Please familiarize yourself with the Race Rules.
All participants must understand and abide by all race rules.  

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• REGISTRATION: Participants must register prior to the race registration deadline for each race hosted by MPH. If you are registered for a Season Membership, you still need to register for the race so we have an accurate count of who is coming.

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• CHECK-IN: Participants must check in with the Registration Team on race day. 

 

• OC-2 / SS-2 / RELAY TEAMS:  Team Captains will complete a single RaceHub registration for all team / relay paddlers. Payment will be made all at once when registering. Team Captain will submit a digital waiver for themselves only. All paddler(s) aside from the Team Captain will need to bring a printed waiver to their first race of the season, MPH will keep on file for all future races for the season.

 

Links to MPH Waivers here >>> MPH Junior Waiver     -     MPH Adult Waiver

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• A LEASEH AND PFD IS MANDATORY FOR ALL RACES. No leash, no PFD = no racing.

 

• ADDITIONAL SAFETY/RESCUE AIDS: In addition to the required PFD, all participants are responsible for carrying additional safety/rescue aids such as a Personal Flotation Device (PFD), cell phone, whistle, reflective tape, Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), mirror, air horn, smoke, etc., maintaining their devices in good working condition, and practicing their use in rough water prior to racing.​

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• EMERGENCY SITUATIONS:  Should you or your vessel become unable to continue racing for any reason, the Safety Patrol and/or Race Director may dictate abandoning your boat. Participant(s) may be taken ashore, to a medic or official boat, or whatever is deemed necessary for the safest rescue. MPH is NOT responsible for rescuing your boat or your equipment. Safety of all persons involved in the race is MPH’s priority. 

 

• MPH's EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBER (808.344.7721) - this number is listed on your vessel number sticker and wrist band. This number should be called or texted in the event of an emergency if you cannot flag down water safety officials on the course..

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• DISQUALIFICATION (DQ) will be issued for:

• Not wearing a leash secured from you to your boat and your PFD for entirety of your race. 

• Failing to attend mandatory race briefing on race day. 

• Not having 2026 MPH boat number stickers on both sides of boat nose & clearly visible to the race officials. 

• Providing wrong boat number in your race registration. 

• Substituting another paddler for your entry for any reason without prior MPH Race Official approval. 

• Escort/Safety Boat infractions. 

• If you are NOT registered for a race, we ask that you stay off the course during the scheduled race time.  Failure to comply may result in being banned from future MPH events.

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**NOTE: Second offenses for any of the above may result in being banned from future MPH races. 

 

• TIME PENALTY(s) of 10 minutes will be issued for:

• Not starting behind designated start line when the race officials start the race. 

• Failing to go around required turn buoy(s). 

• Finishing outside designated finish buoy(s) (If you are unable to due to unsafe conditions, you must notify a race official as soon possible to determine if penalty can be waived). ​​

 

• BE SAFE!

• Boat & Equipment must be in good operating condition. If you question whether your equipment can handle the conditions, do not go out. ​​

• Evaluate the conditions. Check the wind, currents, wave size and tidal reports. Overestimating your ability both as an open ocean paddler and swimmer puts yourself, other participants, and our escort patrol at risk. 'WHEN IN DOUBT - DON'T GO OUT!' 

• The Race Director has the right to alter a course, prohibit a racer from participating, or change any rule if deemed necessary for the wellbeing of participants, safety patrol, race officials and volunteers. 

• The Safety Patrol and Race Director have the option of pulling a participant from a race if the participant is unable to stay on course, stay in safe range of other participants, or meet the cut-off time for a given race. If you are unsure if your typical racing speed will keep you in range, check with the Race Director prior to entering the race. 

 

 

• RACE CANCELLATIONS OR CHANGE OF RACE COURSE may be dictated by the US Coast Guard, DLNR, entities in control of Race Venue, MPH Board of Directors, or MPH Race Director should weather or water conditions, in their opinion, render the running of the race unsafe.

 

• REFUNDS: Most fees are non-refundable whether due to participant cancelling their entry or MPH cancelling the race. EXCEPTION: A refund WILL be granted if MPH denies participation of paddler for any reason.