(a) Three person Taplin Relay is as per the six person Taplin Relay except that the event is conducted with one swimmer, one board paddler and one ski paddler.
(b) The Masters three person Taplin Relay is as per the standard Taplin Relay except that the two green/yellow turning flags are placed approximately 15m apart and located either on the shoreline or at knee depth water (as appropriate and taking into account prevailing surf conditions) so as to minimise the run distance). The two green or area coloured finish flags are placed on the water’s edge 5m apart and 5m from the second turning flag. If the first leg is swim or board, the event commences from the water’s edge. For the second and third legs, swimmers and craft competitors (as appropriate) may commence in the water.
Note: Dependent on conditions officials may direct the depth to which competitors may enter the water to await the tag from incoming competitors.
(c) Four person Taplin Relay is as per the six person Taplin Relay except that the event is conducted with one Swimmer, one board paddler, one ski paddler and a beach sprinter who is always the last competitor in the event. The third competitor visibly tags with the beach sprinter. (Refer section 2.28 for definition of a tag). The tag can be effected anywhere between the last turning buoy of the third competitor and the seaward side of the first green and yellow turning flag. The beach sprinter proceeds around the first green and yellow turning flag and past the second green and yellow turning flag on the shoreward side and finishes between the two green flags.
Note: Runners are permitted to enter the water to tag the incoming competitor and may wade, porpoise/duck-dive* off the bottom with their feet, catch waves and/or run to the turning flags but are not permitted to swim at any time (this includes taking an overarm swimming action to either catch or stay on a wave.
**Providing the feet push off the bottom, it is permitted to have an above water arm action as part of the porpoise/duck-dive movement.
(d) Competitors must commence their leg of the event from the correctly allotted beach position. The starting positions are reversed for the board and ski legs. For example, in a 16-team race in which a team has drawn position 1; the initial craft leg is commenced from position 1 and the other craft leg is commenced from position 16.