Peninsula Downwind Classic

IT’S ON AGAIN - with a race window of 7-8 MARCH 2026

Last years’ Peninsula Downwind Classic was amazing. Check the video below for the start. For the photo gallery check here. Who will beat the River Rats for bragging rights?

The Peninsula Downwind Classic is a downwind paddle event catering to intermediate to experienced paddlers.  The aim is to hold the event in optimal downwind conditions (up to 25 knots average wind) while adhering to safety requirements. 

All paddlers must be over the age of 16 and have made a declaration (guardians sign for those under the age of 18) attesting to their swimming and paddling ability.  It is a condition of entry that entrants be able to swim 400 metres without rest and can remount their craft after capsize in downwind conditions.  Paddlers must also have previously paddled the race distance in the ocean or bay in downwind conditions of at least 20 knots average wind with higher gusts.

To optimise the downwind conditions, the course location, course direction, day and time will be selected from during the event window with a starting time of 9am on Saturday 7th March 2026 to 3pm on Sunday 8 March 2026.  A provisional course will be emailed to entrants and promoted to the paddling community on Tuesday 3 March 2026 which will be confirmed on 5pm on Thursday 5 March 2026.

 The Peninsula Downwind Classic will have an long and short course and two course location options

  • South/north from south side of Frankston pier (Frankston Waterfront Reserve) to Northern side of Mordialloc pier (Pier Road) for a distance of 17km.  The short course will finish in the same location and start on the southern side of the Patterson River entrance (Stephens Street) for a distance of 10km

  • East/west from Safety Beach Yacht Club to western side of Blairgowrie Marina for a distance of 19km.  The short course will finish at the same location and start on the western side of the Rosebud pier for a distance of 10km

  • Alternative courses may be selected to optimise the wind conditions

  • A turning buoy will be placed in the ocean to assist in aligning paddlers with the wind (which may vary the race distance slightly)

Entries

Entries will be through the Webscorer website where race information will also be available (also check www.mppaddlers.org).  Entry fees (deadlines are midnight Wednesday 4 March) will be capped at 100 craft

  • Long course - $95

  • Short course - $70

 IMPORTANT – please remember the email you signed up with in Webscorer and ensure you use the same email for the GPS tracking on race day

If the event is cancelled due to weather conditions, natural disasters or any other reason so deemed by the race committee, the entry fee will be refunded.

Event organisers or any of the event sponsors or stakeholders are not responsible for any costs incurred or paid by the participant if any of the events are cancelled, dates changed or start and finish locations changed. The event will run under the following conditions based on Bonbeach weather station for the south/north course and South Channel Island weather station for the east/west course (using average wind as determined by Willy Weather locations of relevance and averaging the 10 minute observations)

  • South/north course

    • SW to SE of 10-25 knots for long course and S to SE of 10-20 knots for short course

    • The course will reverse in NW to NE of 10-25 knots for long course and NW to N of 10-20 knots for short course

  • East/west course

    • NE to ESE of 10-25 knots for long course and SE to E of 10-20 knots for short course

    • The course will reverse in WNW to SW of 10-25 knots for long course and W to SW of 10-20 knots for short course

  • Tides, visibility and predicted wind will also be factored into decision making

On the day

The timing of the event will be

  • Registrations at the starting location (time to be determined closer to race day) – you must check in at registrations and wear your wrist band and boat number provided at registrations to race. You will also be asked to start your Webscorer GPS timer with assistance provided as needed

  • Briefing at the starting location (time to be determined closer to race day) – it will be assumed that paddlers have read and understood this email in full

  • Mandatory safety check of paddlers and safety requirements (see below) on the beach

  • Estimated presentation ceremony with prizes and individual/club winners will occur after the race

IMPORTANT - every effort will be made to provide an accurate briefing re navigation but downwind paddling is challenging to predict and paddlers are advised to make their own efforts in optimising navigation (eg entering finish coordinates into your watch). A Garmin GPX map for your watch is available on request. Garmin watches also have an option to navigate to a set of coordinates (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Cunll0HoM) which can be considered.

The start will be in the water at with water’s edge

All competitors must 

  • Adhere at all times to the Paddle Australia Code of Behaviour here. We take our paddling seriously but we prioritise looking after each other

  • Wear a leg leash attached to their craft (apart from outrigger canoes and sea kayaks)

  • Wear a high-viz lifejacket of an approved type (Level 50 or 50S).  SUP and prone paddleboard paddlers only are permitted to wear an approved Lifejacket Level 100/150 bum bag inflatable lifejacket.  A Hi-Vis top must be worn

  • Carry a fully charged mobile phone in a water proof case that has the free Webscorer app installed via the App (iPhone) or Google Play (Android) store and have created an account USING THE SAME EMAIL that you used to register for the event

  • On the day participants must before starting

    • Ensure there is adequate mobile phone coverage

    • Make sure phone location services are turned on for Webscorer and set to "High accuracy" or “Precise location” mode

    • Start the Webscorer app and select “GPS self-tracking”

    • Select “PV Peninsula Downwind Classic”

    • Tap "My upcoming GPS races" and then tap the race name

    • Tap “Start GPS tracking” during registration. If you can’t achieve this you must track your location using our Whats App group

