Rules for The Swanage Classic have changed from previous years, please read carefully, you will be asked that you have read and understand the rules at registration, if you have not been able to read the rules prior to registration please ask to see them. When you sign the entry form you are agreeing to the Rules and Terms of the tournament.
THE SWANAGE CLASSIC 2017
KAYAK FISHING TOURNAMENT
RULES
First Prize : 2017 HOBIE Revolution 16 KAYAK
Second Prize : TBC
Third Prize : TBC
Signing out Draw: TBC
Heaviest Bream Competition: Reuben Heaton/Trokar Goody Pack
More prizes will be added running up to the Tournament day.
Tournament Location and Date
The Tournament will be held at Swanage, Dorset on Saturday 20th May 2017
About The Swanage Classic
The Swanage Classic 2017 is in its eigth year (previously known as the OK Classic) this year The Swanage Classic title sponsor is Hobie (Hobie Cat Centre), other sponsor include Garmin UK, Palm Equipment, Reuben Heaton, Costa, Fladen, Sea Angler, iCOM, H2O Kayaks, Daiwa, Escape Watersports, Navionics in association with AnglersAfloat (anglersafloat.co.uk).
This is a catch, photo and release tournament with the aim of competitors to catch as many different species in the designated fishing zone as possible within the allotted period of time on the day of the tournament.
Competitors will be fishing for the grand prize of a 2017 Hobie Revolution 16 with Mirage Drive, Paddle and Vantage Seat. Second prize TBC. Third prize TBC. The event will take place on 20th May 2016.
Terms and conditions
Entry
All tournament entrants must be aged 18 years or over at the time of the tournament or accompanied by a responsible adult at all times. A completed entry form and waiver must be filled out and signed. To speed up registration on the day please bring along filled out and signed entry form to the registration on the day of the tournament.
Entry fee is by £15 payable by cash or cheque at registration.
All contestants are required to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy and conservation. Any conduct which reflects unfavourably on the sport of Kayak Fishing, interferes with or disturbs other competitors or detracts from the organiser’s efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship and fair competition are grounds for immediate disqualification and the return of any prizes awarded.
All contestants agree to wear a PFD (Personal Flotation Device) whilst afloat, appropriate clothing for the conditions (a drysuit is strongly advised) and carry a whistle and emergency rescue knife on their person. The carrying of distress flares and VHF radio, mobile phone are optional but strongly advised.
Main Tournament format
For the purpose of the tournament this is a catch, photo and release competition (although competitors may keep their catch if it meets the legal minimum size and if they wish to do so, please return all female bream) and competitors will record details of their catch using their own digital camera. Entrants must bring their camera and any necessary cables to register their catch. Cameras may not be shared.
At the beginning of the event all competitors will be provided with a token which must be photographed on the camera they are using for the tournament to record their species caught. The registration card photo signifies the start of the competitor’s species, any species shown on the camera before the registration card will not be counted towards the event.
In the event of a draw the first person to register their catch will be awarded the higher position and any associated prize.
The judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into. The interpretation of the tournament rules is exclusively left to the tournament organisers and the decisions of the tournament organisers are final in all matters and are not subject to appeal.
Any protest must be made in writing and logged with a tournament official within 30 minutes of the allotted fishing time.
Fishing methods
- Only kayaks may be used in this event and all fish must be caught from the competitors kayak.
- Each kayak may be checked by an event marshal before taking part in the tournament.
- All fish must be caught by rod and line.
- A maximum of 2 rods and 8 hooks in total can be used by each entrant at any time.
- Pre-baiting prior to the day of the tournament 20th May will be deemed unsporting and therefore against tournament rules, anyone found to be doing so may be refused entry to the competition or disqualified from the competition. Entry fees will not be refunded.
- Mackeral and Sandeel do not count as a species for this competition.
- Tandem kayaks may only be used with one person aboard.
- Kayaks may not tie up to any buoys in the bay, regardless of ownership.
- Competitors may not tether to each other unless one competitor is under the age of 18 years on the day of the competition, or with prior consent by the organisers.
- Competitors agree to abide by responsible fishing practices (see Addendum A).
