TEXAS WATER SAFARI RULES and PROCEDURES

1. Registration Information

    

   1. All team members (paddlers and team captains) will enter all races put on by the Texas Water Safari Corporation at their own risk and the Texas Water Safari Corporation, and its judges, officials, and sponsors will not be liable for injuries or damage to personnel, property or equipment.
   2. The minimum age to race any event sponsored by the Texas Water Safari Corporation is 13 years of age. Racers under 18 years of age must race with an adult over the age of 18 in the boat and an adult must remain in the boat for the duration of the race. A parent or legal guardian must sign a waiver of liability for all minors.
   3. The minimum age for any solo classification in any race sponsored by the Texas Water Safari Corporation is 18 years of age.
   4. Each team that enters the Texas Water Safari must have one team captain, and the option to designate a second team captain. Team Captains are land based.  Teams are strongly encouraged to designate co-team captains. Every team captain must be officially designated, sign a liability waiver and must be at least 18 years old.
   5. All entries must be registered with at least one team captain.  If not, the entry will be rejected and a new entry will have to be submitted.
   6. Entry Fees are tiered according to the calendar published on the Texas Water Safari website.
   7. Entries are final and there are no refunds or deferments.
   8. Any changes to entry (including racers or team captains) will incur a $25 admin fee in addition to other applicable fees.
   9. If a team member must be replaced:

       

      1. The replacement team member will be charged according to the current pricing tier.
      2. Racers and Team Captains cannot be replaced after registration closes.
      3. Teams cannot be combined after registration closes.
   10. Starting positions are based on the results of the Texas River Marathon.

        

       1. All other entrants and incomplete teams will be placed on the starting grid in the order in which the entries were received.
       2. Out of State teams which do not participate in the TRM will be placed on the outside position of each row by date of entry.
   11. To hold a starting Satellite based on the results of The Texas River Marathon the full team must be registered by midnight of the Sunday immediately following the Texas River Marathon.
   12. Postponement

        

       1.  In the event the Texas Water Safari is postponed team members may be substituted once without additional charge.
       2. Postponement dates are published in the calendar and postponements will not trigger a refund.
   13. Entrants will be given the boat number of their choice provided it is not already taken. Applicants should provide three boat numbers in order of preference. If there is no alternate number given or, all are taken, a number will be assigned. It is the responsibility of the entrants to provide their own boat numbers. See Section 2a: viii.

2. Required Equipment

    

   1. Each team is required to have:

       

      1. First aid kit (contents determined by team members and team captain)
      2. Two-way communication device

          

         1. Use of the device to contact a race official will be considered a request for assistance and is grounds for disqualification.
         2. Any paddler or Team Captain requested by another team needing assistance in an emergency situation, can use their two-way communication device and will not be subject to disqualification.
         3. The type of two way communication device can be

             

            1. Cell Phone
            2. Satellite Communicator
            3. Two-Way Radio
      3. Snakebite kit (contents determined by team members and team captain)
      4. An efficient signaling device (whistle).

          

         1. Solo paddlers and one paddler in multiperson boat must attach signaling device to their person.
      5. Flares

          

         1. A minimum of three (3) Coast Guard approved red aerial flares with a current expiration date that satisfies all Coast Guard day and night signal requirements.
         2. Solo paddlers and one paddler in multiperson boat must attach said flares to their person (e.g. to a belt or life jacket) while crossing the San Antonio Bay.
         3. Flares are to be used to signal for aid only in life threatening situations.

             

            1. Use of flares is a signal for help and may be grounds for disqualification.
            2. Use of the flares for any other purpose shall be grounds for disqualification.
      6. Personal Floatation Devices

          

         1. Each paddler must have in his or her possession a readily accessible, properly sized, Coast Guard approved, Personal Floatation Device. (PFD)
         2. The PFD must be a Type, I, II or III in good serviceable condition. No Type IV or Type V allowed shall be allowed. No Inflatable PFD’s are allowed.
         3. Paddlers are responsible for wearing PFDs as recommended by the manufacturer.
         4. Racers found in the bay or on the river without a PFD for each person in the boat may be disqualified.
         5. Racers who have lost PFD(s) may be given a replacement at any checkpoint or location but will be assessed a penalty of at least 15 minutes for each PFD replaced. When a PFD is replaced during the race, it is the responsibility of the Team Captain to report the replacement at the next checkpoint.
         6. All racers are required to wear PFDs crossing the bay

             

            1. Racers found in the bay not wearing a lifejacket will be assessed a penalty of at least 2 hours for each violation.
      7. Satellite Trackers

          

         1. All teams entered in the Texas Water Safari must have and carry a functioning GPS tracking device to be used for the duration of the race.
         2. Types of devices

             

            1. SATELLITE

                

               1. Cannot use Generation 1 or 2 or Trace.  Only Generation 3, 4 or X.
               2. Will be obsolete for the 2026 TWS
            2. Garmin InReach

                

