2023 Ocean Racing World Championships set for new dates and location in Perth

2023 Ocean Racing World Championships Confirmed for Perth

The 2023 Ocean Racing World Championships are scheduled to take place in Perth, Western Australia, commencing one week after the conclusion of the Shaw and Partners WA Race Week. This scheduling decision definitively separates the two major events, dispelling earlier hopes of a combined competition.

Previously, Paddle Australia, the national body affiliated with the ICF, alongside the Indian Ocean Paddlers (a local surfski group) and Dean Gardiner's Oceanpaddler, the organizers behind the WA Race Week, had explored the potential of integrating the World Championships with the West Coast Downwind event. However, despite a recent meeting of all involved parties during the last WA Race Week, an agreement could not be reached, leading to the abandonment of this collaborative concept.

Consequently, Paddle Australia plans to appoint an independent event management team to oversee the World Championships, which are now slated for November 30 to December 3.

Reasons for Separate Events

A source close to the negotiations indicated that both the ICF and Dean Gardiner had non-negotiable positions. A significant point of contention revolved around the ICF's mandate for all World Championships participants to be registered members of their respective national federations. This posed a challenge as Paddle Australia has limited involvement in the country's ocean paddling scene, meaning most downwind athletes lack such affiliation. Furthermore, various commercial and philosophical disagreements contributed to the breakdown of discussions, though the parties reportedly concluded their talks amicably.

However, this amicable conclusion might not extend to the athletes, who could face logistical challenges.

The Shaw and Partners WA Race Week is scheduled from November 18 to November 25, culminating in 'The Doctor' race. With the World Championships concluding on December 3,...

[go to the magazine: thepaddler]

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