Newcastle Island Social
July 20th 2024 10:00am - July 21st 2024 1:00pm
Organizer: Daniel Widmann (Course Planner)
Results
Join us on Saysutshun (Newcastle Island, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhS3LdwEPjY for pronunciation) for a great weekend of orienteering, socializing and camping! Saysutshun Park is a no-vehicle provincial park a short water-taxi ride from Nanaimo.
On Saturday, we will use a brand new sprint orienteering map covering the open areas of the island. There will be multiple loops and some grid orienteering. On Sunday, there will be a 2h score-o covering most of the island.
GVOC recognizes that Saysutshun is on the ancestral and unceded homelands of the Snuneymuxw people and we are grateful to be able to visit this territory.
Travel
If you're coming from Vancouver: Walk-on the Nanaimo Ferry from Horseshoe Bay (see https://www.bcferries.com/routes-fares/schedules/daily/HSB-NAN) and then walk/bus/taxi to the Saysutshun Newcastle Island Ferry Terminal at Maffeo Sutton Park (https://maps.app.goo.gl/ptqmmQjryyhSp7cPA).
There will likely be a queue of Newcastle Island goers if the weather is nice.
Schedule and info here: https://newcastleisland.ca/
Schedule
The following schedule is preliminary and might change. Please confirm closer to the event.
Saturday 11:30 PM - 3:00 PM (Registration closes at 2PM)
- 4 Loops between 1km and 1.8km on a brand new sprint map of the open areas of the island.
- Grid-O, suitable for all ages.
- For smaller kids there will be a flagged course and an all controls score map.
Sunday 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM (Last start at 10:30 AM)
- 2h Score-O
- Lots of controls on trails and grassy areas for families and beginners.
- Challenging controls spread across the island.
- The fastest runners are expected to finish in less than 2 hours.
Disclaimer: The existing forest map of Newcastle island might not be the same quality as other maps we are used to. It’s generally inaccurate, vegetation is outdated and the hand drawn contour features leave lots of room for interpretation. Nevertheless it’s a very fun place to orienteer, requiring all your skills and senses. First time visitors to the island and less experienced orienteers should approach the off trail controls with a healthy dose of caution though.
Due to logistic challenges of being on a small island, we will not use SI timing or standard orienteering flags for this event.
There will be mini orienteering flags (15cm) in the forest and pin flags in the open areas. For timing, you can either use your GPS track (don't forget to charge your GPS watch) or you can try the experimental 'beacon timing' system.
Accommodation / Food
We booked group campsite G2. Please indicate during registration if you want to camp Friday night, Saturday night, or both nights.
GVOC will not provide any food or drinks. There is a concession stand available, but don’t expect it to be open all day. Basically come prepared to camp and bring anything (food and comforts) you may want.
There are washrooms, drinking water taps and coin operated showers available on the island near the campsite.
DO NOT FEED THE WILDLIFE.
DO NOT LEAVE ANY FOOD OR GARBAGE IN THE TENTS.
Store all food at any time in the food cache on the group shelter. Dispose of garbage immediately in the garbage bins provided.
Additional Details
If you are interested in additional orienteering, have a look at some previous events and bring some printouts to go exploring by yourself.
https://gvoc.whyjustrun.ca/events/view/2946
https://gvoc.whyjustrun.ca/events/view/2074
Cost / Registration
You have to be a member of GVOC or another Canadian orienteering club to attend this event.
Camping
Adults: $10 per night
Children: $5 per night
Orienteering
Adults: $10 per day
Children: $5 per day
Registration for camping & orienteering closes on Thursday July 18th, 23:59. Register here.
If you are registering a family then remember to use the FAMILY_DISCOUNT coupon code when you get to the Payment page.
There might be additional cost for transportation to/from Saysutshun:
Saysutshun Ferry (see https://newcastleisland.ca/ferry-info)
Adults: $15 return
Children: $7 return
Extra cost for bicycles & extra luggage
BC Ferries (see https://www.bcferries.com/routes-fares/schedules/seasonal/HSB-NAN)
Adults: $19.10 one way
Child: $9.55 one way
Hullo (alternative ferry from downtown Vancouver, see hullo.com)
Adult/Child: $39.99+ one way