Just a couple of important points for those planning on racing next weekend.
Firstly, all competitors will be required to wear leg ropes in both races in alignment with new regulations being introduced in Victoria. So please bring your leg ropes.
Registration and sign in will take place at Green Point, Brighton Beach between 7.30 and 8.30am. Hopefully conditions will allow for a point-to-point race in the 8km event, but that will be determined on the day. Regardless, our base of operations along with sign in will be Green Point, but the race start may be elsewhere, so that's something to be aware of upon arrival and before unloading boards. We are also committed to a water start in the 8km race.
Also, in both the 2 km and 8km races, we will be recognising the winning male, female and junior paddlers with attractive timber engraved plaque trophies for both SUP and racing mal/prone paddleboards. However in the 8km race, there will be a winner-take-all cash prize of $500. To give everyone a fair shot at the cash, we are handicapping the race so that women and juniors will receive an 8 minute head start on the men. If our calculations are accurate, that should make for an exciting chase and ideally, a close finish.
There will also be a treasure trove of lucky draw prizes provided by our very generous sponsors, so all those who enter are in with a chance to walk away with some new gear. Chief among these prizes is a Coreban Fusion Wood board.
And don't forget to jump onto the SUP VIC website (www.supvic.com) to pre-register for discounted entry fees as well as a chance to win a 2011 Trident carbon paddle.
Finally, we are delighted to confirm the Woogie Marsh SUP clinic at the SHQ Cafe at 11am on Saturday 4th December. This is a free clinic, courtesy of Coreban, and with Woogie's wealth of experience (supvic.com/wp-content/Downloads/Woogie%20Marsh%20Career%20Bio.pdf) I'm sure that all who attend will pick up invaluable tips to improve their paddling performance and enjoyment from this talented waterman.
hey , PT is it a open race or are the different length boards in different categories?
I think the other post mentioned something about trying to do a handicapped start, relating to boards... Or that might have verbally been mentioned.... can't remember....
Wait for the official response though....
PT, will you allow after market quick release leg rope attachment modifications ?? 
(tongue firmly planted in cheek!!
)
In answer to the question:-
- At this stage we are not planning on running board classes but I will speak to the others
about sending off boards 12'6" & Under maybe a few minute in front of the big boards.
BUT...AT THIS STAGE THERE'S NO CLASSES. We will post asap if there is any change.
The Main Event
We must stress registration closes at 8:30am. We need to aim for a start no later
than 9:15am. That only leaves 45 minutes for competitors to get to the start point if
we go with the point to point option.
Registration for the 2km Short Course Event will close at 11am but isn't as critical
as the start and finish are at Green Point where registration will take place.
(tongue firmly planted in cheek!!)
Hopefully the winds are right for the event, currently its about 25knot+ South West, there is about a 2-3 ft wind blown waves breaking over the Cerberus, maybe it might become a surf event?
Forecast looks pretty good at the moment. But it can still change!
From BOM
------------------
Forecast for Saturday
Cloud increasing. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. Winds mainly northwesterly averaging up to 25 km/h and local afternoon seabreezes.
City Centre Chance of storms. Showers.Min18Max27
Forecast for Sunday
Partly cloudy. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. Winds north to northwesterly averaging up to 25 km/h and local afternoon seabreezes.
City Centre Chance of storms. Showers.Min19Max29
The prizes are coming in thick and fast from all of the sponsors so come on down for a chance to win a trophy, cash or one of the stack of prizes.
Dave
Hey BWD,
Rich, Kristi and I will be up to keep DJ company and we will snaffle up Simmondo as well he can miss surfing Bells for one day or he's gonna get the Precious Princess award laughs
Warick is going to loan Kristi a 12'6 Fanatic for the 2k race, thanks man.
We'll load up the A Team Van early, hope you have great coffee close by and a bakery
?????
Paid up ready to go!
Phill.
Hey Phil
Looking forward to the A teams arrival.
I saw that beach road is closed from Stkilda south to elwood so you best go along nepean highway until Glenhuntly or North road
(bloody fun runners)
Dave
Another reminder, every competitor must wear a legrope for both the 2km and 8km paddles.
These will be checked prior to race start.
Doesn't look like it will be a "down winder" more like a "No winder" with sunny skies and
mid to high 20's.
If you haven't registered yet then get onto it now for your chance to win a Trident Carbon Paddle.
www.supvic.com
Good to see the local Bayside girls practising for the big day on Sunday and making the front page of this week's local paper - well done Felicity!
It's looking like a perfect glassy 'no-winder'..
DJ
Forecast for Sunday
Winds: Light winds with south to southeasterly sea breezes up to 15 knots during the afternoon. Seas: Up to 1 metre. The chance of thunderstorms from midday.
Okay another update on the big race weekend and some detailed directions on how to get there...
First of all, after considering the latest weather forecasts, we agreed that the predicted light easterly winds do not support a downwinder or the preferred point-to-point course for the 8km race. Therefore we are going to contain the race within the Green Point - Sandringham bay area with 2 laps of a 4km circuit. Happily, this makes the entire race viewable from the beach. The course will look something like this...
So all competitors can now unload their gear in the carpark at Green Point - there will be no relocation for the start of either race. The 2 km race also takes place on this same beach so we will all stay together for the entire event. Should make for a great atmosphere.
For those unfamiliar with Green Point, the carpark is really very substantial - plenty of spots to park. You will find the location clearly marked on Melways map 76 C3.
If you are using a satellite navigator, you might like to load in the intersection of Esplanade and Canterbury Place, Brighton.
The carpark at Green Point is right opposite. Just look for the big war memorial monument - here's a pic...
The carpark is not immediately obvious from the main road - it will look to you as though you are turning into a side road but it's only about 50 metres before that opens out into the carpark overlooking Port Phillip Bay.
Finally, don't forget to bring your legropes!
And bring your girlfriends or wives or both!
Fernwood Womens Health Club/Gym have come on board with some great prizes.
Only 24 hours to go ! Get on board people ! Should be fun, even if the final 2-3 k's of 8 become painful ! But there is the 2k option.
I thought the online booking was interesting.... you select your birthday via a calendar, and I learnt that I was born on a Saturday.... I did not know that !! 
So thanks to The Great Melbourne Paddle, I now know which day of the week I was born !! haha ! (not that anyone gives a ....)
PS - I have a spare Naish 14 Glide if anyone that I vaguely know wants to borrow it. It's a fair bit faster than the surf SUP's, but not as fast at the "cutter" style flat water boards. PM (message) me.
