group within 24 hours of the race, but no more than 3-4 days following the race.  Race Directors are encouraged to send a copy of race results to the NECKRA Webmaster, and to the appropriate Points scoring person.