Rusty Iron Race

   Race XXIV   

Time to tone your rusty winter muscles and prepare for another epic race! 
Sanctioned by

Saturday, April 20, 2024

Frenchman’s Bar Park, Washington

9612 NW Lower River Road, Vancouver, WA 98660

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 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 Raffle drawings 

                          Many prizes generously donated by:  Pacific Outrigger members and

                        

 

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

 Points to Note

  • New this year:  Teams must be registered by one contact person on this form by midnight Thursday April 18.  Contact person turns in payment and Paddlesport waiver for each racer to the registration desk the morning of the race.  Canoe number and colors must be provided at that time if not already entered on the form.
  • $40 fee ($25 for Juniors age 19 and under) per paddler includes morning snacks, coffee, water, insurance, all-day racing and a gift.
  • 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. PNWORCA Official 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.
  • 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.

 Race Description & Cautions

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 Contacts

 Race Information  Kirk Sharrer, Race Director, kmcksharrer@comcast.net

Race Registration   Charlene Dickinson, allan4418@msn.com

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

2013 Logo Credit:  John Swanson, Manvil