Six Bridges Regatta

Aug 30, 2014
head
Arkansas River
North Little Rock, AR (USA)

Hosted By: Arkansas Boathouse Club, Inc
2016 Registered Regatta

<div><strong>RULES</strong></div>

<div>Boats should queue for launch in bow number order. Please follow directions of the officials. Oars may be placed on a grassy area near the launch dock and/or shells may be accompanied by an assistant. Crews must be at the marshalling area 10 minutes before their scheduled start time.</div>

<div>The race will be with the current down the center of the river, whereas rowing upstream to the start will be along the Northshore. Ensure crews have enough time to row up to the start.</div>

<div>The Six Bridges Regatta Committee will schedule launch times to allow sufficient time to row to the start with consideration for the Arkansas River current on each race day. Average observed flow fluctuates from 10-30 kcfs, but may reach 50-60 kcfs. Moderate flow rate may result in crews being advised to warm up at a brisk pace to ensure that racing can proceed on schedule.</div>

<div>The start line is located 5,500 meters upstream from the boat launching area. Yellow buoys will separate the race course from the upstream traffic and red buoys will mark the outside channel. Shells are required to keep to the North side of the river while proceeding to the start. This rule will also apply on the designated practice day as well as on race day.</div>

<div>Regatta marshals will be on the course during the practice session held on Friday, August 29th from noon to 7:00 pm. For safety purposes, no boats shall be allowed to launch before&nbsp;noon&nbsp;or after&nbsp;6:30 pm. All crews must be off the water no later than&nbsp;7:00 pm. During practice, race traffic patterns apply throughout the course. Penalties may be assessed for repeated infractions.</div>

<div>Boats racing must carry a bow number, provided by the Six Bridges Regatta denoting their assigned starting position. Bow numbers must be returned to the dock volunteers as boats come off the water.</div>

<div>Coxswain space requirements for bow coxed shells as defined in the US Rowing Association Rules of Rowing 2014 Edition Section 3-110 shall apply.</div>

<div>Foot gear release and bowball requirements shall be in accordance with US Rowing Association Rules of Rowing 2014 Edition Sections 3-105 and&nbsp;3-109.</div>

<div>&quot;Every boat shall have a supple or plastic ball, of a white or fluorescent color, firmly attached and mounted on its bow, unless equivalent provision for visibility and protection against puncture injury is included in the boat&#39;s basic construction. The bowball shall be at least 4 centimeters in diameter.&quot;&nbsp;<em>Section 3-105</em></div>

<div>&quot;Where the feet of the competitor are held in place by footgear affixed to the structure of the boat, the design of such footgear shall provide for the quick release of the competitor&#39;s feet in case of emergency, without the use of hands. Any pull strings shall now allow the heel to raise more than three inches (7.5 cm) above the foot board to which it is anchored.&quot; <em>Section 3-109</em></div>

<div>All boats will be checked and tagged by referees for safe footgear and bow balls. If such equipment is not present, the crew will have limited time to make corrections or that boat will not be allowed to launch. Once boats have been checked, they will be tagged with a ziptie so they do not have to be checked again for subsequent races.</div>

<div>Detailed instructions will be available at registration and at the Coach and Coxswain (C&amp;C) meeting. Please review and ensure your coxswain knows and understands them well.</div>

<div>Updated launch schedules will be posted at the Pasta Dinner on Friday, August 29 and at the C&amp;C meeting&nbsp;on Saturday morning at&nbsp;7:00 am. There will be only ONE call to launch prior to each event. The launch officials at Control Commission will encourage all boats to launch on time, but it is expected that crews be aware of their launch times and not depend solely on calls to launch from regatta officials. More details will be provided during the C&amp;C meeting.</div>

<div><strong>REGISTERED BOATS FAILING TO LAUNCH DURING THE APPROPRIATE LAUNCH WINDOW FOR THEIR RACE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO RACE AND WILL INCUR A $25 SCRATCH FEE. ANY ORGANIZATION WITH SCRATCH FEES DUE WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM LAUNCHING SUBSEQUENT BOATS UNTIL ALL SCRATCH FEES ARE PAID.</strong></div>

