The Guardians of Cape Point Challenge is a collective of the paddlers who have completed 10 or more Cape Point Challenges. This group of paddlers have elected a committee of 10 who continue to work alongside the various roles players including the Race Organising Committee, Western Cape Canoe Union and CSA.

The formal GOCPC role is to:

• Protect the epic legacy of the Cape Point Challenge
• Honour the role of paddling stalwarts who have shaped this race
• Secure an effective role for a paddler perspective to be heard at the multiple forums where the fate and direction of this race will be determined into the future
• Fend off attempts from individuals to make personal profits from undue commercialisation of the race
• Give the highest priority to safety imperatives from a paddlers perspective.
• Seek sincere and relevant community involvement so as to:
• support the race itself
• attract younger paddlers
• support water safety volunteers or similar outreach organisations

The Committee of 10, chaired by one of the participants from the first race in 1980, Garth Watters, includes past winners Peter Cole, Paul Marais, Dawid Mocke and Jean Wilson. Chairman Garth Watters explains the origin of the Guardians Of the Cape Point Challenge: “These paddlers were of a common view that; CPC is an epic, authentic South African endurance race and the event will better survive, improve and build on its already proud legacy by harnessing the power of the collective spirit of its most experienced participants, in short this race was started by paddlers for paddlers, and paddlers should actively protect the race’s future. Each year the GOCPC will, after the race, review its successes and shortcomings, invite newly qualified 10 CPC’s-completed paddlers to join the GOCPC, elect a new committee and to further work to give the race its best shot at reaching its full potential.”