Canoe Orienteering

What is Canoe Orienteering

Canoe orienteering (canoe-O) is a sport that combines canoeing, kayaking or other small boating skills with navigation and map reading. It is a timed race where participants have to visit a series of control points marked on an orienteering map in any order they choose. The control points are also marked on the ground with flags and punches. The participants have to punch their control cards at each control point to prove their visit. The winner is the one who completes the course in the shortest time with the correct punches.

Canoe-O can be done on various types of water bodies, such as rivers, lakes, creeks or tidal areas. It can also involve portages, where participants have to carry their boats over land between water sections.

Canoe-O can be done solo or in teams of two or more people sharing one boat. It is a challenging and fun sport that tests both physical and mental abilities.

Technical Detail

• Canoe-O is a timed event where the participants start at staggered intervals and are expected to navigate on their own.
• Canoe-O can be done solo or a team sport.
• The control point shown on the orienteering map may be visited in any order.
• The course may require the participants to travel over water and land.
• Teams may split-up with one-person travel on water and the other on land, in this case both team member would have a compass and a map.
• The winner is determined first by successfully completing the course then by the shortest time.

Canoe orienteering categories are –

• C – Canoe
• K – Kayak
• 1 – Number of seats
• 2 – Number of seats

Canoe orienteering is a fun and challenging way to explore the outdoors and test one’s physical and mental abilities.