Note - only change from the 2010 course is to the Day 1 run start which will be from the Wineglass Bay capark.

Estimated times are based on previous years results.

DAY 1: SATURDAY 8TH OCTOBER, 2011

LEG 1: THE HAZARDS CIRCUIT RUN

Approximate distance: 16.6 km
Estimated time: 1 - 2hrs 30 mins
Map: Coles Bay 6033 walk map, 1: 250,000, or Freycinet National Park map

Briefing time: 7:45 AM, Wineglass Bay carpark
Race Start: 8.00 AM, Wineglass Bay carpark

The Freycinet Lodge Challenge start for 2011 will be at the Wineglass Bay Carpark (note new start for 2011, rest of run course remains the same as previous years). Competitors will be started in groups (to ease track congestion) and from the Wineglass Bay carpark, competitors take the Hazards Circuit track and head south contouring around the base of the Hazards to Hazards Beach. Competitors run along the beach for approximately 1km before turning inland (keep an eye out for the steps heading off the beach to the left) on the track to Wineglass Bay . Keeping left past the turnoff down to Wineglass Beach, (i.e. don't go down onto WineGlass Bay Beach - save that for day 2!), runners climb up and over the Wineglass saddle and back to the car park. The track over the saddle is steep and comprising of some rough terrain.

Runners then return towards Freycinet Lodge, via the road, and then continue just PAST Freycinet Lodge driveway,  and turn left  into the little carpark just below the Lodge and head down onto Richardsons Beach. There will be marshals at these turns to direct runners. Runners head along the beach to the far northern end where they will be directed onto the little (marked) foreshore track which takes runners along towards the Coles Bay Jetty. From there, the run continues following the Esplanade all the way around to transition in the Village Green Recreation area opposite the Coles Bay Bakery.

The only section of track that will be marked is the northern end of Richardsons Beach. It is the responsibility of each runner to be familiar with the remainder of the route. Please note the Wineglass Bay section of the run is a very popular short walk and the track is marked by Parks with permanent signage. Considerable track work has been undertaken so there is no scrub and little mud. Some sections, however, are rocky, slippery, and uneven underfoot and care must be taken. 

Water is NOT available and should be carried by all runners.

Runners will pass bushwalkers, many of whom are very supportive. Your courtesy is appreciated.

Support Crew Information and Parking

Once runners have left, support crews for this section should prepare for the transition at the Village Green Recreation area opposite the Coles Bay Bakery, or may provide moral support for competitors at the Wineglass Track car park. Please avoid parking along the main road, and park along the Esplanade area, and in the Muirs Beach carpark. The weekend will be busy for parking, so please be patient, follow all parking marshals directions and allow plenty of time to park and walk, and get your competitor ready. BACK TO TOP

LEG 2: ROAD CYCLE, COLES BAY RD AND RETURN TO SWANWICK

Approximate distance: 60 km
Estimated time: 1hr 15 mins - 3 hrs

The cycle leg starts at the Village Green area opposite the Coles Bay Bakery. Cyclists then head out from this area following traffic marshals directions, turning left onto the Coles Bay Road and do a relatively flat and fast (!) out and back route along this road with a turning point just before the Tasman Highway Intersection. Cyclists then head back to Coles Bay to a Police controlled turn around point near the ATV area. Cyclist then head back out along the road, carefully turning left at Swanwick Rd (which we be controlled by traffic marshals and SES) where the timing for this section will finish just near the Golf Club on the left. Cyclists will be handed a 5 minute time-out card, and can cruise down at a safe and leisurly pace the last few hundred metres to finish at Swanwick Bay Boat Ramp and transition to their kayaker, who can commence their paddle leg at the end of that five minute timeout under instruction from Marshals.

Any cyclist NOT obeying police/traffic marshals instructions will be disqualified.

The same as for the day 2 road ride, support crew are not allowed to follow their cyclist on the road as this would create a major traffic hazard with the number of cylists doing an out and back route along the Coles Bay Road. Local Police will be out .

