k2bandet.se - official homepage © k2bandet 2009

Rules for obtaining
K2Bandet - a paddling trip around the entire Swedish coast in K2 kayaks

Valid as of 2011

  1.   Start, finish and (if applicable) aborted attempt should be announced in writing to:
K2Bandet
c/o Lennart Bergström
Ringvägen 13
331 43 VÄRNAMO

Telephone: +46 (0)37013808 Mobile: +46 (0) 705871880
E-address: lb(at)k2bandet.se
 
    Minimum age at time of start is 18 years. Starting fee is not applied.
 
Paddling directions
  The K2Bandet may be paddled in directions after own choice. That is either Svinesund to Haparanda alternative Haparanda to Svinesund.

Start- and Goal-points
  The navigation mark at the old Svinesund ferry berth.
alt.
The border mark No 59 at Virtakari cape by the river Torne River's outlet at the Swedish side.
The tour should be finished by laying on hands on mentioned marks.
 
Starting notification
must contain the following information:
 
dot Names of the paddlers (the crew) stating who's representing the crew:
dot Ages at start together with Day of birth (year, month, day) for each paddler
dot Addresses including eventual e-addresses to respective crew member
dot Telephone numbers - and Mobile phone number active during the tour
dot Choice of starting point
dot Link to homepage/blog reproducing log-book during the tour
dot Kayak in use (model and brand)
dot Kind of safety equipments
dot Start date should also be included. As the weather situation is unpredictable this date is considered preliminary
dot Once under way the crew should without delay - in writing or by phone - give the correct date and time of the start
 
Goal announcement
must be submitted no later than one week after finishing and contain the following information:
 
dot Confirmation of the previously indicated starting date and time
dot Date and time for finishing, i.e. when touching border mark no 59 or navigation mark at the ferry berth in Svinesund
dot Number of paddling days (days elapsed from start to finish)
dot Distance paddled in kilometres or nautical miles
dot Finishing notification should be confirmed in writing by post or E-mail even if this has been given by a call
dot Paddlers who, as a memento of the trip wish to have their own handmade K2B miniature kayak personalised with their name, can obtain one at cost which currently is SEK 550.- (one for the crew or for each paddler, equal to one or two with the paddlers names). If the paddler in the finishing notification indicates this wish the miniature kayak will be awarded to the approved paddlers at the jury meeting.

  2. The trip should be undertaken in a K2 kayak as a long tour, that is that all equipment such as maps/charts etc. should be carried aboard the kayak
   a — Rendezvous with companying boat or suchlike for loading or unloading is not allowed. Swap of kayak or paddles may not be done during the trip. Spare paddles aught to be part of equipment
   b  — Should kayak and/or paddles be stolen during the trip, will new be allowed to fetch with support from the outside. The same goes for safety equipment such as pontoons, life vests, paddling covers, compasses and mobile phones. With that addition that they may be fetched with outside help if lost in other way
   c — Damaged kayak should if possible be repaired by the crew, why a repair kit ought to be included in the equipment. If this should not cover the extent of the damage and an expert is needed to maintain the safety of the kayak it will be allowed to apply one. If this expert is not to be found at the place one has been stranded at, the crew should on their own arrange that the kayak comes to desired expert. During the repair time the crew should act as been hold back by the wind or else and stay at the place awaiting for the kayak to be useable again. After the repair is done should restart be made from the place one had to land at
   d — If other equipment than kayak and paddles, not specified as safety equipment, is lost or get unusable, this will be replaced only by the crew them selves.
 
  3. Addition to provision along the route should be made by the crew them selves. If visited by or co-paddling with relatives and friends during the trip, it is neither allowed to receive provisions from them, nor to get their help with unloading or completing the equipment.
 
  4. Each daily distance should be carefully marked on the map/chart (scale at choice) and entered in a log. All days including days of start and finish are considered fully paddling days. The trip should be completed within one and same calendar year.
 
  5. The whole of the trip should be undertaken in the sea without portages. The paddler's route at sea should thus be possible to mark as a coherent line from start to goal. It is allowed to paddle through all canals without locks, such as Sote canal in Bohuslän, Falsterbo canal (adjustable flood damper that will be lowered during passage) and Väddö canal by the Roslagen coast north of Stockholm.
 
  6. For propelling the kayak only the use of paddle is allowed.
 
  7. There are no checkpoints along the route. Each paddler's kayak-honour is a guarantee of that the rules will be complied with. After completion the paddler will give an account of her or his trip before a jury.
 
  8. All those who according to the rules complete the paddling will be awarded the K2Ribbon regardless of how many days the crew has used. Any paddler is free to obtain the K2Ribbon more than once. In the same or other crew.
 
  9. Each paddler's name, age, year of completion and number of paddling days will be put on display in a glass show-case with a styled miniature kayak at a wll visited place
 
10. In case the slightest doubts concerning the rules should arise, ask for information before the start or during the paddling. Nothing would be more painful for a jury than to reject a trip on the grounds that a paddler has taken too lightly on the rules.
 
******
The meaning with the rules for obtaining K2Ribbon is that the crew of the kayak after own ability, own navigation and with good seamanship shall carry the tour through by own strength and navigate the craft in to port without any support from the outside.
 
AS ALWAYS: THE RESPONSIBILITY IS YOURS
 
minneskajak
K2B-miniature kayak handmade by Mats Grindvik
 

Here are the rules in Word document

Earlier links to information over Svinesund and Virtakari are now to be found at page Links.