Last year Mike Nott came up with a plan, a very good plan. A plan for an adventure race. The toughest one day adventure race in the region. A group of us tested this plan. Only one team finished!!!! Well the plan is back and is open for teams to apply to enter. Mike has asked us to post the details on our blog, here they are:
The Musandam Adventure Race is a serious undertaking and,
for those choosing to do the Full Monty, it is probably the toughest one
day event of this nature in the region. Consequently, there will be an element
of vetting of those wishing to do this option. For members of the Relay teams you must be able to cope with the worst eventualities
alone.
The race starts and finishes in Khor Najd, completing a loop
of the eastern side of the Musandam Peninsula by kayak, foot and bike. You will
need to be entirely self-sufficient in all things; there will be no checkpoints
and no assistance along the route (not even rescue), however, a dhow will
shadow the kayakers and your car will shadow your riders.
Registration for this event will open in December 2012.
Team Requirements:
There are two team categories for entry, as follows:
Relay: A team
of three (no exceptions), comprising a kayaker, a runner and a mountain biker.
Each of the three disciplines is done by one team member at a time as a relay.
Full Monty (FM): A team of three (no exceptions)
completing all three disciplines together, plus a non-competing driver.
Race Description:
The event starts and finishes in Khor Najd. It comprises: a
35km sea kayak, a 22km mountain run and a 65km mountain bike. The race pans out
as follows (italicised timings are guestimates):
Time
|
Event
|
Race Start
06.30
|
All Relay runners get on dhow at Khor Najd.
Relay and FM sea kayakers leave Khor Najd
for Limah.
Dhow shadows kayakers.
|
TBC
|
Relay and FM surf skiers leave Khor Najd for
Limah.
|
Team choice
|
Relay team bikers and FM support drivers
leave Khor Najd for Maqalayli in team vehicles with bikes. You need to be at
Maqalalyi before your runner/team arrives; this gives you about 6 hours – so
no excuses for not getting there on time!
|
11.00 – 12.00
|
Relay runners get off dhow at Limah.
FM and Relay kayakers arrive Limah, hand
over to relay runners.
FM and Relay runners leave Limah for
Maqalayli.
Relay kayakers and dhow crew load kayaks and selves
onto boat.
Boat departs Limah for Khor Najd.
|
14.30 – 15.30
|
FM and Relay runners arrive Maqalayli, hand
over to bikers.
FM and Relay bikers leave Maqalalyi for Khor
Najd.
Relay runners and FM support drivers drive vehicles
to Khor Najd, shadowing their biker/team.
|
19.30 – 21.00
|
FM and Relay bikers and vehicles arrive Khor
Najd.
Boat arrives Khor Najd.
Race complete!
|
Your Choice
|
Go home.
|
Notes:
Kayaking: Single
sea kayaks (doubles allowed for FM teams) are recommended but single surf
skis (doubles allowed for FM teams) will be permitted. No towing will be
allowed for FM teams and no Dhow wave riding allowed for anybody. Those
competing in surf skis will be subject to a time handicap (you will start later
than those in sea kayaks). Emergency survival equipment, buoyancy aids, spray
decks etc… are recommended. Note: FM teams must be either all sea
kayaks or all surf skis.
 |
| Colin looking strong |
Dhow: The dhow will carry the Relay teams’ runners from Khor Najd to the start of the run, at Limah, whilst shadowing the kayakers. The dhow will stop approx 50m off shore, it is up to teams how their runner gets ashore (e.g. swim or get towed/lifted in by their paddler). The Relay team’s kayakers/skiers will have to help load their kayaks/skis on to the dhow for the return trip back to the start. For those doing the FM, you will leave your kayaks/skis on the beach and they will be loaded by the dhow crew. If you’re a little bit precious about your boats, then you’ll need to supervise/do the loading yourselves. The boats will be stacked on the dhow’s deck.
Runners: The
run starts off on the beach at Limah and then onto the road out of Limah, which
then deteriorates into a graded track, then a rough track, then a boulder
strewn wadi bottom before reaching the difficult part. The difficult part is a
steep, loose and exposed track up the side of the wadi and an even looser
descent to the finish of the run. You should consider doing it in sturdy
fell-running shoes or light-weight trekking boots; normal running trainers are
not suitable. A telescopic trekking pole is recommended, as well as water, food
etc…
 |
| Andy on the final push to the ridgeline |
Bikers: The bike route is on good graded tracks, except the first 1km or so. The ascent is punishing and the descent will need nerve, focus and strong brakes. You must have a helmet and you will likely do the descent, and probably some of the ascent, in the dark; you must have good bike lights, front and rear. You will need warm clothes and waterproofs (last year it was 8°C and driving, cold rain).
 |
| John, Rachel and Darryl on the punishing ascent |
Route: You will be sent a .gpx file of the route with key waypoints. You are responsible for your own navigation and associated aids.
Support: There
is no external support: no water, no help, no rescue, nothing! The dhow will
shadow the kayakers and you will have your vehicle shadowing your biker/s but
for the runners, there is nothing and the running leg is the most isolated and
dodgy. You will need to be entirely self-sufficient throughout the entire race.
If you feel you cannot cope with such isolation and deal with solo emergencies,
do not enter.
Vehicles: The
driving terrain of the race is almost entirely on graded tracks, though the
descent to Khor Najd and the start of the bike ride need a reasonably decent
4x4s to reach them.
a. Relay Team. Your team must arrive in a single 4x4, carrying
your kayak/ski and bike.
b. Full Monty. Your team must arrive
in a maximum of two 4x4s carrying your kayaks/skis and bikes.
Passports: You
will need to carry your passports for the duration of the race.
Cost: As you
may have worked out, this race is being run with minimal bureaucracy and minimal
support. i.e. almost none. The only cost in running this event is the cost of
the dhow. Thus, the only ‘Cost’ in participating will be the cost of the dhow
divided by the number of teams. I’m aiming to keep it to about AED500 per team
but will try and bring some certainty to it once I know the number of teams
etc...