Riders must be self sufficient in terms of minor repairs. Repairs requiring outside assistance will incur a time penalty. Riders who use glue on tyres (singles) and puncture and opt for a replacement wheel will incur a time penalty. All road rules must be obeyed. Drafting is prohibited and it is expected that all competitors will respect this rule in the spirit of the event, and anyone caught drafting will incure a severe time penalty.

Parking - for the start of the cycle leg, parking is available along the Esplanade and in the Muirs Beach car park. For the transition from road ride to kayak, parking is available along the side of Swanwick Bay Drive. Please keep cars directly away from the actual boat ramp area, as it is still open to the general public launching boats, and we need to minimise vehicles in this area for safety to departing mountain bikers. A drop-off zone will be available for support crew and paddlers to drop their kayaks close to the boat ramp, but vehicles must be removed immediatly. Once again, allow plenty of time to park and walk as it is a busy transition. Please follow parking marshals instructions and be on the lookout for incoming road cyclists and outgoing mountain bikers. Please look before you open your car door!!! BACK TO TOP

LEG 3: MOULTING LAGOON KAYAK

Approximate distance: 14 km
Estimated time: 1 hr - 2 hrs 30 mins

At the end of the 5 minute time out period, kayakers will be allowed to proceed to their kayaks. Kayakers are not permitted to start in the water. Competitors enter the water at the Swanwick Bay boat ramp adjacent to the Swanwick Jetty. Competitors can then proceed down the deep water chanel or over the shallows to a turning Bouy located adjacent to Pelican Bay (~3.5 - 4km). Competitor turn on this Bouy and then return to Swanwick and round the green channel marker closest to the Swanwick Jetty before proceeding on a second lap. After turning the second time at Pelican Bay bouy, competitors can proceed to the Swanwick Bay boat launching ramp for the MTB transition. All buoys are to be rounded in an anti-clockwise direction.

Support Crew Information and Parking

Parking - along the side of Swanwick Bay Drive. Please keep cars directly away from the actual boat ramp area, as it is still open to the general public launching boats, and we need to minimise vehicles in this area for safety to departing mountain bikers. A drop-off zone will be available for support crew and paddlers to drop their kayaks close to the boat ramp, but vehicles must be removed immediatly.  BACK TO TOP

LEG 4:  FRESHWATER LAGOON TO FREYCINET LODGE MTB

Approximate distance: 20 km
Estimated time: 45 min - 2 hrs 30 min
Map: Coles Bay 6033 walk map, 1: 250,000

 Competitors change from kayaks to mountain bikes at the transition at the Swanwick boat ramp. After the transition competitors turn right along the bitumen road (Swanwick Dr) and then left on the bitumen road (Swanwick Rd) to the main road junction (Coles Bay Rd). After the junction competitors enter the bush directly opposite the junction. This road crossing will be controlled by SES.

Staying on this track following the marked route around the quarry, then continue onto the Telstra Track. Continue along the Telstra track following the marked route, turning left * onto the Freshwater Lagoon fire trail and through the boom gate. Follow the marked 4wd track and bunting around the Friendly Beaches loop in a clockwise direction, * past the weir, back to 'the big tree junction'. Turn left at the (well marked!!!) tree, left down the hill at the next junction, then right immediatly prior to the National Parks Maintenance Depot, and here the timing for the mtb will be stopped just before competitors exit onto Freycinet Drive, and under direction from traffic marshals, turn RIGHT to cruise at a leisurely pace back along Freycinet Drive and a left hand turn into the Esplanade to check in with the marshal at the Village Green Recreation Transition area opposite the Coles Bay Bakery.  It is compulsory that riders check in at the Village Green Transition Area with the marshal or you/your team will not be recorded as finishing for the day. It is stressed that it is not a timed section along the stretch of Coles Bay road back to check in with the marshal at the Transition Area opposite the Bakery for safety reasons. Please ride safely as you are not being timed on this section!

