The 2023 Philadelphia Outrigger Canoe Club's Hoe Wa’a Challenge!

2023 POCC Hoe Wa'a Race Update: We are very sorry to announce the cancellation of the 2023 Hoe Wa’a due to unsafe conditions for participants. NOAA marine forecast predicts 7-10 foot swells in the ocean, and wind at 20 knots, with similarly severe weather in our Plan B, the Back Bay. 

We will be refunding 90% of your registration fees, and we will not be rescheduling this year due to the busy fall race calendar. We hope to see you in 2024!

Thank you to the 14 teams who registered to race: New Hope, NYO, Kent Island, NCAWPA, Lokahi Jacksonville, Cayuga, Penn Dragon Boat, Flying Phoenix, KeAloha, WCC, Bucks, Greg’s Team, Erik's Team, and POCC and our sponsors, ARE Tahiti, Kialoa, Ozone and WaWa. Thanks to the volunteers who signed up to help out. And a special thanks to all the trailer drivers who had agreed to trailer boats to Brigantine to make the race possible.

Mahalo,

The POCC Hoe Wa`a Race Committee

The Philadelphia Outrigger Canoe Club’s 11th Annual Hoe Wa’a Challenge will be taking place in the Absecon Inlet, launching from the Brigantine Beach / the Cove on Sunday, September 24.

EVENTS *Conditions permitting  

• Sunday, September 24, 2023 
  • Women's OC-6 race: 12-miles 
  • Men's OC-6 race: 12-miles
  • Mixed OC-6 race: 9-miles 

DEADLINES

OC-6 Canoe Loan Request: September 15, 2023 (not guaranteed.  The earlier the better).

Team Registration: September 15, 2023 (11:45 PM EDT)

Late Registration: September 16, 2023 (prices go up!) - September 20, 2023 (11:45 PM EDT)

REGISTRATION

All teams must register through PaddleGuru. 

Registration through September 15, 2023 (11:45 PM EDT)

• OC-6 registration: $390 USD per canoe

Late registration: September 16, 2023 - September 20, 2023 (11:45 PM EDT)

• OC-6 late registration: $450 USD per  canoe

• Registration fees are per crew not per paddler.
• Should the event be cancelled due to weather or other safety concerns, refunds will not be provided.
• Questions about registration can be directed to hoewaa@philadelphiaoutrigger.org

Open (10+), Masters (40+), and Senior Masters (50+) age divisions available 

OC-6 CANOE LOANS

• Deadline for OC-6 canoe loan requests by September 15, 2023 to be made via google form: https://forms.gle/nrn9BQDxXNrt2gK78
• Please do not reach out to other clubs directly to avoid double booking.
• OC-6 Canoe rental fee $150 USD to be coordinated by the POCC Hoe Wa’a Race Planning Committee and passed directly to the team renting their canoe
• Completing registration does not guarantee a canoe. Requesting teams will receive a confirmation email once a canoe loan is arranged.
• After the canoe loan deadline (September 15, 2023) teams needing an OC-6 canoe should not register without prior approval from the POCC Hoe Wa’a Race Planning Committee.

CANCELLATION FEE

20% cancellation fee will be assessed for all registrations cancelled by September 15, 2023 11:45 PM EDT.

If POCC cancels the race due to weather or water conditions, a 75% refund on registration will be issued.  Notification of the race cancellation due to weather/water conditions may be up to the time of the race start if conditions are unfavorable.  Close monitoring of weather and water conditions will occur the days prior to the race.

No refunds of registration fees after September 16, 2023 12:00 AM EDT. 

NO CANCELLATION for Late Registration. 

CAPTAIN'S SAFETY MEETING

• The Hoe Wa’a Challenge is an ocean race, and safety meetings are required. The Captain's Safety Meeting will be held on site before each race. Attendance is mandatory.

RACE RULES

Race rules will be sent out the week prior to the race via email.