- Fishing may only take place between 10:00am and 15:00pm on the day of the tournament.
- The tournament will be of 5 hours duration, timed from first launch at 10:00am and ending at final beaching at 15:00pm. All entries must be recorded by the organisers no later than 15:30.
- Fishing for the tournament may only take place within the designated points.
Minimum Size
The token you receive at registration will be the length regarded as the minimum size, this token must be placed close to all mini species to show that they are of legal size, failure to do so will cause the fish to become discarded and not included towards your total.
Safety
Competitors must sign in no later than 09:00am and attend the compulsory safety briefing at 09:30am. Competitors must comply fully with the rules of the competition and the decisions of the event marshals and organising committee as well as the safety boat in attendance.
Competitors must demonstrate safe and responsible seamanship at all times.
This year’s entry fee will also include 3rd party only insurance cover during the comp, there is no reduction in entry fee for those with own insurance.
In the event of prolonged bad weather or unforeseen circumstances the Organisers may cancel or reschedule the event at his discretion. Rescheduling dates may differ to those specified.
For safety reasons hooks may only be attached once the competitor has launched and must be removed before landing, under no circumstances must any competitor transport their rods or kayak with hooks attached to the rods and line. Rods must be layed flat during transportation to and from the launch site or pointing directly up within the restraints of the kayaks width.
Photo release
Contestants grant the events sponsors and AnglersAfloat the unconditional right to use their name, voice, photographic likeness and biographical information in connection with the production, promotion, and/or articles and press releases relating to The Swanage Classic and shall not be entitled to receive any royalties or other compensation in connection with such use.
Signing out
All competitors must sign out at the registration point regardless of whether they have a catch to register. On signing out each competitor will receive a raffle ticket entitling them entry to the Palm Equipment draw, prize TBC. You must be present at the prize giving to receive the prize, if you do not claim your prize at the draw another ticket will be drawn.
Addendum A – Responsible fishing practices
Hobie, the Hobie Cat Centre, Garmin UK, Palm Equipment, Reuben Heaton, Costa, Fladen, Sea Angler, iCOM, H2O Kayaks, Daiwa, Escape Watersports, Navionics and AnglersAfloat want at all times to promote safe, environmentally and socially responsible fishing practices. Please handle all fish carefully to minimise stress. Please dispose of all tackle responsibly and consider other beach, sea users and commercial fishermen at all times. Please respect the local environment ensuring vehicles and craft do not inconvenience others using the area or its facilities. This is a catch, photo and release tournament, however anglers may retain their catch if they so wish.
Reuben Heaton Heaviest Bream Competition
Competitors may bring one MALE Black Bream to the Reuben Heaton Weighing Station to be weighed. The heaviest will qualify for the Reuben Heaton/Trokar prize.
Please note that only MALE Black Bream will qualify at the weigh in which brings us in line with other competitions in the Swanage Bay area. Please return all Female Bream, Female fish will be refused at the weigh in. Competitors who wish to return their Bream after the weigh in can do so by using a live tankwell on their kayak. We will have a holding tank close to the Reuben Heaton Weighing Station to aid safe transfer.
Male Black Bream are identifiable by an iridescent blue-grey band between the eyes, mature males are also usually much darker than females. All fish will be weighed in a supplied Reuben Heaton Net and weighed on the Reuben Heaton Competition Scales. In the event of a drawer the first of the competitors to have signed off the water will deemed the winner. Please sign off the water before coming to the Reuben Heaton Weighing Station.
The Swanage Classic Rules PDF Download
Disclaimer:
This is a recreational fishing tournament and all entrants to the competition do so of their own free will and at their own sole risk understanding that injury, loss or death could occur. The tournament organisers, event staff or any parties associated with the event will not be held liable or responsible for any problems or issues which arise from this event or be liable or responsible for any competitors’ costs, expenses or equipment at any time. Please visit and read the AnglersAfloat safety pages (www.anglersafloat.co.uk), wear a PFD at all times, check the relevant tides and weather reports for your tournament venue before putting to sea and be prepared. By entering this tournament, you give your permission to Hobie, AnglersAfloat and authorised third parties to use your image in any future promotions or articles.
