Welcome to the Day of the LongBoat

Event Date: Saturday, October 3 & Sunday, October 4, 2026 @Jericho Sailing Centre

Free Agent Meeting: Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 6:00pm in ARC Classroom (located in the basement of the Life building)

Registration Deadline: Sunday, September 20, 2026 at 11:59PM

Mandatory On Campus Safety Clinics: Wednesday, September 23, 2026 6-8PM at either HR MacMillan Building 360 or Buchanan A102 OR Thursday, September 24, 2026 6:30-8PM at either HR MacMillan Building 360 or Buchanan A104

In-Person Practice Session: Saturday, September 26 & Sunday, September 27, 2026 @Jericho Sailing Centre

Team Roster Submission Deadline: Tuesday, September 29, 2026 @5:00PM

Event Structure

Mandatory On Campus Safety Clinic

This clinic involves an event overview and safety presentation to prepare teams for race day. All teams must have at least one team representative attend the clinic in order to be eligible to race, if a team fails to attend, they will be ineligible to practice or race.

Clinics will be 30 minutes and run concurrently in both classroom locations. Please refer to the following to decide on a date and time that works best for you. 

In-Person Practice Session

This session will occur at Jericho Sailing Center and allows teams the opportunity to learn race procedure and practice paddling. Sessions must be attended by at least 8 individuals, however individuals do not need to be from the same team. Coordinate with other teams as needed.

Please show up 20 minutes early for your session to allow time to register and gather any equipment you will need (paddle, PFD etc.).

Event Day

Teams of 8 to 10 individuals compete in a voyageur canoes race on the shores of Jericho Beach. Teams can compete in Just For Fun or Competitive heats. Just For Fun teams compete in one race, while Competitive teams compete in up to 3 races (prelim, semis and final) to win the coveted Day of the LongBoat trophy and UBC Intramurals championship shirt.

The event also includes a festival of games, a live and roaming MC, DJs, and prize giveaways. Please show up 45 minutes early to your race to allow time to sign-in and gather any equipment you will need (paddle, PFD etc.)

Race Procedure and Route:

• The race will begin with all team members in their boat, except for the runner, who will start in a chair on the beach. Once the starting horn/timer is sounded, the runner will make their way to their boat, at which point their team will begin paddling.
  • Note: All runners must wear closed-toe shoes (Crocs are not allowed)
• Teams must first make their way north, then turn right, around the first buoy. Teams will then paddle eastwards keeping all buoys to their right:
  • Just For Fun Only: At the second yellow buoy, teams will turn right to head westward towards finish. On the way back, teams will keep all buoys to their left and make a left turn, around the final buoy before arriving at finish.
  • Competitive Team only (New For 2026): Teams will turn right, around the first orange buoy to head southward towards baton beach. At baton beach, the baton runner will exit their boat, grab a baton and return to their team. Teams will then paddle westward towards finish keeping all buoys to their left before turning left, around the final buoy and arriving at finish (see linked map).
• Once at finish beach, the runner wearing the team number, will exit the boat and run up the beach to strike the gong hanging from the finish arch. Once struck, timing is stopped and the race is over.
• At the end of the race, UBC Recreation staff will help the remaining team members exit the boat safely.
• Competitive Team only: Teams who have advanced will be notified of their next race time by staff at finish or can head to the Timing and Advancement tent next to the finish. Teams that advance are not required to compete in semi-finals and finals. 

In the Event of a Capsize:

All participants will be provided with a PFD (Personal Flotation Device) prior to entering their voyageur canoe. If a canoe capsizes by the beach/launch, the Jericho Sailing Centre Safety Boat will deem whether it is a safe distance from the shore for individuals to swim back. A capsize at sea will result in a Jericho Sailing Centre Safety Boat rescue for all the paddlers - all participants will be instructed to remain with the upturned vessel and team captains must account for all of their team verbally.

Disqualifications and Forbidden Play:

For safety reasons, the following will result in an automatic disqualification for all teams:

• Registering without correct identification (we require a physical UBC Student ID or Government recognized ID). This has to be a physical copy; no pictures of your IDs are allowed!
• Having an incorrect gender ratio on an Open, Women (Trans Welcome), or Mixed team.
• Grabbing onto another participant’s equipment (paddle, PFD (Personal Flotation Device), or boat).
• Using the paddle for something other than moving the boat through the water.
• Intentionally colliding with another boat and/or intentionally inhibiting another team’s ability to race.
• Paddling through a team that has capsized.
• Drinking alcohol or suspected of being intoxicated.
• All runners (Start runner, Baton runner and Finish gong runner) must wear secure closed-toe shoes. Depending on the tide, the beach can be very rocky so bare feet/flip flops are prohibited. 
• Missing a buoy/mark.
• Leaving the boat other than at the baton pick-up tent and the end of the race. Only the following people may be out of the boat during the race: Start runner, Baton runner, Baton beach stability (if needed), Finish gong runner.

Parking

There is a paid parking lot right outside of Jericho Sailing Centre. Free parking is also widely available around the Jericho Beach area within a 5-10 minute walking distance.

When to Arrive

• In-Person Practice Session: You should arrive 20 minutes prior to session. Check in at the Registration tent upon arrival and the staff will walk you through the rest of the practice.
• Race day: You should arrive 45 minutes prior to your race time. Check in at the Registration tent upon arrival and the staff will walk you through the rest of the event.

What to Bring

• Your physical Student, Staff, or Government issued photo ID. You need ID to get your wristband, which you will need to race.
• Weather appropriate clothing
  • Note: The event takes place on the ocean. Please wear clothes and shoes your are comfortable with getting wet.
• Closed-toe shoes 
• Extra change of clothes and towel in case you get wet. There are changing facilities and washrooms located upstairs in Jericho Sailing Centre.

There will be gear check (ONLY race day), for a maximum of two bags per team. Each bag will cost $2 to check (NO CASH accepted). 

Equipment 

UBC Recreation will supply all equipment, including PFD’s (personal floating device) and paddles. Participants are allowed to bring their own PFD if so desired, but UBC Recreation paddles must be used. 

They’re multiple ways to participate in Day of the LongBoat! Explore the different ways to participate:

Free Agent (Individuals)  

If you don’t have a team, you can find one at the Free Agent Meeting or form a team through our Free Agent Facebook Group.

Download a copy of the Day of the LongBoat FAQ here. 

We have revisited our Intramurals Participation Structure policies in an effort to improve the inclusivity of our programs. There are different team structures that depend on the gender expression and identity compositions of a team. We have updated the names and descriptions of these different structures to better describe the competition environments in each. For more information on gender identity and gender expression please visit our Inclusive Recreation: Gender Identity and Expression page.

At UBC Recreation we aspire to include everyone in our programs and facilities. But you may have questions or concerns about if this event is right for you. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact our event team at im.longboat@ubc.ca or call 604-822-9052.