THE 2021 RACE HAS BEEN PUSHED TO 2022!
REGISTER HERE
and then BE SURE TO
PLEASE READ ALL details below & STUDY THE COURSE MAPs
MISERY CHALLENGE SCHEDULE
• 6:30am: Parking opens at BrookWood School and Tuck’s Point.
• 6:45am: Registration opens for all Challengers.
• 8:00am: Registration closes for all Rowers/SUP’s/Kayakers
• 8:05am: Pre-Race mandatory meeting for Rowers, SUP’s & Kayakers. (Location: On the water behind
the starting corral/line.
• 8:15am: Registration closes for all Swimmers
• 8:15am: ROWERS, KAYAKS, SUP’s START in that order in time trial format every 5 seconds.
(RECREATIONAL SUPS, 12’6 Race Sup’s and 14 Race Sup’s in that order)
• 8:20am: Pre-Race Mandatory meeting for all swimmers at swim start line
• 8:30am: LONG COURSE Swim Start
SHORT COURSE START will follow the long course, 3 minutes after the last long course swimmers start.
*Self-seeding, 2x2, time trial format.
• 8:45am-12pm: Post Race Party!
• 10:45am: All Challengers Should Be Off the Water
• 11am: Award Ceremony
*All times subject to change slightly prior to race day.
A CHALLENGE INDEED
You are always guaranteed a twist thrown into the Misery Challenge! Tides, boat traffic, wind, current, racing speeds of the different craft, water depths and temps all play into making this a challenge both as a racer and for me as a race director! However, after much focus and determination, we have created some interesting course layouts designed primarily for safety, but also to throw "a little heat" into your journey to Misery and back.
COURSE ENFORCEMENT
• You must follow ALL BUOYS and course directions. We will have folks positioned near buoys so please follow their guidance.
• TIME PENALTY: Failure to correctly follow/turn around ALL buoys on the appropriate side may result in a time penalty of up to 30 seconds to be added to your finish time.
• If you are being overtaken, give the faster boat the inside line. a.k.a. move over and give way.
SAFETY / GUIDES / SUPPORT CREW
• There will be numerous SUP’s, kayaks and patrol boats on the water to keep you safe and guide you through the course. Pay attention...if you see someone waving or hear them yell at you...do what they say.
• If anyone decides to EXIT the race before the Finish Line, RACE OFFICIALS MUST BE NOTIFIED. Don't make us search for you!
• If you or someone is in trouble, waive arms or paddle, blow whistle or yell until someone arrives. If you need to stop to help someone, record time and we will deduct off of your finish time.
If for any reason (lightning, shark sighting, etc.) you are asked to leave the water to get to nearest shore or into a support boat EXIT IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE DO SO WITHOUT PANIC… even if you want to.
Official Warm Up Areas
• Swimmers will be given a small warm up area around beach and docks. When warming-up please be very aware of all boat activity.
• Rowers/Kayakers/SUP’s - Warm up area is among-st the moored boats in the inlet behind parking lot and Chowder House. DO NOT GO IN THE CHANNEL.
TEMP/TIDE
• We always hope the water temp is above 60 degrees. Bring a wetsuit in case, as even low 60's a suit is highly recommended. An official call on suit/no suit will be made day of.
• In 2020, high tide is at 10:20am... SUP’s/Rowers/Kayaks you’ll have decent water depth at the start and even more coming in with plenty of clearance for all boats/boards if you stick to the course.
Swimmers, you will have a short rocky beach start with an incoming tide.
TIME PARAMETERS 2020
• All participants will have 2 hrs. from your start time to complete the Challenge.
DON'T BE A KNUCKLEHEAD ON RACE DAY. STUDY THESE MAPS!
SWIM - ORANGE COURSE
ROW/KAYAK/SUP - YELLOW COURSE
Swimmers Guidelines - Orange Course
Please keep all swim buoys to your left at all times. Long course buoys will be orange, short course buoys will be green.
Race start is on Tuck’s Point Beach
Pass the first sighting buoy, make a hard right and go between Manchester Yacht Club and their Dock. You’ll swim under the ramp going down to the dock. BEWARE of any pylons or small row boats. This is NOT the place to try to pass other swimmers. Keep it tight.
Head straight out towards two small orange buoys. STAY OUT OF CHANNEL AT ALL TIMES.
· Pass the first ORANGE BUOY #1. Keep buoy to your LEFT.
· Continue on to ORANGE Buoy #2 and ORANGE BUOY #3. Keep Buoys to your LEFT.
· BUOY 4 is GREEN TURN BUOY FOR SHORT COURSE. Short Course Turn and head back the way you came. Long Course: Contine to ORANGE Buoy 5 which will bring you towards the far right side of the island. This is the start of the Loop.
