Festival rules

Snagov Kayak Fest Regulations

The Snagov Kayak Fest event is a private sporting activity organized by the CAIAC FAN Association (hereinafter referred to as the Organizer), in collaboration with MV INDIGO CLUB-ARTHA and LAGOO SNAGOV.

This Regulation represents an agreement between the Organizer and the Participant. By participating in the event, the Participant undertakes to comply with this Regulation.

The Organizer reserves the right to modify this Regulation at any time, without prior notice to the Participant. Any modification will be published on the official event page, in the Regulations section, or communicated by e-mail to the Participant.

Festival Activities:

On the water:

“Popular Race / Long Course” – approximately 18 km;
“Kids Race / Short Course” – approximately 4 km;
“Eskimo Roll Contest” – held at the Artha Park pontoon.

Inside the festival grounds:

• Workshops: Sea Kayaking skills & equipment;

• Kayaking workshops;

• Technical sessions and equipment preparation;

• Workshops and activities for children;

• Camping activities.

Access and participation:

• Entry to the festival is FREE. Camping inside the venue is subject to payment of the participation fee.

• Participation in the organized races (long and short course) is subject to payment of the registration fee.

• All participants must present an identity document and the signed declaration of responsibility.

• Children under 14 may only participate if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Access prohibited:

Access is prohibited with drugs, weapons, blunt objects, pyrotechnics, explosives or other dangerous items as defined by law.

Participation at own risk:

Persons with physical or mental conditions for whom sporting activities or loud noises pose a risk participate solely at their own risk.

Competition categories and boats:

Age categories:

Juniors (7+ <18 years)
Seniors (60+)
Female
Male
Child companion

Race courses:

Short course – 4 km;
Long course – 18 km.

Boats:

SUP – rigid/inflatable (only for the 4 km course),
Sit-on-top kayak,
Single sit-in kayak,
Double kayak (sit-in or sit-on-top),
Canoe,
ELITE.

• If a category has fewer than 3 participants, they will automatically be transferred to the OPEN category.

Note: The ELITE category includes any K1 and K2 craft with a width less than 50 cm (K1) or 55 cm (K2), with or without watertight hatches, of any weight and material. Also included are any sprint kayaks (ICF, K1/K2/K4) and surfski, high-performance kayaks, narrow and fast, designed for speed and competition. These boats may start together with other types of kayaks, but for ranking and awards they will be included in a separate category, to ensure fairness between types of craft with different performance levels. All boats will be checked on site by the organizers, together with other competitors, to eliminate any doubt regarding their inclusion in this category, including in cases where some models are specially built with two hatches or at the minimum dimension allowed by the rules.

For double kayaks, both participants must be registered in the competition, each receiving their own race number.

Mandatory equipment:

Life jacket (PFD) – mandatory for all water activities;
Race number – visible throughout the race.

Validation of participation

For validation, participants must present an identity document, pay the fee, and sign the declaration of responsibility.

Checkpoints and refreshments

The organizers will set up checkpoints and refreshment points, properly marked. These will be placed in the Start/Finish area as well as in boats used as reference or arbitration points.

Race/Competition Regulations:

1. Eligibility:

   The race is open to all participants registered and validated under the above conditions.

2. Categories:

   Rankings are made by age categories and types of boats, according to registrations.

3. Accepted boats:

   Only the boats specified in the regulations are accepted. Organizers will verify their inclusion in the categories.

4. Mandatory equipment:

   Life jackets are mandatory. Failure to wear them leads to disqualification.

5. Start and course:

   The start is given according to the organizers’ instructions. The course is marked and must be followed in full.

6. Overtaking and wash riding (excerpt adapted from ICF rules for amateur races):

• Due to the nature of the course, groups of participants may form along the way. In these situations, wash riding (drafting / slipstreaming), also known as “riding the wake” or “in the slipstream,” may naturally occur.

• This practice, being inevitable especially in narrow areas of the course, is permitted, but competitors must ensure that their maneuvers do not endanger their own safety or that of others.

• When overtaking, the paddler coming from behind must leave enough space and not deliberately block the opponent, especially in narrow areas or at buoys.

• Unsportsmanlike behavior is prohibited: intentional ramming of other boats, blocking the course, or gaining advantages through risky maneuvers.

Fair play and camaraderie are mandatory. This is an amateur and friendly competition, where community and mutual respect prevail, even in a competitive context.

7. Narrow sections:

   In narrow passages or at buoys, competitors must keep distance to avoid collisions. Priority is given to the boat on the shortest line.

8. Assistance on the course:

   External assistance is not permitted, except for interventions by the organizers in case of emergency, with participants’ safety being the top priority.

9. Safety and fair play:

   Sportsmanship and mutual respect are expected. Unsportsmanlike behavior may lead to disqualification.

10. Race stoppage:

    Organizers may stop the race or withdraw a participant if there are safety reasons or if the rules are not respected.

11. Ranking and awards:

    The ranking is determined by the order of arrival at the finish line, by categories. Prizes are awarded according to the official announcement.

12. Responsibility:

    Participation is at the participant’s own risk. Organizers are not responsible for injuries, losses, or damages occurring during the competition.

Disqualification:

Reasons for disqualification: not following the course, not wearing a PFD, loss of race number, unsportsmanlike conduct, unauthorized assistance.

Withdrawal from the race:

Participants who can no longer continue must immediately inform the organizers.

Code of conduct:

Social rules and applicable laws must be respected. Protecting the environment and green areas within the festival grounds is mandatory, as well as protecting aquatic flora and fauna.

Processing of personal data:

Participants’ data is collected and processed solely for logistical purposes, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679.