Rusty Iron Race

           Rusty Iron E-Waiver

Scroll down for the Registration Form under “Registration & Important Points to Note”Tone your rusty winter muscles and prepare for another epic race! 

          Sanctioned by

Saturday, April 26, 2025 

Frenchman’s Bar Park  – 9612 NW Lower River Road – Vancouver, WA

Registration & Important Points to Note

  • Each racing crew must be registered by one Contact Person by midnight Thursday, April 24.
  • New this year:  The Contact Person assures that each crew member completes and submits the Rusty Iron E-WAIVER before completing this RUSTY IRON REGISTRATION FORM.   When selecting the “Submit” button at the bottom of the E-waiver, the E-Waiver automatically reaches Paddlesport Risk Management.  POCC (Pacific Outrigger Canoe Club) is able to check that the submission went through.  If unable to complete and submit an E-Waiver, please use the “Print Form” option at the bottom of the E-Waiver, complete the paper form and bring to registration on race day. 
  • Contact Person checks in at the Registration Desk the morning of the race to turn in payment of $40 fee ($25 for Juniors age 19 and under) per paddler and completes any updating. Canoe number and colors must be provided at that time if not already entered on the registration form.  Fee includes morning snacks, coffee, water, insurance, all-day racing, a raffle ticket and a gift.  Check, cash, Venmo, Zelle accepted. 
  • Oregon Waterway Access Permit (Information in this paragraph revised 4/21/2025):  For the Rusty Iron, Oregon canoes in use on the Columbia River should have an Oregon Waterways Access permit, and Washington canoes may need an aquatic invasive species prevention permit issued by Washington.  POCC will not be checking for these permits.  If an enforcement official stops a canoe on the river, the responsibility goes to the canoe’s owner.  For more infomation about the Oregon permit and purchasing, visit the Oregon Waterway Access Permit site.
  • Frenchman’s Bar Park parking fee is $3 per vehicle and $6 per vehicle with a trailer.  When fee booths are not staffed, you will need to use self-pay stations.  Self-pay stations accept cash, coin, debit cards, Visa and MasterCard. They do not accept checks, Discover or American Express cards.  Under Clark County Code, parking a vehicle without paying the required daily fee or displaying a valid parking pass could result in a $40 fine.
  • The Rusty Iron is sanctioned by Pacific Northwest Outrigger Racing Association (PNWORCA) and insured by Paddlesport Risk Management, LLC (PRM).  Race rules, regulations and safety procedures are in accordance with PRM and PNWORCA.  Official PNWORCA Rules
  • Pacific Outrigger must certify to PRM, that all canoes have working and accessible PFD’s for every person on board.  The PFD’s must be US Coast Guard Class I, II, III or V approved.  Each canoe must have at least one working bailer and a whistle.  There will be a pre-race inspection of every canoe.
  • All canoes must have PNWORCA assigned numbers applied (port bow) prior to racing.

Best-laid-plans Schedule

 8:00 am   Registration opens
 9:30        Steers’ meeting

10:00      Short Course for all divisions & canoe types                                                                     (4-mile course good for novices, youth, OC1’s, etc.)

11:30 or 15 minutes after completion of Short Course                                                                     Long Course** (approx 8 miles) for Mixed* & Kupuna OC6                                          Long Course**  for Women OC6.  Start is 2 minutes after Mixed start.

Noon       Enjoy a grilled hamburger lunch for $10 sugg. donation                                                                 Includes trimmings and salad

1:00 or 15 minutes after completion of Mixed, Kupuna & Women’s race                                           Long course** for Men OC6  

          * Because of canoe availability, some mixed crews may paddle with the men

       **  Open to all classes

 2:30           Awards and Spectacular Raffle drawing

                         Prizes generously donated by:  Pacific Outrigger members and

             

   

 

We are responsible for removing the trash we generate – please help with recycling.

 Race Description & Cautions

Vehicles with trailers use caution when entering and exiting the park.  It’s a tight turn into the park by the large park sign which narrows the entrance and exit road.

The races are on the Columbia River and start from the rigging area at Frenchman’s Bar Park.  The short course will start downstream (north), turn at 2 miles and finish at the start line.  The long course (yellow line in photo along east side of river) will start from the rigging area going upstream (south) and turn at about 2 miles, go downstream about 4 miles, turn and finish at the starting line.  The short course is approximately 4 miles and the long course is approximately 8 miles.

Though the beach area is shallow, be aware of sudden drop-offs and strong currents.   The beach is unguarded.  The Columbia River is an open commercial waterway.  Ships, tugs, barges and possibly fishing boats will be present on the river.  Stay out of their way–please use caution and common sense.

We recommend that you bring shelter and an adequate supply of clothing to keep warm and dry in predictable rain and cool spring weather.

Frenchman’s Bar is a lush 120-acre regional park located  in Clark County on the Columbia River about two miles west of Vancouver Lake Park. It features a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities and nicely fits our needs for competitive racing.  The expansive beach and play area provides ample room for rigging and play.

Frenchman’s Bar Park gives the following advisories:

Unguarded beach and river
Fast currents
Water depth varies
Sudden river bed drop-offs
Swim at your own risk

Prohibited in the park:

Alcohol/drug possession
Tobacco products
Fires, Camping
Glass containers on beach

Directions to Frenchman’s Bar Park

9612 NW Lower River Road, Vancouver, WA 98660:

From Portland on I-5 –

  1. Take the WA-501/Mill Plain Blvd exit, EXIT 1C, toward Port of Vancouver (.3 mi.).
  2. Turn left onto WA-501/E Mill Plain Blvd. Continue to follow WA-501 W (6.9 mi.)
  3. Frenchman’s Bar Park is on the left (2 miles west of Vancouver Lake Park).

From North on I-5 –

  1. Take the East-4th Plain Blvd-West exit, EXIT1D.
  2. Keep right at the fork in the ramp and Turn slight right onto E Fourth Plain Blvd (1.5 mi.).
  3. Turn right onto NW Lower River Rd/WA-501 (5.1 mi.).
  4. Frenchman’s Bar Park is on the left (2 miles west of Vancouver Lake Park).

Race Venue Map

Rusty Contact

 Race Information  hello@pacificoutrigger.com

The information regarding this race is intended to be as accurate as possible.  Conditions of the day may determine that changes could happen.