NB The harbour authority insists that all paddlers must wear buoyancy aids, so don't forget to bring one.
As the event is on open water estuary which can be quite demanding we recommend an ability cut-off at Division 7 level for marathon racers. Paddlers in lower divisions and non-ranked paddlers must judge for themselves whether they are competent in these conditions. If unsure please check with your coach or instructor.
There are safety boats in the harbour and further up the estuary, and a safety boat follows the last of the racers up to just below the finish.
Through the harbour soon after the start, the fast flowing tide can cause
waves to build up in the centre of the harbour. You can avoid these by keeping
close to the edge, but for racers this is a slower route. There are also other
pleasure craft in the harbour, and they can cause quite large washes.
The incoming tide is flowing to the south, so if there is a wind from the south
you get wind against tide which can cause short choppy waves on the estuary.
We hope to post the anticipated conditions based on the weather forecast on the latest information page a few days prior to the event, but be aware that it is only the anticipated conditions, as weather forecasts are not perfect!
Conditions in previous years
2004
- Cool with strong tailwind, rough at start and through harbour, good
conditions above that.
2003 - Cool
with strong headwind,
Hard work all the way.
2002 - Hot and flat, good conditions.
2001 - Warm and flat, good conditions.
2000 - Warm, very rough through harbour, flat and
fairly good conditions above that.
1999 - Hot and flat, fairly good conditions.
1998 - Very hot and flat, good conditions.
1997 - Cool with wind against tide, rough conditions.
1996 - Very hot and flat, good conditions.
1995 - Hot and flat, fairly good conditions except that tide turned early.
1994 - Warm and flat, fairly good conditions.
The Conwy estuary is popular with water skiers, so you can expect there to be boats travelling at high speed on the middle part of the course between the harbour and Tal-y-Cafn bridge. We recommend that you keep a good lookout for these boats and be prepared to change course if you don't think they have seen you.
It is essential that any paddlers who retire from the race or tour report their name and event number to either a boat marshal or the control tent at the finish at Dolgarrog to inform the organisers that they are off the water. In previous years we have ended up searching the course for paddlers who have gone home without telling us that they have retired.