The course will be well marked with surveyors tape.

*(Private land access restricted to race day only)

Note: Coles Bay is noted for its granite gravel and this can be a slippery surface to MTB on.

Support Crew Information and Parking

Support crew will not be able to follow MTB riders back to the finish as the road is busy with local and tourist traffic. It is recommended that support crew proceed directly to the finish at the Village Green Recreation area opposite the Coles Bay Bakery, to watch their competitor finish at a leisurely pace! - Please be safe and courteous and follow all directions from parking officials.
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DAY 2: SUNDAY 9TH OCTOBER, 2011

LEG 1: COLES BAY KAYAK

Approximate distance: 13 km
Estimated time: 1 - 2 hrs
Map: Coles Bay 6033 walk map, 1: 250,000

Registration Options for one day competitors: Register Friday night at the Community Hall, with the timing crew at end of Day 1, or 6:30 - 6.50am on Sunday morning at the kayak start (no late entries will be accepted).
Briefing time: All at 7:00AM, south end of Richardsons Beach, below Freycinet Lodge
Race Start: 7.30 AM, south end of Richardsons Beach, below Freycinet Lodge

The second day of the Freycinet Lodge Challenge commences with a kayak from a start point below Freycinet Lodge and proceeds around a marked course in the bay. This will be a looped course around the points indicated at the race brief. Competitors will proceed from the start to a marker off The Fisheries and then back through the start line to a marker set off the northern end of Richardsons Beach. Competitors then head out on a second loop, this time once they go around the marker at the southern end of Richardons Beach competitors will then head north west and continue around the Coles Bay headland and exit their Kayaks on the southern end of Muirs Beach and then run through the dunes to the road bike transition in the Village Green Recreation space opposite the Coles Bay Bakery.

Alternate Course

If weather precludes kayaking in Coles Bay the course will be out and back on Moulting Lagoon, with the start and finish at the Swanick Bay boat launching ramp (as per finish of kayak on Day 1).

Support Crew Information and Parking

Ensure that you arrive at the start in sufficient time for the race brief and registration (from 6:30am) and then make sure that your paddler is on the water by 7:15am. Make sure you factor in time for parking, as it will be busy. We recommend you park in the parks camping area at the northern end of Richardsons Beach, turn in just below the Visitors Center. There is easy water access there and your paddler can warm up with a paddle along the beach.   BACK TO TOP

LEG 2: COLES BAY ROAD CYCLE

Approximate distance: 35 km
Estimated time: 45 mins - 1 hr 30 mins

The road bike takes competitors on a 35km out and back course along the Coles Bay Rd. Competitors leave the Village Green Recreation area opposite the Coles Bay Bakery onto the main road and follow the main road to the turnaround point approx 17.5km from the transition, close to the Friendly Beach turnoff. The return journey follows the same route back along the highway to Coles Bay and finishes opposite where riders started, on the left hand side of the highway at the ATV site/Information Bay area directly opposite the Esplanade junction. The transition to the MTB will occur in the open area at the ATV site.

Alternate Course

Should weather preclude the running of the Kayak leg in Coles Bay the start of the road bike will be at the Swanwick Bay boat launching ramp, and the turnaround point will be moved out accordingly. The finish of the alternate road bike course and transition to the MTB will be the same.

Support Crew Information and Parking

Due to the nature of the course and the number of competitors on the final day, under no circumstances are support crews to attempt to follow their riders - this would create a major traffic hazard and local police will be out and about.

Riders must be self sufficient in terms of minor repairs. Repairs requiring outside assistance will incur a time penalty. Riders who use glue on tyres (singles) and puncture and opt for a replacement wheel will incur a time penalty. All road rules must be obeyed. Drafting is prohibited, and it is expected that all competitors will respect this rule in the spirit of the event. Anyone caught drafting will incure a severe time penalty.