    • “Share GPS tracking” with emergency contact person. You can also provide your emergency contact the following link for GPS tracking during the race - https://www.webscorer.com/racemap/viewracers?pid=1&raceid=376252

    • If there are any problems with the above steps contact a registration official after the briefing

    • Participants can then turn the phone screen off and put the phone in their pocket

    • The app keeps sending the location at the interval specified in reg setup (e.g. once per minute). If there is no mobile coverage the app still collects data and updates when there is coverage again

    • If at registration it is clear Webscorer GPS is not working, paddlers will be expected to join a Whats App chat to enable live tracking

  • Carry flare carried on the paddler (not on the boat)

  • Wear appropriate warm clothing and sun protection such as a hat and sunscreen

  • Follow the event course at all times

  • Follow the direction of water safety officials at all times when on the water including withdrawing from the race on request

  • Give way to larger vessels when on the water at all times

  • Stop and help any other competitor/s in difficulty whilst on the course 

  • Stick paddle or arm straight up in the air if you require assistance

  • Notify race management by text message if unable to finish (0422 244 183 or 0413 101 860)

  • Recommended that a minimum of 1L of water is carried during the race

The race will be timed using Webscorer with a manual timing back up.  To assist the race officials please

  • Finish between the Paddle Vic flags (see attached map)

  • Yell out your race number (last 3 digits only starting with 7)

  • Paddle past the inside of the finish order to record your race number to the second official.  Without this confirmation your race ranking may be inaccurate

  • When your number is recorded paddle to a safe place to exit the water

  • All participants will be checked off by the timing officials against the start list

The short course paddlers will have an IRB with them the whole time and a volunteer paddler accompanying the slowest paddler.  Nevertheless paddlers need to have experience paddling in the forecast conditions as per the entry eligibility criteria

There is a small chance the course/time will change based on the conditions (particularly if there is more west in the wind).  This will be notified by 8am on Saturday.  If the Saturday race needs to be cancelled due to average wind observations at Sth Channel Island (as a means of forecasting coming wind), Mornington and Frankston weather stations being over 25 knots, consideration will be given to running an alternative time/day within the race window only if there are sufficient volunteers (particularly IRB availability)

Prizes (pick your own) will be awarded to

  • Open male SUP – top 3

  • Open female SUP – top 3

  • Open male – top 3

  • Open female – top 3

  • Junior male – top 3

  • Junior female – top 3

  • Open male 10km – top 3

  • Open female 10km – top 3

  • Junior 10km – top 3

 The Paddle Vic winning club will be determined on the basis of the following for male/female in short/long course

  • 5 points for 1st paddler, 4 for 2nd paddler until 1 point for 5th paddler in male/female in short and long course

  • 1 point for all other paddlers

RACE MAPS AND LOCATIONS

Race maps will be available here closer to race day

GPS coordinates will be available here closer to race day

START LIST AND RACE NUMBER

Will be available here closer to race day

WATER SAFETY

IRB plan

  • An IRB will lead and patrol the starters in short and long courses for the initial period of the race then be redeployed as required

  • One IRB will follow up the rear paddlers of the long course

  • One IRB will “float” to different areas of the course as required

  • All IRBs will be managed by the water safety officer by radio with mobile phone as back up

All IRB drivers will hold a Victorian Marine Licence and be certified as an IRB Driver through Life Saving Victoria.  All IRB crew will hold a IRB Crewpersons certificate through Life Saving Victoria.  All safety equipment required by Life Saving Victoria will be carried in each IRB and all occupants will wear an approved Level 50 lifejacket and be ready to enter the water.

The event organiser, MP Paddlers, has public liability insurance through Paddle Aus. This does not include or cover personal accident insurance for the competitors. All other insurances are the sole responsibility of the competitors.

If a situation arises that cannot be resolved by on-water safety and race management, then Victoria Water Police should be alerted. They are located in Williamstown and are the designated marine incident response coordinator. Any incident that has potential to impact shipping or enter Port Waters should be reported to Ports Victoria Vessel Traffic Services.

  • Victoria Water Police (Phone - 9399 7500)

  • Ports Victoria – Vessel Traffic Services (Phone - 9644 9790/9644 9777)

  • Life Saving Victoria – LSC Comms (Phone 13 SURF or 137873)

  • Triple Zero

  • Race Director - 0422 244 183

  • Water Safety officer - 0413 101 860

First Aid facilities will be available on the beach for treating minor cuts/abrasions, stings and mild hypothermia.  Any serious injuries or hypothermia will require Ambulance Victoria to attend.

RACE COMMITTEE, SPONSORS AND VOLUNTEERS

 MP Paddlers thank the race committee and all volunteers for the organisation of the Peninsula Downwind Classic

  • Jon Ford – Race Director

  • Gareth Johnson – Safety Representative

  • Ant Deague

  • Andrew Wilkinson

  • Peter Flockhart

This race could not run without the generous support of our volunteers - THANK YOU!

We also thank our sponsors

This event has been approved by Parks Victoria and the relevant local councils. A copy of the permit will be available here closer to race day