Detailed Information 2008

All changes since Version 1:

• On the map, controls just for the 3-hour teams will be marked in blue. Purple controls can be scored by all teams.
• A warning about leaving gear at Queens Wharf while you are out on the course. We don't accept responsibility.
• Parking on the day updated.
• Rules for crossing Jervois, Customhouse and Waterloo Quay stated.

We assume you've read the general information about the event in the entry form. If not then don't go any further: read that first.

This page contains the "rules of the game" and one or two details that weren't final when the entry form was completed. You'll need this to find the start for example.

And beyond the rules we've put together some general advice. If it seems a lot relax, most of the participants last time were non-orienteers, they managed just fine.

Start/Finish Point

Here are some parking options: Pay and display on nearby streets is free and without time limit on Sundays. This includes a few places on Customhouse Quay alongside Shed 13. On-street may be harder to find for the 3-hour starters, so try on the waterfront opposite NZ Post House $4 all day. Under the southern end of Frank Kitts Park near the lagoon $3 per 6 hours or part thereof. Under the TSB Arena and its sister building $10 for 3 or more hours. For drop-offs try Customhouse Quay alongside Shed 11 which is P120. Of course, you could always come by public transport:-))

Timetable

The map for the prologue will be an orienteering map at a much larger scale that shows a lot more detail. But you'll only see your prologue map at the start time.

The detailed timetable for the 6hr event is as follows:

• 8:30am maps available, you can start planning your route
• 9:10am briefing
• 9:20am prologue starts
• 9:30am prologue finishes, hand in prologue control sheet.
• 9:45am main event starts
• 3:45pm main event latest finish without penalty, get time recorded on your control sheet
• Work out your own score and hand in. No sheet, no result.

The detailed timetable for the 3hr event is as follows:

• 11:00am maps available, you can start planning your route
• 11:40am briefing
• 11:50am prologue starts
• 12:00noon prologue finishes, hand in prologue control sheet.
• 12:15pm main event starts
• 3:15pm main event latest finish without penalty, get time recorded on your control sheet
• Work out your own score and hand in. No sheet, no result.

Rules of the Game

• The objective is to maximise your score. The control points are marked on the map with a circle and a number. Controls 1-9 are worth 5 points each. The rest are worth the "tens" digit multiplied by 10. That is, number 25 is worth 20 points, control 101 is worth 100. We've had to make up lots of artificial numbers, eg 1A, 1B etc are part of the 10's, 2A, 2B etc are part of the 20's. The start/finish is shown with a triangle.
• There's a penalty for returning late: 10 points per minute or part thereof. Highest score wins, in the event of a tie the earliest to finish wins.
• Controls under 20 are ONLY available to the 3-hour teams. That is, 1-9 and all the 10's, and these have BLUE circles and numbers. We've planned these controls in clusters so you can get to an area and find a good number of controls close together. In fact controls 1-9 may be visible from a bus without getting off! You might have to have eyes on both sides of the road though. The rest of the controls are available to all teams and these have PURPLE circles and numbers.
• You prove your visit to each control point by answering a simple question on your control sheet which must be named and handed in at the finish. Swapping information such as the answers to questions , or guessing, is cheating. Obviously we can't police it, we rely on you to play fair.
• Except in the case of emergency, team members must stay together, especially when visiting control points. You are not allowed to send the fittest team member up the hill to get the answer! If a team member has to drop out for any reason during the event you must tell us back at base; and from that time you are a new team starting with a score of zero.
• You must travel on foot or (in contrast to most rogaines) on timetabled Go Wellington (formerly Stagecoach) bus, Airport Flyer (between Lambton interchange and airport), Tranz Metro Johnsonville train services, the Wellington Cablecar, and the DominionPost ferry (between Queens Wharf and Seatoun). You may NOT use Newlands buses, or other forms of transport.
• You must take the bus, train, cablecar and ferry services as you find them. You cannot for example ask a bus driver to stop at other than normal stops. If a bus or train service is late or early, that's tough; in rural rogaines unexpected conditions are often met.
• Taking services as you find them includes MAXIMUM CAPACITY. A bus, cablecar or train has a maximum load though this is unlikely to be met. But the ferry to Seatoun which departs just after the 3hr start-time may well be oversubscribed. The operator will apply his normal rules for maximum capacity - and close the doors! That's life folks, take it on the chin and remember that there are paying customers on these services too. 3-hour teams, have a backup plan:-))
• Your bus/train pass is a special issue, thanks to Go Wellington, Tranz Metro, Wellington Cablecar and the DomPost ferry. If your pass isn't recognised (remember these are large organisations with lots of staff) just pay up and give us the tickets later for reimbursement.
• Electronic navigation aids are prohibited, such as GPS's and altimeters. This is a mapreading adventure! And spiked shoes are prohibited out of consideration for our bus and train sponsors.
• We will issue each team with a lightweight breathable vest designed to be worn over the top of whatever else you wear. In adventure racing these are REQUIRED to be worn, we would LIKE one of the team to wear it as it promotes the event. Return them at the end.
• Crossing Jervois Quay at street level is PROHIBITED during both the prologue and the main event, for safety reasons. This is the stretch of multiple-lane road from Taranaki St to Queens Wharf. Near the Civic Centre there are two pedestrian overbridges, so you may wish to cross there.
• From Queens Wharf to the Railway Station the multiple-lane road becomes Customhouse and Waterloo Quay. When you cross you must of course obey road rules which may mean waiting for the traffic lights.

Safety

• Rogaines are run as team events for safety reasons. Although we start in downtown Wellington you could break your leg on a kerb! Responsibility for obtaining help is with the unaffected team members. Feel free to carry cellphones (for use in emergencies only.) An organiser cellphone number will be printed on the map.
• Risk analysis. The most likely safety risk is crossing roads. All road rules apply. Stop, look, and listen.
• We will have a bus on Queens Wharf to signify what the event is about and it might seem a good place to leave gear while you're out on the course. While there will be someone there all the time we cannot run a "coat check" system and gear is left at your risk.

These are the essentials, if you would like to know more about what to expect, using txtBUS, and what will be on the map, remember the Advice page.