As the final days tick over until the 2020 Dusi Canoe Marathon, paddlers are excited to learn that Umgeni Water has guaranteed them a water release of seventeen cubic metres per second (cumecs) from Inanda Dam on the final next Saturday, 27 February.
Last week the announcement was made that Umgeni Water had guaranteed paddlers water releases from Henley Dam, Nagle Dam and Inanda Dam, but this week the amounts were confirmed.
“We can expect a usual release from Henley Dam for this year’s Dusi which is always good,” KZNCU Water Liason Kevin Trodd said.
“For day two we will get a five cumec flow from Nagle Dam which will add to the release from Henley Dam for the second day. It should make conditions very pleasant for paddlers on day two.
“Inanda Dam is close to eighty percent at the moment, which is over ten percent higher than this time last year, so Umgeni Water has kindly agreed to release seventeen cumecs from Inanda Dam for day three.
“This will definitely help the paddlers when they head around the Burma Road portage this year and will make the river flow not too technical.
“All in all it is a great release for the race this year and this will ensure that we will have some very good water conditions for the 2020 Dusi Canoe Marathon.”
In another development ahead of Africa’s most iconic canoeing event, paddlers will still be able to use their old Personal Floatation Devices (PFD) following the lapse of a five year dispensation for Canoeing South Africa.
The South African Maritime Safety Association (SAMSA) put into law a ruling that all PFD’s had to meet certain safety standards, however these laws will only come into effect following this year’s Dusi Canoe Marathon.