· Go by Buoy 5 as you start the COUNTER CLOCKWISE LOOP here. You will pass Buoys 6 and 6 before heading back towards Tucks Point.
· Buoy 6 will be the closest buoy to Misery. A 1 min. time penalty assessed if you miss Buoy 6.
· Pass Buoy 7 and then start heading back to Buoy 3, and Buoy 2.
· You can take whatever line you prefer as long as Buoy 3 and 2 are to your left.
· Make way to Buoy 1 and along Glass Head towards Yacht Club. NO GOING IN CHANNEL.
· As you approach MYC please pay attention again to pylons and small row boats. Pay attention to spotters directions (no going in Channel).
· FINISH on Tuck’s Point Beach with a smile.
Please note: We will have support crew helping to guide you along the way. We will do our best to clear the way of any debris (shells, rocks etc.). We cannot guarantee you won't step on something unwanted. If you feel more comfortable wearing booties or light protection, please do so.
Swimmers will start in pairs and should line up with the fastest swimmers first. Self-select your starting position based on your ability. Expecting to win? Front of the line. Timing is on a chip, but swimmers MUST check in with RaceWire and shout out their number before they cross the start mat. This is key for safety.
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY AND WATER EVACUATION PLEASE CALMLY FOLLOW PATROL AND SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS. BOARDING OF PATROL BOATS AND MOORED BOATS ARE ALLOWED/ENCOURAGED. AND GETTING TO SHORE QUICKLY/EASILY IF POSSIBLE MAY BE ADVISED.
KAYAKS/ROWERS/SUP’s - YELLOW COURSE
* SEE MAPS ABOVE AND STUDY THE BUOYS. NO CUTTING BUOYS. TIME PENALTIES ENFORCED THIS YEAR.
* START AND FINISH FOR STARTING LINE-UP WILL BE CONGESTED, BUT WE WILL HAVE YOU IN BIB ORDER. GET IN LINE BEHIND THE PERSON NUMERICALLY AHEAD OF YOU. YOU WILL BE STARTING IN ORDER OF YOUR BIB NUMBER AND MUST COME THROUGH THE BAREFOOT WINE & BUBBLY START BUOYS SINGLE FILE. CALL YOUR BIB OUT AS YOU APPROACH THE LINE.
* Rowers these directions are based on facing forward. You are facing backwards as you know, so adjust left/right accordingly.
* Buoys this year should be all YELLOW. Keep all buoys GOING OUT TO YOUR RIGHT SIDE. On the RETURN KEEP BUOYS TO YOUR LEFT
· START is in front of Tuck’s Point Rotunda
· GO SINGLE FILE through small orange STARTING/FINISHING BUOYS.
· HEAD FOR ORANGE BUOY GATE . Go BETWEEN these two smaller ORANGE buoys.
· Proceed to the large Yellow Buoy about half-way to Misery. THIS BUOY IS TO BE PASSED ON RIGHT SIDE. Don't cut it or go inside towards swim course. DO NOT GO TO GREEN BUOY (that is for return only).
· Now point towards 2nd Yellow Buoy which will be place to the right side of Misery Cove. This buoy must be turned on - keep the buoy to your RIGHT. A 30 second time penalty will be issued if cut.
· Proceed COUNTER CLOCKWISE AROUND MISERY. There will be no buoys until your return from the island. Follow shore line when in doubt.
· Once around island, head for 3rd Yellow BUOY which will be about half-way back to Tucks Point. NOTE: Keep this buoy to your LEFT.
· Head towards GREEN RETURN BUOY. Keep Buoy to your LEFT.
Then go back through Orange Gate (same as after start)
· Cross the Channel carefully and yield to motorized boats if they are on-coming.
· Orange buoys = FINISH-LINE. Please move out of the finish area as quickly as possible.
PADDLERS/ROWERS PAY ATTENTION.
YOU MUST HAVE A USCG APPROVED P.F.D. ON YOUR VESSEL OR BODY AT ALL TIMES. A LEASH IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR SUP’s.
YOU MUST BE VERY AWARE OF NON-EVENT BOATS AT ALL TIMES ON THE COURSE... ESPECIALLY IN CHANNEL CROSSING NEAR START AND FINISH LINES. WE AIM TO CONTROL THE COURSE BUT CANNOT CONTROL EVERY SCENARIO. BE AWARE.
BOATS MAY BE ONLY LAUNCH CRAFT IN APPROPRIATE AREAS - SEE RACE OFFICIALS.
CAUTION: BE AWARE OF ROCKS CLOSE TO SHORE. PLEASE AVOID ALL MOORED BOATS.
NO CRAFT SHOULD BE PLACED ON TUCK'S POINT PARK BEACH BEFORE/AFTER THE RACE!
HAVE FUN. MAKE IT HURT :) SUPPORT EACH OTHER and remember...