               1. All InReach enabled Garmin devices may be used
         3. Satellite Trackers will be inspected at check-in.
         4. SatelliteTrackers must be securely mounted in an unobstructed part of the boat to allow the device to operate.  Place as far away from any seats as possible.
         5. A Satellite Tracker that stops working during the race may be replaced. A Satellite Tracker is deemed non-working if no signal has been received for more than two hours. Teams will be notified by officials if a Satellite Tracker is not working and some replacement Trackers will be available at checkpoints by TWS Officials.
         6. Batteries

             

            1. All Trackers units, whether privately owned or rental, must have fresh LITHIUM batteries inserted prior to the race start and carry one (1) extra set of LITHIUM batteries for the Satellite Tracking device.
            2. If the Satellite Tracking device is rechargeable there must be a able to be charged, or have a backup or external battery pack in the boat.
         7. Any use of the “help” or “SOS” functions will be grounds for disqualification, equivalent to firing a flare and asking for assistance. Use of other functions, “OK” and “preset message” are allowed.
      8. Boat numbers

          

         1. The designated boat number shall be affixed to both sides of the bow of their boat.
         2. The designated boat number shall be at least 4" in height and shall be composed of up to four Arabic numerals without leading zeros.
         3. Boat numbers must be made of reflective material and must be a contrasting color from the boat.
      9. Canoes must have a white light for night travel
      10. The following are not required in any Texas Water Safari Corporation sponsored race except for the Texas Water Safari:

           

          1. White Light
          2. Satellite Tracker
          3. Flares
3. Competition Rules

1. All members of a team must travel together in the same boat/canoe and under the same regulation.
2. Should a team member be forced to, or elect to, drop out of the Safari for any reason, the team member may not reenter or be replaced.
3. Relays in any form are prohibited
4. All supplies, equipment, and items of repair must be in the possession of each team and listed on the check-in sheet at the beginning of the Safari. Nothing may be purchased by or delivered to an individual or team during the entire Safari except as stated under Section 4d
5. Teams shall not receive help or assistance of any kind during the Texas Water Safari except verbal assistance or those items listed in Section 4: Team Captains Rules and Responsibilities
6. Should medical care be required by a team member

1. It is the sole discretion of the team members and/or the team captain(s) to request medical care from any individual to ensure the health or safety of the affected team member.
2. By signing the entry form and liability waiver, the team members and team captain(s) expressly agree and understand that there is no obligation on the part of the Texas Water Safari Corporation, its board members or officials to provide standby medical care at any point along the racecourse.

7. Paddlers will be subject to Satellite checks at any time by judges or officials who will report their findings to the Head Race Judge.
8. Penalties, from time penalties to disqualification, may only be imposed by the Head Race Judge, Race Chairman or TWS Board of Directors.
9. Teams must negotiate over, around, under or through all obstacles from the originating point in San Marcos along the entire length of the rivers and bays to the finish line in Seadrift.

1. For any "shortcut" to be legal, it must have a flow of river water through it.
2.  Overland portages are not allowed except where necessary for log jams, dams, or bridges.
3. Teams are required to exit the river immediately above each obstacle and return to the water immediately after clearing the obstacle.
4. EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE (places where river or bay water flows, but which are still illegal) are:

1. The left channel around Thompson's Island below the road bridge.
2. The Victoria barge canal and the boat cut between San Antonio Bay and the barge canal.
3. Any cuts between Hwy 59 (Loop 175) and Swinging Bridge

10. The coastal portion of the race shall be that part of Guadalupe and San Antonio Bays from the mouth of the Guadalupe River to the finish line in Seadrift, Texas.

1. PFDs must be worn crossing the bay.
2. In case of stormy weather or high wind, teams may follow the shoreline to Seadrift after crossing to the east side of Guadalupe Bay.
3. Contestants may row, paddle, walk, swim, carry, or drag the boat from the east side of Guadalupe Bay to the finish line. They may not enter the Victoria barge canal and, if they choose to carry, they must follow the shoreline (i.e. no shortcuts).
4. If a team enters the barge canal, they must exit the barge canal at the same point of entry.
5. Teams entering the barge canal may be disqualified or face a minimum time penalty of two hours.

11. Intentional interference with another team's progress during the race will be grounds for disqualification.

1. Pace boats or canoes (i.e. crafts that are paddled or powered that follow or lead Safari paddlers for the purpose of "keeping a team up" or conveying water) are illegal.  
2. Any other use of a craft such as, travel down the river to accompany the team to “keep them up” provide any other type of support including wake riding or drafting is illegal and are grounds for disqualification.

• Deliberate littering of the river is grounds for disqualification. Teams should keep their trash in their canoe and hand it over to persons on the bank.
• Cutoff Times

• Protest Policy

1. Any protest by a competitor must be accompanied by a $100 fee and must file the protest no later than 1:00 PM on Tuesday. The fee is refundable if the protest is upheld.

• Other

1. In formulating the rules that govern this event, every effort has been made to foresee all situations and problems that might arise; however, officials of the Texas Water Safari Corporation retain the right to change or amend these rules at any time without liability or recourse from any party regardless of the circumstances. Should such changes or amendments be made, all entrants will receive notification of same.

