North Carolina Ultra Marathon (NCUM)

Overview

The next North Carolina Ultra Marathon is  Saturday, September 26, 2009. There is an equipment inspection Friday evening and early Saturday morning, with Captains Meeting Saturday morning before the race start (see schedule). Cost is $75.00  for the captain and $50.00 for a crew member if any.

All WaterTribe events are dangerous events as defined by law and common sense. You are responsible for your own safety. You must read and understand the WaterTribe Rules and Warnings (see the link in the left side menu) before you register for this event. This is the first time WaterTribe is hosting an event in NC. Although the warnings read specific to Florida, they all apply to the NC environment and must be read and understood for this event.

The NCUM is run as an unsupported, expedition style adventure race for kayaks, canoes and small boats. Your safety and well being are completely up to you. You should be an expert kayaker and/or sailor before you consider this ultra marathon. Although this event is not an ocean race, the location is coastal, subject to the same weather patterns and conditions one finds beyond the narrow barrier islands, and impacting the shallow sounds.

Unsupported means that there are no safety boats or support crews to help you during the race. You are not allowed to have a support crew follow you or meet you during the race. See the official WaterTribe Rules for more details. Expedition style means that you should carry the same type of equipment and supplies that you would carry on a major expedition. Please study the Required Equipment section in the WaterTribe Rules/Warning PDF (left side menu) which details required and suggested equipment for WaterTribe events.

Although this is a race, many participants are more interesting in cruising and adventure. Whether you are a cruiser or racer is up to you; time allows for both. However, due to the sprint nature of this event, you are not required to carry camping equipment. Participants in the NCUM can carry a much lighter load than participants in the full NC Challenge, if they choose to. Of course you must still carry all safety equipment as specified by the Coast Guard, local regulations and common sense. In addition, all boats in this marathon are required to carry a SPOT device. Please read the Instructions Spot Setup and Usage PDF (see the link in the left side menu) for all WaterTribe Events. The NCUM route is primarily an undeveloped and remote area, thus please choose your equipment needs carefully.

There will be an award ceremony banquet Sunday afternoon at the Driftwood Restaurant shared with the finishers of the NC Challenge. Even if you are a cruiser, set your sights on finishing by noon on Sunday. It will be worth it.

Accommodations: Camping at Driftwood Campground at Cedar Island (no reservations: first-come, first-served), or reserve a room at The Driftwood Motel, www.clis.com/deg/.

Schedule

Note that the NCUM runs concurrently with the North Carolina Challenge (NCC), starting the day after the NCC begins, yet designed to finish around the same time.

Captains Meeting and Gear Inspection - As Listed in Table Below Is Mandatory.
Race - Saturday, September 26, 2009 to Sunday, September 27, 2009.

Route

The NCUM is a counter-clockwise circumnavigation, starting and finishing at the same location, on the beach at Cedar Island, to the east of the ferry dockage at WP1

The race start is on the grounds of the Driftwood Campground and Motel, with plenty of parking. The beach start and finish to the right of the Public Wildlife boat ramp is tidal, and shallow (see photo above). Larger boats can launch at the boat ramp into a small jettied inlet before heading out to the right and landing on the start beach just around a breakwater point. Kayaks and canoes can be easily hand carried to the beach from the temporary parking area at the boat ramp. Boats may be left above the high tide line on Friday night for the Saturday morning start.

NOTE: If you arrive late, you may still participate. Race officials will be at the starting line for at least one hour after the official start. As long as you complete gear inspection and check in with a race official before you launch you can still be in the race. Your time however, will not be adjusted for a late start.

Note: The table includes waypoints for both the North Carolina Challenge (NCC) and the North Carolina Ultra Marathon (NCUM). The photo only shows the waypoints for the NCUM.

The route (above) follows the coast around Cedar Island to the North and West into the Neuse River, crossing West Bay, and around Piney Island. The circumnavigation is made possibly using both the Old Canal thru Piney Island (also known as Indian Ditch) entrance waypoint WP2, and the Thorofare Canal thru Cedar Island (often shortened to Ther’fer in the local lingo), entrance waypoint WP3. Both are narrow yet marked navigable canals. These NC canals have a unique history of being originally hand dug by American Indians, then continued and maintained by African slaves who were the primary inheritors of Native knowledge of local fisheries, waterways and techniques. There is one tall bridge between Thorfare Canal and Thorofare Bay that is easily passed under.

Beyond the general route description above, participants should provide their own routing and navigation needs to complete their challenge.

Charts:

TOPSPOT Chart N 239 Pamlico Sound To Morehead City Inshore - recommended

Please take note that the UM route is primarily an undeveloped and remote area. Piney Island is a military training facility and target range (though bombing simulations are now recorded and scored electronically via computers to lessen the environmental impact). There are restricted areas marked on the chart on both the outside and inside of Piney Island.

Cedar Island is also home to the Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge, providing habitat and protection for endangered species such as American alligators and brown pelicans, and provides habitat and protection for migratory waterfowl and other waterbirds. Though not marked on the charts, these areas are well marked with signs prohibiting landings and camping.

Weather:

Weather and sea conditions including current and historical data can be obtained at http://www.wunderground.com/US/NC/Cedar_Island.html.