Howl at the Moon Adventure Race
October 10, 2009

Rules

Rules Version 2 - Oct. 4, 2009

1. Rules stated or distributed on race day will override any prior written rules.
2. Major emergencies take precedence over existing rules.
3. Rules can only be modified or changed by race officials, who will be identified on race day.
4. Racers are expected to respect their fellow competitors and race officials.
5. All racers must sign a waiver on race day.
6. Penalty details will be included in passport.
7. No littering allowed. Follow the outdoor motto "Pack it in, Pack it out." Garbage may only be left at designated areas.
8. The use of controlled substances will result in automatic disqualification.
9. Sabotaging unmanned checkpoints will result in automatic disqualification.
10. The use of motorized transportation will result in automatic disqualification.
11. All competitors must have purchased a USARA license to participate in the race.
12. One set of maps, passport, and instructions will be given per team just prior to race start.
13. Each racer is responsible to bring items stipulated in mandatory gear list.
14. Teams must carry passport at all times. Lost passports will result in a time penalty.
15. Teams must carry mandatory gear at all times unless otherwise noted. Race officials or volunteers may request surprise spot checks.
16. Team members must travel within 100 yards of each other, check in together, and complete all segments of the race together. Failure to do so will result in time penalties.
17. Manned Checkpoints must be completed in sequential order (e.g., 1,2,3, etc).
18. In the event of a missed checkpoint, team must check in at missed Manned CP and continue in sequential order even though team might have already visited a Manned CP.
19. Orienteering Flags (OPs) between two immediate manned CPs can be punched in any order.
20. OPs must be punched in the discipline defined and within the same outing (eg. cannot punch OP in boat leg if defined in passport during foot leg or punch OP during second foot outing while out on first foot outing)
21. Teams are not allowed to receive assistance from anyone other than competitors or race officials outside of transition area.
22. No GPS allowed. We use the honor code for most rules and adhering to such rules demonstrates character and respect for this sport. Those who don’t dishonor fellow competitors on the field. Do the right thing!
23. No two-way communications is allowed (i.e., two way radios).
24. All team members must complete the course to be considered ranked.
25. Barring an emergency, team members who withdraw from race are required to get to a checkpoint or transition area. Remaining team members must accompany teammate until he or she arrives at CP or TA.
26. In the event one person remains of a two person or four person team, the remaining soloist will be allowed to continue at the discretion of race officials.
27. Competitors are to inform race official or volunteer as quickly as possible of a team's withdrawal at the nearest CP or TA.
28. Teams may be redirected to alternate route if unable to meet cutoff times.
29. Course change may be required due to safety reasons.
30. Cell use is for emergency purposes only or to notify race officials of current status.
31. Paramedic may bar any racer from continuing on the racecourse if they feel a competitor would be in serious health risk if he or she continued the race.
32. A race volunteer may hold a racer until a certified first aid attendant or race official arrives to make determination if a racer will continue.


Additional Rules for Bike Segments

In addition to the general rules stated above, the following applies during biking legs:
- Helmets must be worn at all times during the biking segment

Additional Rules for Paddling Segments

-Life vests must be worn at all times. Glow sticks are required for night travel on water.

Disqualifications

-Receiving assistance from someone other than competitors or race officials outside of transition area. However, asking for directions and stopping at stores is allowed.
-Use of GPS.
-Use of communications (i.e., two way radios/phones) in non-emergency purposes (communicating with race officials is allowed)
-Use of motorized means of transportation
-Use of controlled substances

Time Penalties

-Lost passports - 2 hours
-Missing mandatory gear- 1 hour per missing item
-Team members not traveling together - 4 hour time penalty 1st offense
-Littering - 4 hours
-Missing OP - 3 hours per missing OP
-Riding Bike on the Florida foot Trail Single Track 4 hours first infraction

Rankings

Teams that obtain all OPs, CPs barring any penalties will rank highest regardless of finishing time within race deadline
Teams that gather the most OPs will rank higher than those that obtain less barring any penalties

Do:

Check in and Check Out at each manned TA/CP
Clearly Punch the OP so it is clearly visible with the correct punch
Punch OP in the correct passport spot
Deliver the passport to the official