The Power Dinghy Racing Club Inc. has made the difficult decision to cancel the Nannup Cup for the second year in a row, due to a lack of rainfall resulting in little to no water in the river.
We understand this will be disappointing for competitors, spectators, and the local community, but the current river conditions simply make the event unfeasible.
Please pass this on!
The Nannup Cup, the first river race of the season, is an eagerly anticipated event that spans 92km along the Blackwood River from Nannup Caravan Park to Sue’s Bridge. The course is characterised by long pools, which can be obstructed by various obstacles such as trees, fallen logs, and rapids. As this race takes place early in the season, participants should be prepared for the possibility of facing a more challenging course due to low water levels, which demand a higher level of skill and experience to navigate.
This race is a valuable opportunity for participants to hone their river racing skills and gain experience in handling specialised boats before the Avon Descent in August. The race offers a chance to navigate a demanding course, and to build on the competencies that will be essential for success in future events.
All Power Dinghy classes are open to compete, including the Standard, Super Standard, Sports, and Adventure Class. The event is scheduled over the long weekend in June, culminating with a presentation ceremony at the Nannup Hotel on Sunday evening, where participants can share their stories and continue the celebrations into the night.
On Saturday, the Nannup Cup designates a “practice” day, but unlike practice days for other events that primarily focus on members honing their racing skills, the Nannup Cup practice day is more oriented towards training new members. Saturday 31 May will be a practice day whereby all boats will travel together from Jalbarragup Bridge upriver for approximately 1 hour before turning and travelling back to Jalbarragup Bridge.
The water level for the race is dependent on the amount of rain received in the catchment area leading up to the event. You can check the current level at the Nannup Caravan Park [here], specifically site 609058 dedicated to the Blackwood River/caravan park. In general, a water level below 1.0m is considered low, while a level below 0.5m is considered particularly low. Monitoring the water level is essential for participants to assess the conditions and prepare accordingly for the race.