4. Team Captain Rules and Responsibilities

1. Each team that enters the Texas Water Safari must have one team captain, and the option to designate a second team captain, if desired. Teams are strongly encouraged to designate co-team captains. Every team captain must sign a liability waiver and every team captain must be at least 18 years old. Team captain(s) shall be responsible for:

1. Signing their team through each of the eleven (11) official checkpoints.
2. Making contact with their team at each official checkpoint or at any other legal access points to transfer water, ice, and/or any other items provided for in Section 4d and to assess the team's health and ability to continue the race. It is not the responsibility of the TWS board or the race officials to determine whether or not a racer is able to continue or pull out due to health issues the racer may be experiencing, it is the sole responsibility of the race participants and their team captains to make that determination.
3. To notify race officials if they are unable to contact the team at any checkpoint, or in the event, in their sole judgment, there is reason to be concerned about the health or safety of the team. The team can be disqualified if one of the team captains fail to make this contact, fail to enter it on each Check In/Out sheet, and/or fail to know, always, the team's location (between consecutive checkpoints).
4. If, during the race, due to an emergency or unplanned unavailability, a team captain must drop out, substitutions are allowed. The team must notify a race official at the earliest opportunity. It is also the responsibility of the "replacement" team captain to sign a liability waiver. Pre-planned substitution of Team Captains is allowed, but they must be designated during registration and sign a waiver during Check-In.

2. Team Captain(s) must display a placard with boat number on the dashboard of the vehicle in which they are traveling. Provided at race check-in.
3. Team captain(s) must report to a race official as soon as their team, or a team member, drops out of the race and sign them "Out" at the appropriate checkpoint.       

1. If a team drops out of the race, then either team captain will sign his or her team out at the checkpoint where the team stopped, or if between checkpoints, at the next downstream checkpoint.
2. If, due to an emergency, he/she cannot get to the next downstream checkpoint, the team captain should contact a race judge via the ham radio operator, race official or a TWS Judge in Seadrift 361-785-5500. The team captain must give their name, team's boat number, name of team members, where they dropped out, and the time they dropped out. This information prevents wasted energies and/or a needless search for a "lost team."
3. It is the responsibility of a team captain to inform race officials whether the team has a serious medical condition, or the location of the team is in serious doubt. It is then a race official’s decision when, or whether to initiate rescue effort. However, should any team captain at any time feel that an emergency requires doing so, he/she should immediately contact 911.

4. Team captains may deliver items of food, ice, drink or medical materials at any time during the race which they, in their sole discretion, deem necessary for the health or safety of the team.

1. Delivery of these items must be done from the riverbank or permanent docks.
2. Only re-usable mesh bags may be used to help the team captain make any such exchange. (This is to prevent littering or any other use of bags or other containers).
3. Food Items may be individually waterproofed in seal-a-meal type bags or zip-lock bags.

1. No Zip-lock bags larger than one gallon may be used. 

4. No other items of any kind can be supplied to the team by the team captain(s).

1. No paddles, lights, repair equipment, or any other supplies or materials may be provided to the paddlers
2. No chairs, tables, eating untensils, tarps, sleeping bags, tents or pads may be provided to the paddlers
3. Glasses, hats, sunglasses, mosquito repellant, and sunscreen may not be provided to the paddlers and will not, under any circumstances, be considered medically necessary.
4. Paddlers may not sleep in vehicles
5. SEE STATEMENT at END OF RULES for Feeding/Sleeping Areas for Luling 90, Hocheim, Cheapside, Cuero 236, Victoria City Park and Swinging Bridge
6. If a boat loses its boat number during the TWS it is the responsibility of the team captain(s) to replace the lost number with the same number when it is no longer attached to the boat

5. Race Check-In

The Texas Water Safari will be held the second Thursday of June. If the race is postponed, due to inclement weather or other unforeseen conditions, an alternate date for the race will be published on the website. Details of the Check-in follow:

1. Occurs from 9:00 – 5:00 pm on the Thursday before the race
2. Teams must sign up for a Check-in time.  Email will be sent to participants 2 weeks before check in to sign up.
3. Must pick up race packet at Check-in table prior to Race Officials checking in team
4. Required Equipment will be checked at this time – see section 2 Required Equipment.
5. Racers and Team Captains must sign waivers
6. Satellite Tracker activation verified by Satellite coordinator
7. Mandatory Pre-Race briefing at 4:00 pm must be attended by at least one racer or team captain from each team.
8. No race day check-in allowed

                          FEEDING/SLEEPING STATIONS FOR THE TWS

To facilitate better monitoring of racers, the TWS board is creating feeding/sleeping stations at the following checkpoints:  Luling Hwy 90, Hocheim, Cheapside (766), Cuero 236, Victoria City Park, and Swinging Bridge.  If a team decides to sleep or eat or rest for a period of time, we will have designated areas at those checkpoints.  If you still want to eat while getting water and cooling off at a checkpoint by your boat, that is legal, but you need to be within 20 feet of your boat.  If you are going to sleep, you need to be in the designated area. If you want to take on water and food and keep paddling that is still legal.  The feeding/sleeping areas will be clearly marked at the checkpoints.