FBOR’26 Singles Day – Saturday

 
For the first time we’re running as Singles Day on Saturday and a Doubles Day on the Sunday – each with the option of two courses:
 
The ELITE course is 17km of exposed open ocean, suitable for very advanced and elite paddlers who can consistently handle open ocean at speed!
 
The OPEN course is 12+km of slightly less exposed seaway and suitable for capable, strong intermediate to advanced paddlers.
 
These are both classed as Grade 3 and neither easy! So you must have successfully completed an ORUK Grade 1 or 2 race this year to be eligible to enter.

FBOR’25 – ELITE – Intended Course Description

 

START from the beach to the east of Ocean Lab (SA64 6DE) and Inner Breakwater. All craft to line up on beach for final checks. Competitors stand knee deep in the water with boat on your right side. Start signal – siren.

Leg 1)  Start to Lighthouse.
The breakwater is to your left – ahead is the lighthouse at the end of the outer breakwater.

Leg 2)  Lighthouse to Cow & Calf.
Turn left around the lighthouse and stay close to the breakwater – there are often plenty of  reflections. Cow & Calf are the inner and outer rocks – head between them and turn hard right back to the East when in clear water.

Leg 3)  Cow & Calf to Pen Anglas.
Continue with cliffs to your left – beyond the end point of Pen Anglas a support boat will be by the rounding mark. In any wind there is a rough patch just off the point, this is where you turn East.

Leg 4)  Downwind to Dinas Head.
With winds from the west quadrant this leg will give you wind waves and ground swell – happy surfing – 5.6km. There are usually multiple reflections of swell and chop bouncing off the cliffs at Dinas Head. Cutting close will give the straightest line to Cerrig Edrywy but the flood tide runs faster 200-300 meters further out, the choice is yours.

Leg 5)  Downwind to Cerrig Edrywy (Druid’s Rock).
More downwind swell and wind waves for 4.3km, often building as you approach Cerrig Edrywy.
 
The rock is difficult to pick out from a distance so see the attached photograph. At a distance you can pick out three ‘corries’ in the cliff, Cerrig Edrywy is under the right hand one of these three.
 
Here’s a short VIDEO CLIP of the approach to the rock >>>
The rock is there all the time at right of centre, but you often can’t see it into the sun.
Leg 6)  Cerrig Edrywy to Finish Line. 1.6km.
There are shallows inshore = extra chop. To get through the rough, either head straight for the beach (steep cross chop) or turn right between Cerrig Edrywy and adjacent reef to clear the rough patch sooner and get a cleaner run to the beach.
 
FINISH line is directly under the SLSC building, the only one on the beach. There will be feather flags to show the exact location.
 
Remember to hand in your GPS TRACKER and Bib after you cross the line!
Caffi Mawr Café is right in the carpark to top up your caffeine and carbs!
 
Newport Sands SLSC car park is run by National Parks and is about £8/day – make sure you pay when you drop off your car BEFORE the race. Fees are cheaper than fines!
 
Note: It takes a good 25 mins to get there by road from Goodwick so allow AT LEAST and hour for the round trip to be sure you’re back for briefing and pre-race checks.
 
This course is weather dependent and may have to be changed a few days before the race!

FBOR’26 – OPEN – Intended Course Description

 

START
. . . from the beach to the east of Ocean Lab (SA64 6DE) and Inner Breakwater. All craft to line up on beach for final checks. Competitors stand knee deep in the water with boat on your right side.
The race officer will be in a RIB just offshore – One minute warning – Siren and raised Flag. The Flag will drop within one minute, which is your signal to START!
 
Leg 1)  Start to Lighthouse.
The breakwater is to your left – ahead is the lighthouse at the end of the outer breakwater.
 
Leg 2)  Lighthouse to Dinas Head.
With winds from the west quadrant this leg will give you wind waves and ground swell – happy surfing – 5.4km.
 
There are usually multiple reflections of swell and chop bouncing off the cliffs at Dinas Head. Cutting close will give the straightest line to the finish but complex reflections, and the flood tide runs faster 200-300 meters further out – the choice is yours!
 
Leg 3)  Dinas Head to Finish Line.
Cross over Newport Bay and aim for the left hand, east, side. The finish line is on the FAR LEFT side of the beach – NOT where you see the buildings of Newport town in the centre.
The FINISH line is directly under the SLSC building, the only one on the beach. There will be feather flags to show the exact location.
 
Remember to hand in your GPS TRACKER and Bib after you cross the line!
Caffi Mawr Café is right in the carpark to top up your caffeine and carbs!
 
Newport Sands SLSC car park is run by National Parks and is about £8/day – make sure you pay when you drop off your car BEFORE the race. Fees are cheaper than fines!
 
Note: It takes a good 25 mins to get there by road from Goodwick so allow AT LEAST and hour for the round trip to be sure you’re back for briefing and pre-race checks.
 
This course is weather dependent and may have to be changed a few days before the race!

Download your FBOR’26 Course information here

FBOR'26 ELITE Course Description

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FBOR'26 OPEN Course Description

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Elite & Open COURSE MAP

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