Minister's Cup Race

A race for our coastal environment

In 2022, we felt a pressing need to elevate social awareness about seaborne litter and its impact on marine ecology. As a call to action, we started the Minister’s Cup Race. It received such strong support from sustainability and marine conservation groups that it has become an offshoot of the Singapore Ocean Cup.

This year, we are proud to team up with Friends of Marine Park to bring you the Minister’s Cup Race on 15 October 2023. The race will be held at the

"Race Village" at Emerald Pavillion, Siloso Beach, Sentosa.

Furthermore, to share our love for ocean paddling with the wider community, we have expanded this year’s Minister’s Cup to include races for persons with disabilities and persons with special needs.

Not too keen to race? You could simply join us for a day out on the beach to watch the racing, partake in the Sustainability Showcase in the morning or try outrigger canoeing during the lunch break for fun AND pick up some marine litter along the way.

Race Categories

Round the Southern Islands Race

Entry Eligibility

Participants must be above the age of 18 as at 2023, water confident, and proficient outrigger canoe paddlers who can navigate channel crossings, strong currents and wind. Register as a team of 6, inclusive of an accredited steer. There are no gender-based requirements.

Race Route and Format

Teams will race in 6-persons outrigger canoes. The race distance will be about 6 km. Each team will be required to make brief stops at designated areas of ecological importance (for example, Pulau Tekukor, Bendera Bay or Sisters’ Island Marine Park), and perform a task. The first team to return having satisfied all requirements, wins. Details of the Race Route will be published at least 1 week before race day.

Registration fees

$300 per team

Pre-race challenge

In the spirit of the Minister's Cup, every team is required to engage in coastal area* cleanups before race day.

Each team must collect trash from the sea or any beach before the race. To record the amount of trash collected,

each Team Captain must register your team on Stridy; and
send an email to noelle.seet@singaporepaddleclub.com with your team name, so that we can add it to SPC’s Stridy account.

You may ask friends and family to collect on your behalf as well. Everyone collecting must download the Stridy app and record under ‘ITEMS COLLECTED’.

Time will be deducted from your team’s race completion time depending on the relative amount of trash your team collects. For example, the team that collects the most trash will receive a 60s deduction, the second 50s, third 40s, and so on.

*Coastal area is defined as the sea, or within 50 metres of a coast line or the foreshore.

Rookies

Entry Eligibility

Participants must be above the age of 18 as at 2023, water confident and must not have raced in any ocean paddling race more than once. Participants should preferably have ocean paddling experience.

Race Route and Format

Teams will race in 6-persons outrigger canoes. The race route will be a distance of 500 metres along the coast of Sentosa. There will not be any turns. Details of the race route will be published at least 1 week before race day.

Registration fees

$100 per team

Youth

Entry Eligibility

Participants must be between the ages of 12 and 18 (both ages inclusive) as at 2023, water confident, and have ocean paddling experience. Register as a team of 6, inclusive of an accredited steer. You may, but do not have to, form a team(s) representing an educational institution.

There are no gender-based requirements at present. But if there are sufficient entries, we may split
the categories further. We will inform you about this as soon as we can.

Race Route and Format

Teams will race in 6-persons outrigger canoes. The race route will be a distance of about 1 km along the coast of Sentosa, and will include at least 1 turn. Details of the race route will be published at least 1 week before race day.

Registration fees

Free

Inclusive

Entry Eligibility

The Inclusive category is open to persons with disabilities, persons with special needs, and their
caregivers. Participants must be water confident and have ocean paddling experience. There are no
gender-based requirements.

Race Route and Format

Participants may race in:

1. A double hull (12-persons outrigger canoe); an accredited steer and pacer will be provided

2. A 6-persons outrigger canoe; an accredited steer and pacer will be provided

3. Individual surfski - we have a limited number, so these will be provided on a first come, first served basis

The Race Route will be a distance of 500 metres along the coast of Sentosa. There will not be any turns. Details of the Race Route will be published at least 1 week before race day.

Registration fees

Free