Just wondering what the rules are in Australia and the rest of the world in regards to kneeling down and paddling during a SUP race. The other day during one of our regular Wednesday night races held in fairly windy choppy conditions ( maybe 15knts), we had a fun downwind run with heaps of great little runners to surf. When we rounded the buoy to head side/into the wind one of the racers dropped to his knees and powered ahead of the rest of the field. Gaining probably 40-50m while the rest of us slogged on grunting and cursing the wind. On the final leg his lead was lessened but nobody could catch him before the finish. My question is does this break any rules and is it considered cheating or frowned upon?
Our racing isn't too serious and the result didn't affect the overall season points so nobody questioned it too much. But it would be good to set some ground rules before things get more serious and someone does get upset.
Thanks
If it's at the pointy end of the field I'd say it's pretty uncool. If a back marker is battling to finish or it doesn't affect placing then I wouldn't have a problem with it.
As for rules, I'm not sure but there should be something written about it.
Sam.
Great question !! Inter-related with this thread ! 
(below)
I think you would have a pretty good case, when you call a "protest"! When it gets up to 20 knots, you should try and run it as a Down Winder anyway. Or do laps on a short course, in a sheltered position.
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/SUP/Paddle-Race-Events-Who-Knows-What-You-Will-Get/
(it's blowing it's little titties off here at the moment - Corio DW run in "ON"!)
IIRC, BOP rules stipulate that you cannot take more than 5 consecutive paddle strokes from a kneeling position.
Thanks guys for the replies. Interesting it is stipulated in the "official rule book". Now we can ban it! 
in the bridge to beach at sydney last year i saw guys paddle almost the whole race on there knees as it was into the strongest head wind i was just upset as i have bad knees and could do the same otherwise i was personaly fine with it, but agree with what windsurfnsnow said and everyone else
what a bloody joke.........if you want to paddle on your knees go join a surfclub, 1000's out there doing that....if you want to SUP then stand the **** up
