Support/SAFETY Boat Information
The information on this page is for boat skippers who have offered assistance as a Safety or Support Boat at the event.
All Safety and Support Boats must meet minimum requirements for the event, as per the Event rules and Maritime NZ requirements.
There is also additional information below for crews who have organised their own Crew Support Boat/Skipper for the 42km event.
There is also additional information below for crews who have organised their own Crew Support Boat/Skipper for the 42km event.
All Skippers should be familiar with the information, and complete all forms.
INFORMATION FOR BOATIES |
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Maritime NZ
All Support Boats must meet the minimum requirements below. If the Takapuna Beach Cup organisers decide that your support boat does not meet the minimum requirements, your support boat will not be allowed to participate in the Event and your crew will have to withdraw from the race. It is imperative that your support boat meets the minimum requirements.
Minimum Requirements for a Support Boat
The following criterion is in compliance with the rules set by the Takapuna Beach Cup organisers, and must be followed. Support boats may be randomly inspected by a Maritime NZ officer on Saturday morning, and those not meeting the criteria will be forced to resign as a Support Boat.
Crew Support Boat Information
We will need all of the following information on your support boat, as it is a requirement of Maritime NZ.
This information needs to be supplied to the Event Manager, no later than the 6th February 2026 (one week before the event).
Communications
Support Boat Briefing & Waiver
Support Boat Race Requirements & Etiquette
Disqualification
Race Officials have the power to act and disqualify any crew whose actions, be it in their canoe or support craft:
Launching & Anchoring
All Support Boats must meet the minimum requirements below. If the Takapuna Beach Cup organisers decide that your support boat does not meet the minimum requirements, your support boat will not be allowed to participate in the Event and your crew will have to withdraw from the race. It is imperative that your support boat meets the minimum requirements.
Minimum Requirements for a Support Boat
The following criterion is in compliance with the rules set by the Takapuna Beach Cup organisers, and must be followed. Support boats may be randomly inspected by a Maritime NZ officer on Saturday morning, and those not meeting the criteria will be forced to resign as a Support Boat.
- Vessels must be a minimum of 5m in length
- No inflatables or dinghies
- Vessels must be seaworthy and have a minimum carrying capacity of 5 people; and must be able to safely carry all team paddlers and support boat crew members.
- Vessels must be fully fuelled and mechanically sound
- Vessels must have sufficient power to travel faster than the canoe, so water changes and/or rescue can be made safely.
- Vessels must be equipped with all safety gear, including personal flotation devices for ALL passengers, a first aid kit, bailing equipment, flares, VHF Radio, boarding ladder and oars.
- PFDs - not kapok, not more than 10 years old, have working canisters if inflatable (have been checked for rust & if they are working or serviced), straps won't break.
- All Operators must be aware of and comply with all applicable Water Safety Regulations and Requirements
- All Operators must be aware of and comply with all of the Event Official Race Rules.
- All Support Boats must have a competent operator.
Crew Support Boat Information
We will need all of the following information on your support boat, as it is a requirement of Maritime NZ.
This information needs to be supplied to the Event Manager, no later than the 6th February 2026 (one week before the event).
- Skipper's Name
- Skipper's Mobile number
- Skipper's Email
- Skipper's Experience
- Boat Name
- Boat Type
- Boat Age
- Boat Size
- Engine Type
- Engine Age
- VHF Call sign
- Passenger capacity
Communications
- All support boats must be equipped with two-way VHF radio. Any entry without proper two-way communication will not be allowed to participate.
- We will also ask for the skipper's mobile number as a back up.
- The appropriate emergency channel for communication will be advised in the Support Boat Briefing.
Support Boat Briefing & Waiver
- All Support Boat drivers will be emailed the "Support Boat Briefing" and a "Support Boat Waiver form" (see below) prior to the 2026 event. Please ensure the Support Boat Operators read and understand these documents.
- The Support Boat Waiver form is attached at the bottom of this page. Please send this form to [email protected]
Support Boat Race Requirements & Etiquette
- Support boats are to proceed to the first change over point 15 mins before the Race start and wait on the South West side of the designated 1st change Buoy.
- All changeovers must be made from the water. No support boats within 20m of any canoe, except during an emergency.
- Towing of canoes is not permitted, except during an emergency
- Support craft MUST NOT reverse up to paddlers in the water.
- All support craft must have their MOTOR TURNED OFF when picking up paddlers.
- First changeover point for canoes will be after passing the designated Buoy.
- Further changes will be at the discretion of the crew.
- Support Vessels MAY NOT use megaphones or loud hailers for any purpose whatsoever, except in the case of an emergency.
- Support Boat Drivers have absolute discretion as to where they will manoeuvre their vessels when making changeovers.
- Any impedance of a canoe by any means (e.g. wash, or causing a canoe to alter course) by a support boat will result in either a time penalty or disqualification being applied to the support boat's canoe at the discretion of the Race Director.
Disqualification
Race Officials have the power to act and disqualify any crew whose actions, be it in their canoe or support craft:
- Do not regard the safety of their own members and/or other competing crews;
- Whose support craft do not meet the criteria.
Launching & Anchoring
- Support Boats may be launched from Takapuna Boat ramp. We also recommend that support boats launch from Bayswater.
- Alternate Race Courses
- If the forecasted weather conditions make the race unsafe, an alternate course will be used. If in doubt about the conditions, please contact the Race Director Lara Collins 0275 484 612
CAUTION: SUBMARINE CABLE
- There is a submarine cable buried under the sand at Takapuna Beach
- There is to be NO ANCHORING of support boats at Takapuna Beach refer to briefing for instructions on anchoring.
- All support boats shall comply with the Government Regulation “Submarine Cables and Pipelines Protection Act 1996”
Support Boat FORMS
If you are supplying your own crew support boat please click here to register your boat and driver details
Please download Support Boat Waiver Form and email to [email protected]
Support Boat Waiver |
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