Please avoid parking along the main road, and park along the Esplanade area, and in the Muirs Beach carpark.   BACK TO TOP

LEG 3: FRESHWATER LAGOON MTB - THE OTHER DIRECTION

Approximate distance: 24 km
Estimated time: 45 min - 2 hrs
Map: Coles Bay 6033 and 6034 walk map, 1: 250,000

The same course as the last two years, Mountain Bike Competitors head out from the ATV area up and over Telstra Hill following the bunting and arrows, down the other side and turning right onto the Weir (Freshwater Lagoon) Road. Follow the track to the Freshwater Lagoon at the southern end of the Friendly Beaches. (Reverse of Day 1 mtb ride). Riders will need to be wary of the very large water bars, otherwise known as 'spoon drains', that have been built into the track in various locations. Particularly on the twisty sections toward Freshwater Lagoon.

At the southern end of the Lagoon competitors turn LEFT through the gate and follow the track as it proceeds along the side of the Lagoon and after approximately 1km it turns inland, starts climbing, and then south again. There is one steep downhill and rutted/washedout section of track after the longish climb where competitors must exercise caution, and if not confident, may need to consider dismounting. The course continues south to a junction north of the sewage treatment pond*. At this point it turns LEFT and competitors follow the marked course back to the ATV site/Information Bay area where cyclists will be handed a 5 minute time-out card, to dismount, and proceed (leisurely!) across the road junction following instructions from SES traffic marshals, to transition to run in the Village Green public recreation space opposite the Coles Bay Bakery.

*(Private land access restricted to race day only)

Note: Coles Bay is noted for its granite gravel and this can be a slippery surface to MTB on. Be particularly cautious on off-camber corners - usually the cause in past years of any crashes!

Support Crew Information and Parking

Support crew will not be able to follow competitors on this section of the course. For the MTB transition, please avoid parking along the main road, and park along the Esplanade area, and in the Muirs Beach carpark.   BACK TO TOP

LEG 4: WINEGLASS BEACH RUN

Approximate distance: 14 km
Estimated time: 1 - 2 hrs 30  min
Map: Coles Bay 6033 walk map, 1: 250,000

Competitors proceed out from the Village Green Recreation Space area in front of the Coles Bay Bakery and follow the Esplanade Road around the headland. Approx 50 m after passing the Coles Bay jetty, runners head up a slight incline and take the walking track to the right along the foreshore to the Coles Bay boat ramp (there will be a marshal at this junction). Runners proceed along the second section of The Esplanade and onto the small foreshore walking track at the end, which takes runners down onto the northern end of Richardsons Beach. Runners then run along Richardsons Beach taking particular note to run around the rocks and not short cut over the Aboriginal heritage point, heading south along the beach towards Freycinet Lodge. Competitors will then head out onto the road at the Richardsons Beach southern carpark, below Freycinet Lodge and then follow the road (Freycinet Drive) all the way along to the Wineglass Bay carpark.

Runners then head up and over the Wineglass Saddle and onto Wineglass Beach. Then a short distance along the beach, keeping below the high water line (to protect Hooded Plover nests) to a turnaround point at approx 500m along the beach (around the marshal). They then return to Freycinet Lodge via Honeymoon Bay - this section from Honeymoon Bay to the Lodge will be marked with tape and there will be a marshal at the turn into Honeymoon Bay to direct runners, who then head to the finish line on the front deck of the Freycinet Lodge for some well deserved rest and refreshments!

The Wineglass Bay track is well marked, and some sections are rocky, slippery, and uneven underfoot and care must be taken. Marshals will be on the sections around the Esplanade and onto Richardsons Beach to direct runners.

Water is NOT available and should be carried by all runners.

Runners will pass many walkers and tourists, many of whom are very supportive. Your courtesy is appreciated and required.

Support Crew Information and Parking

Apart from reviving competitors at the end of the course and packing up equipment you can knock off!

Perhaps some refreshements on the deck at Freycinet Lodge may be in order while you await the presentations.

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