The NEMO 50

1. General Information

Pre-race safety meeting starts at 7:00am at the boat ramp.  Racers must attend the safety meeting, or they will not be allowed to race.  It is recommended that all racers arrive around 6:30am to prepare their gear, sign their insurance waiver, and pick up their goodie bags.  

As soon as the safety meeting is over, racers may begin lining up in anticipation for the race heats to start.

Race heats begin at 8am (or as soon as the safety meeting is over and folks head down the ramp) at the Rulo, NE boat ramp (Parking lot of Pro Outfitters, 110 N Ash St. Rulo, NE) on the Missouri River. The official finish line is the St Joseph Boat & Yacht Club, St. Joseph, MO (3501 SW Lakefront Lane W, St. Joseph, MO) and your time is recorded when the bow of your boat breaks the plane of the boat ramp.

A free meal to all racers, crew, and families will be available beginning at 3:30pm.

Medals will be handed out as you finish. 

2. Entry Fee per racer registration:

$50 via Venmo or Cash the day of the race.   

3. Pre Race Meeting:  

7:00am same location as Start

4. Start Location: Rulo, NE Boat Ramp (MM495) 110 N Ash St, Rulo, NE 68431  Coordinates are: 40.05002 N, 95.42149 W

5. Official Checkpoints: 

Payne's Landing 

Directions

From Oregon, take Highway 111 west 2.25 miles, then Route T south 2.50 miles, and Omaha Road south (right) 2.50 miles. Coordinates are: 39.90791 N, 95.16170 W

Nodaway Island

Directions

From Amazonia, take Route T west 3 miles, then County Road 4412 south to area entrance. Coordinates are: 39.90198 N, 94.95242 W

6. Finish Location:  The St. Joseph Boat & Yacht Club (MM444)  Please use these coordinates to locate this exact location. The address will NOT take you to our club. Coordinates are: 39.72675 N, 94.91552 W

7. Classes*:

Men’s Solo Unlimited                            Women’s Solo Unlimited

Tandem Unlimited                                 Team (3-6)

USCA C2       Kayak Class Men/Women Solo (18’ max length)

SUP Class       Pedal Drive

*There must be minimum 3 in a class.  Race director reserves the right to combine/split classes if we have small/large amount of entrants in certain classes.

8. Class Definitions:

Unlimited Class

There are no restrictions on the design of the canoe/kayak.  They may be single or double bladed, or a combination of both.  Gender and number of participants (solo or tandem) will be the two criteria for these classes.

Team Class

There are no restrictions on the design of the canoe/kayak.  They may be single or double bladed, or a combination of both.  The only criteria is that there must be no less than 3 people and no more than 6.  The boat paddled must be designed for that number of paddlers.  Most stock canoes will be acceptable for 3 paddlers.

USCA Canoe Class

Canoes that fall into either USCA definitions below will meet the criteria for the USCA Canoe Class. If we have 3 or more canoes for each class, we will hold these two classes separately.

USCA Standard Canoe

Max length:  18’6”

No mechanical aids allowed, i.e. Rudders and electric bailers.

Must be paddled with single blades only.

No restriction on boat materials used for construction.

Most canoes manufactured will easily meet these specs, i.e MNII, all USCA competition cruisers, Alumacraft etc. 

Pro boats are not allowed.

Men's, Women’s and Mixed teams may compete in this class.

Kayak Class

Max length:  18’

Min Width:  21”

SUP Class

Stand Up Paddleboard

Pedal Class

Kayak, max length 18', powered by leg only. No paddles. 

9. Rules:  

1. All racers must attend the mandatory race check-in and safety meeting at 7:00am at the Rulo, NE boat ramp.

2. The NEMO 50 will officially start at 8:00am CST or sooner if participants are ready, on the Missouri River at the Rulo, NE boat ramp.

3. The race will officially end at 6:00pm or when the last boat has reached the finish, whichever comes earlier. A team’s participation in this event ends when they have reached the finish before 6:00pm or when they notify race officials that they have withdrawn. Participants still on the Missouri River after 6:00pm are electing to continue independently of the race.

4. Each race craft must be propelled exclusively by paddle power (double or single blade) while on the water. No rowing configuration is permitted. No sail or kite is permitted.

5. All participants agree to appear in this event related media coverage free of charge.

6. For any “shortcut” to be legal, it must have a flow of river water through it. Overland portages are not allowed. Portages over exposed “wing dams” for convenience are not permitted. Outside assistance is not permitted.

7. Outside assistance that provides intentional aid in the forward progress of a canoe/kayak is not allowed. This includes towing, wake riding, deflection of wind and “rafting up”. However, limited interaction between the competitor race craft is acceptable. No towing of race craft is permitted.

8. Ground support is allowed for racers but is not mandatory. A ground crew may assist with procurement of supplies, preparation of meals, etc. Ground crew may not, in any way, assist with propulsion of the boat. No contact on the water is allowed. No support provided from a support boat is allowed.

9. Infractions of any rule during the event will be grounds for time penalties or disqualification to be reasonably and fairly determined by the Race Directors.

10. Deliberate littering of the river is illegal. Teams must keep their trash in their canoes/kayaks and either transfer it to their support teams or go ashore themselves to properly dispose of waste.

11. All team members should understand there are serious risks involved in this endeavor. The hydraulics associated with many of the wing dams along the river are inherently dangerous. The greatest risk, however, is from the numerous large and small powered craft that ply the river.

Constant vigilance, clear thinking, and quick reaction will be essential at all times. Good judgment must dictate when it is time to rest. All team members (racers and support personnel) will enter this race at their own risk and will not hold this event’s organizers, judges, officials, and sponsors liable for accidents to personnel or damage to any property.

12. Anyone paddling solo in this event must be at least 18 years of age on race day or at least 14 years of age if part of a tandem team accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. (Note that the parent or legal guardian must sign the liability waiver for under 18 years old.)

13. All participants in this event, including paddlers and other team members must agree to the “St. Joseph Boat & Yacht Club Waiver and Release of Liability”. This waiver is required for participation in this event. We will have extras at the registration table the day of the event as well.

14. You may not share paddlers. You may share ground crew support.

15. Each racer must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life preserver at all times while on the water. A whistle must also be attached to each life preserver at all times. 

16. Boating at night is dangerous and the organizers do not allow this, as all racers are required to finish before 6:00pm. If a racer decides to continue independently of the race, they should be aware that full navigation lights are required for night travel as per Missouri State boating laws. This would include red/green lights on the bow and a white stern light. Paddlers should also have an LED or chemical light affixed to their PFD in case of emergency. A white light (flashlight) for signaling should also be aboard.

17. Boating in foggy conditions is dangerous and is neither required nor recommended. Assistance from race officials may take hours, especially in adverse conditions, and all racers need to be prepared to self-rescue and hike out if needed.

18. In formulating the rules that govern this event, every effort has been made to foresee all situations and problems that may arise, however, officials of the NEMO 50 Race 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, every effort will be made to notify all entrants.

10. Craft Requirements:

1. The original craft must be paddled from start to finish. Repairs may be made to the craft during the race, but no other alterations are permitted.