Vasbyt 100hr 2023 Race Info

The Seventh Vasbyt Adventure Race will be in the Drakensberg on the 16 – 21 March 2023 (long weekend). 

The 100hr event will have a winning time of 65-70 hours (excl sleep time) with a race cut off of 100 hours and will be ideal preparation for the upcoming AR World Championships organised by Expedition Africa and schedule for October 2023 in the Eastern Cape.

This event is the first race in the 2023 A1 Adventure Series South Africa

  • Schedule (provisional)
    • Registration from – Thursday, 16 March – 16h00
    • Briefing / Transfer to Start – Thursday, 16 March – 18h00
    • Expected winning team – Sunday, 19 March – 12h00 – 16h00
    • Cut off – Monday, 20 March – 22h00
    • Post Race Breakfast / Awards – Tuesday, 21 March – 08h00
  • Race Venue
    • The race will have a remote registration and start – venue to be announced closer to the time.
    • Finish venue to be confirmed.
    • Accommodation will not be needed for Thursday night – as the start is during the night.
    • We expect most teams to finish between Sunday midday and cut off at 22h00 on Monday.
    • We will have two-man tents (with mattresses) available for teams to sleep in once they finish.
  • Entry details
    • R2000 per person – covers park & forestry fees, medic, maps etc
    • Entries open to teams of four. Mixed team of four is the premier class
    • Limited to 10 teams
    • Entries open 26th September 2022 – ENTRY FORM
  • Pack Rafts
    • Each team will require pack rafts.
    • Pack rafts can be rented from the organisers at R2000 per pack raft (excl paddles) for the event (we will make them available to teams 4 weeks prior to the event for training purposes) – if rental required – will need to be booked by 31 September 2022.
  • Tracking
    • The race will be tracked
  • Prizes / Series
  • Disciplines / conditions
    • Navigation – 1:50 000 maps – intermediate to advanced level
    • Running/Trekking/Kloofing – hiking paths, cattle tracks, off trail
    • Mountain Biking – district roads, farm tracks, singletrack, cattle tracks, (could be some hike a bike)
    • Pack Rafting – river / flowing water – Grade 2 / 3
    • The race may include rope work
    • Expect day time temperatures to reach the high 20’s. Night time will drop to the low 5 and possible lower.  Good chance you will experience thunderstorms, rain and mist.
  • Distance / Race time
    • The winning team can expect to take around 68-70 hours (excluding sleep time)
    • Finish cut off is 100 hours
    • There will be a cut off late in the race where teams will be re-directed onto a short course to have them finish before the 100 hour cut off.
    • Short course teams will still be ranked
    •  All teams will be ranked, provided they follow Race Director instructions
    • Estimated distance to be confirmed
    • Provisional discipline split – approximately 25% pack rafting, 25% trekking, 50% Mountain biking.
  • Transitions / support
    • No support crew needed
    • Bike boxes will be required for all team members
    • One transition box per team will be allowed (100L capacity – maximum) – 25kg maximum weight (you can pack custard in the boxes, as long as it is under weight)
    • There will be remote transitions
    • Trekking shoes/clothes will need to be carried on the mountain biking legs
    • Water will be available from streams along the route and at the remote TA’s
  • Equipment
    • Mandatory Equipment – The following list is compulsory and you will need to carry these at all times in addition to your normal discipline gear that you deem necessary
    • PER PERSON
      • Waterproof jacket
      • Baselayer top
      • Space Blanket
      • Passport
      • Headtorch
    • PER TEAM
      • Cellphone – 1 per team (will be sealed)
      • Camera – to take photo’s of the CP’s (this is your CP card – so make sure it does not fail)
      • One sleeping bag per team
      • Basic first aid kit – i.e. Anti inflammatories, painkillers, bandage, plasters – Medics will not supply this stuff
      • Don’t forget things like – Compass, Bike lights, warm clothing (it will be chilly at night) and mapwork stationery
    • FOR PACK RAFT LEGS
        • PFD (for pack raft legs only)
        • Paddle (for pack raft legs only)
        • 2 x 15m throw ropes (for pack raft legs only)
    • FOR TRANSITIONS
      • Bike boxes for each team member
      • 1 x 100L TA Box
  • Race Rules
  • Spectators / Volunteers
    • Due to landowner restrictions, no spectators will be allowed out on the route
    • There are a few spots where teams can be seen and these will be highlighted during briefing – as well as the rules associated with interacting with teams out on the route
    • Non racing partners who wish to be involved can help us by volunteering to camp out at the remote TA’s. Contact us if interested

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