Schedule Update - GBSUP British National Championships
- Scott Warren
- Jun 5
- 5 min read
URGENT: Important Schedule Update - GBSUP British National Championships, Paddle Logger Falmouth Bay Open
Dear GBSUP Participants,
As the Event and Race Director for GBSUP, Scott Warren, I want to provide you with a crucial update regarding the British National Championships, proudly hosted at the Paddle Logger Falmouth Bay Open this weekend. Our paramount concern is always the safety of our participants, and all decisions are made with this principle at the forefront.
We have been closely monitoring a low-pressure weather system forecast to move through the Falmouth area on Saturday, 7th June. In response to this, and to ensure the safest possible conditions for all participants, we have made some necessary adjustments to our schedule, which I'll detail below.
Understanding Our Weather & Safety Decisions: Why We Make the Calls We Do
We understand that schedule changes can impact your plans, and we want to provide full transparency on how we monitor conditions and make critical safety decisions. Our process is robust, combining expert knowledge with real-time data to ensure the best possible experience for everyone, safely.
Our Critical Wind Limit: Our critical wind limit for safe racing is 25mph. However, this limit is applied with careful consideration of the specific location and its natural shelter. For instance:
Falmouth Bay: For the Paddle Logger Falmouth Bay Open, we are expecting strong winds on Saturday. However, the prevailing wind direction, combined with the significant shelter provided by the local land structure, cliffs, and headlands, means we can create a course that offers sheltered conditions on the water. This natural protection allows us to operate closer to our 25mph threshold, adjusting the course layout to maximise safety within the bay.
Oxford Event Comparison: In contrast, locations like our Oxford event have much more exposure and a distinct lack of natural shelter. Therefore, at such venues, we implement a stricter 20mph wind limit to ensure participant safety, reflecting the increased vulnerability to wind.
Our Monitoring Process: Our commitment to safety begins long before event day:
Long-Range Monitoring: We commence monitoring forecasts regularly from two weeks out.
Daily Checks: This escalates to a daily monitoring review from seven days out.
Intensified Monitoring: For events like Falmouth, where potential weather systems were identified in long-range forecasts, we increased our monitoring to several times a day.
Forecast Confidence: Our extensive experience tells us that by mid-week, we typically gain a much greater degree of confidence in the stability and accuracy of the forecast. However, we maintain continuous vigilance right up to and throughout the event.
Falmouth's Specific Monitoring: For Falmouth, specifically, we've seen a change in the forecast today (Thursday, 5th June). This shift immediately led us to prioritise safety by cancelling the Junior Nippers for Saturday and rescheduling the AquaPaddle to Sunday.
We utilise a variety of tools to gather comprehensive insights:
Weather Apps & Online Forecasts: Standard meteorological data provides the broad picture.
Surf Reports: For coastal venues like Falmouth, surf reports offer valuable context on wave conditions and swell.
Local Teams: Crucially, our local teams provide invaluable, on-the-ground insights into the conditions specific to the event location.
For Falmouth, we have combined all these tools and knowledge with daily checks over the past three days at the actual event site, integrated with comparisons across various forecast models and even video assessments, to provide us with the best possible understanding of what to expect.
Dynamic Assessment & Flexibility: That said, we cannot truly predict every nuance of the weather. Therefore, we always employ a dynamic assessment on the day to fully back up our plans and ensure we adhere strictly to our safety measures and parameters.
For Saturday's Distance Race in Falmouth, we have built in a start window between 13:30 and 15:00. This flexibility gives us the best possible option of running the race if conditions are safe to do so, allowing us to find the most opportune moment.
Additionally, we are able to flex the course in layout and distance to best accommodate the weather on the day and local conditions.
Ongoing Event Monitoring: Throughout the entire event window, we will continue to:
Monitor the weather forecast continuously.
Check the weather radar at regular intervals.
Have our dedicated safety team strategically positioned around the course to monitor conditions, observe participants, and provide vital, real-time insight from their locations.
Revised Schedule Overview:
Saturday, 7th June: Distance Focus
Morning Activities Cancelled: To ensure participant safety during the passage of the weather system, all morning activities, including the early morning check-in, Junior Nippers, and AquaPaddle, are cancelled for Saturday morning.
Junior Nippers: There will be no Junior Nippers on Saturday.
AquaPaddle Event: The AquaPaddle event will now take place on Sunday morning, with a briefing at 09:30 and a start at 10:00. AquaPaddle check-in will be available during the main Sunday morning check-in period (08:00 - 08:45). Please look out for direct communication from the AquaPaddle team for further specifics.
Saturday Afternoon Distance Race: We are pleased to confirm that the Distance Race is still scheduled to go ahead on Saturday afternoon.
At this time, please expect the Saturday afternoon schedule to remain as planned for the Distance Race:
12:00 - 12:45: Afternoon Check-in (Event HQ - GBSUP Main Tent)
13:15: Distance Race Briefing (Event HQ - GBSUP Main Tent)
13:45: Anticipated Start Time
As mentioned above, we will continue to monitor the forecasts closely and will flex the course and start time to align with the best conditions on the day within the potential start window between 13:30 and 15:00. If a suitable course (which may include shortening the distance) and event window cannot be found, the Distance event will not start later than 15:30.
Any announcements will be published to you via email and through the Buccaneer Sessions app, with this method serving as our primary communication channel during the event. Please ensure you have downloaded the app (following the instructions in your Event Pack).
Sunday, 8th June: Technical & Sprint Focus
AquaPaddle Added: The AquaPaddle briefing will be at 09:30, with the event starting at 10:00.
The remainder of Sunday's schedule, including the Junior Nippers, Sprint Races, and Technical Races, is currently planned to proceed as originally published.
Throughout the Day: Industry Demos, Talks, and Clinics.
16:30: Event Ceremony presented by BSUPA.
17:00: Event Close presented by Paddle Logger.
Important Next Steps for Participants:
Updated Event Pack: We will be publishing an updated event pack shortly and will send the download link to all competitors in our next email communication.
Web Updates: Our event webpage and Webscorer will also be updated to reflect these changes. Please check these platforms regularly for the latest information.
Thank you for your understanding and flexibility as we navigate these conditions. We are committed to delivering a safe and competitive event.
We look forward to seeing you in Falmouth!
Best regards,
Scott Warren, Event & Race Director, GBSUP
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