North Georgia
Adventure Race
January 14-16, 2011

NGAR Race Rules

Introduction
These rules are written to ensure the safety and integrity of teams and the race promoter. They will be enforced by NGAR staff and volunteers at all times.

Race Advisory Board
The race advisory board is made up of three members of the adventure racing community selected in advance by NGAR for the purpose of advising NGAR and to address protests filed by racers. In the event that a team or racer disputes a decision made by race management they may file a formal protest, in writing, by 3:30 ET 1/16/2011, for review by the Race Advisory Board. Protest forms will be available at all TAs and the Finish. Decisions made by the race advisory board are final. All decisions from the advisory board will be madewithin one week of race completion.

Mandatory Gear Check
There will be no mandatory gear check at registration. Mandatory gear will be checked at some point during the race.

Boat Information
Boats, PFDs, and paddles will be provided by teams. During paddling sections, portaging of boats is allowed. Boats and PFDs are mandatory gear during the paddle section. This means during the paddle if you are found to be more than 50 feet from your boat or PFD you will be disqualified. There are no exceptions. Transporting of boats is the responsibility of support crews. Upon exiting the paddle, teams must carry boats under their own power to the TA check in location. If a support crew assists a team prior to the TA check in location it will be deemed outside assistance and result in disqualification. Once teams have checked in to the TA, support crews may assist with transporting boats to the support vehicle.

Boats must be non-composite, non-aluminum, non-racing canoes less than 18 feet in length. If you have questions, please ask before the race.

Bike Information
When riding at night your handlebar mounted lights and rear red light must be on and visible. Night is between 5:00pm and 7:30am ET. The penalty for riding without visible front or rear lights is disqualification. Your bike and bike gear can be left on the course to obtain a CP.

Towing
Towing of teammates on the bike/paddle/trek is permitted.

Littering
Littering will not be tolerated. Any team (including support staff) found to have intentionally littered or left trash on the course or at any race venue will be disqualified.

100-Foot Rule
Racers must stay within 100 feet of teammates at all times during the race. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification of the offending team.

Maps
Outside maps are permitted. Maps provided by race management will not be replaced. However, there is no penalty for misplaced maps.

Passports
A lost passport/punch card will result in disqualification. If a team punches an incorrect CP square on the passport, it will be assumed that they did not visit the CP. Upon entering a transition area, teams must leave their passport with the TA staff. When the team is ready to depart, TA staff will return the passport. It is the team's responsibility to ensure that Team Name and Team Number are written legibly on the Passport. It is also the team's responsibility to ensure CP staff sign the Passport correctly. It is the team's responsibility to make sure upon exiting a TA that they have their passport.

Misplaced or Stolen CPs
If a team believes a CP is misplaced or stolen, they are allowed to skip that CP and call HQ. Once arriving at the next manned checkpoint, they must also notify checkpoint staff. If the CP is deemed by race staff to be misplaced or stolen, the team will not receive a penalty. If it is in the correct place, the team will not get credit for acquiring the CP unless they return and punch the CP marker. Unmanned CPs will be marked by an orange or pink orienteering flag and pink ribbon.

Information from Race Officials
From time to time, rules/course changes happen along a course. The race directors will notify CP staff of any changes. Teams have a right to request clarification at the CP where change information has been given. Example: Team A arrives at CP15, where they are notified of a course change by the CP staff. Team A has the right, without penalty, to have the CP staff call the race director for clarification if needed. Once Team A has left CP15, it is assumed that their understanding of the rules/course change is sufficient, and they will not receive any more direction from race staff.

Support Crew Rules
The NGAR is a supported race. Receiving any assistance from support persons (including family, friends, etc.) outside of designated transition areas is not permitted. Teams are permitted to buy items from commercial establishments during the race. Teams are allowed to receive directional assistance from members of the general public not affiliated with the race.

Alternate Course Rules
There are various time cutoffs for the race. If a team does not reach a designated cutoff point in time, there will be no alternate course provided. Teams are permitted to skip checkpoints to make a cutoff.

More Rules
Teams may continue if one person withdraws, upon race official approval. The team will be ranked as unofficial. Remaining competitors must carry full team mandatory gear. Voluntary withdrawals must occur at transition areas. However, members of a team may not continue alone. This means that if you are a two person team and your teammate withdraws, you may not continue alone.

Teams are permitted to help each other during the race. Teams may be awarded a time bonus for helping other teams in need. Time bonuses will be decided by the race advisory board.

From time to time there will be a prescribed mandatory route described in the passport directions. Where designated, teams must follow this course. If found off the mandatory route, the penalty is disqualification. At all other points it is up to the team to decide navigation from CP to CP.

The winner shall be determined as the fastest mixed gender complete team of three to complete the course after any penalties/bonuses have been applied. Teams will be of three competitors, either mixed gender, male, or female. Sponsor prizes will be awarded to teams based on finishing order.

Use of cell phones will result in disqualification (with the exception of noting a misplaced CP). Teams should only use their cell phones in emergency situations.

Once a team has been given race maps and passport instructions, they are not allowed on the course. The penalty for a team or support crew being on the course after maps are distributed is disqualification.

Unless specified in the passport instructions, each team, with all of its team members, must pass through checkpoints in numerical order. If a CP is missed, the team is not permitted to return once they visit the next CP. For example, if Team A misses CP5, then visits CP6, they cannot return to CP5 to acquire the point.

Rankings
Teams will be ranked by number of CPs acquired, then by finish time. Teams arriving at the finish after the thirty hour cutoff will be unranked.

Penalties
The penalties are described below:

Disqualification:

Checkpoint Tracker Event Points
You must create a profile on the Checkpoint Tracker site PRIOR to the race if you want the NGAR to count towards your 2010 Checkpoint Tracker Series ranking.

2010 Sponsors