<div>Crews shall be responsible for maintaining their proper starting position, for maintaining the proper interval between themselves and other crews and for aligning themselves in the start chute.</div>

<div>For safety purposes and efficiency of starting boats, the committee asks coaches to please refrain from sending first time coxswains out on the water. If a coxswain is deemed unsafe by the Dockmaster or Start Marshal the boat will be not be allowed to race.</div>

<div>At the start, crews will be called to the start chute on approximately 20-second intervals. Starting order shall be determined by random draw. Next year&#39;s starting order will give priority to this year&#39;s top finishers.</div>

<div>All crews not currently involved in the staging of the start shall yield to crews being summoned by the Start Marshal. Interference with the staging of the start shall result in a penalty.</div>

<div>If racing is delayed, the Start Marshal shall provide for a sufficient amount of time between events so that crews in different events do not overlap at the finish line.</div>

<div>One crew is deemed to be overtaking another crew when it has moved to within one length of open water of the crew ahead. On the portions of the course that are straight, a crew being overtaken shall move to the starboard and allow the overtaking crew to pass. Where the course turns, a crew being overtaken shall move to the outside of the turn and allow the overtaking crew to pass along the shorter path. Strokes in coxed boats shall advise their coxswains when an approaching boat closes to within one boat length of open water.</div>

<div>Crews will be disqualified if they cross the finish line missing a crew member. After crossing the finish line, crews shall continue to row and slowly proceed to the turnaround area as marked, avoiding interference with other crews.</div>

<div>Intent to file a protest must be indicated to an official on the water or at the dock immediately following the finish of a race. &nbsp;After a crew leaves the takeout docks, all rights to protest are waived.</div>

<div>The regatta will consider a protest from a coach or coaching representative per US Rowing Association rules. A fee of $20 will be charged for each protest. The protest must be filed with the Control Commission, located at the Arkansas Boathouse Club Boathouse, and the fee must be paid within 45 minutes of the last boat finish time for the race in question. Successful protests will be refunded their protest fee. The Regatta Jury will consider appeals from crews who have been assessed a penalty.</div>

<div>All race results become &ldquo;Official&rdquo; 45 minutes following the last boat to finish in an event if no protests are pending.</div>

<div>The Dock Master asks that athletes cooperate and get off the dock ASAP so that a delay penalty does not need to be assessed.</div>

<div>A 30-second penalty may be assessed to crews that exceed the allowed dock times:</div>

<ul>
	<li>3.5 minutes for Novice 8+</li>
	<li>3.0 minutes for all other 8+</li>
	<li>2.5 minutes for Novice 4+</li>
	<li>2 minutes for all other</li>
</ul>

<div>Other penalties are:</div>

<ul>
	<li>10-second penalty for passing a buoy on the wrong side</li>
	<li>10-second penalty for failing to follow Officials&rsquo; instructions</li>
	<li>20-second penalty for interfering with start staging</li>
	<li>30-second penalty for failing to yield to crew with right-of-way</li>
	<li>60-second penalty for crossing the starting line without required bow number</li>
</ul>

<p>&ldquo;Hot Seating,&rdquo; or changing crews in a boat on the water is prohibited. &ldquo;Hot Seating&rdquo; is only permitted on land in the launching area with designated card (see below). Crews will approach the return dock, take their boat out of the water and move to the designated area for hot seating. The new crew taking control of the boat will pick up the boat and join the queue for boats going onto the racecourse from the launch dock. Crews will not hot seat at the return dock.</p>

<div><strong>IMPORTANT</strong></div>

<div>Boats wanting to hot seat must have the coxswain pick up an orange card at Control Commission. Hot seat cards will be available on&nbsp;Friday from 4:00 - 6:00 pm&nbsp;or&nbsp;Saturday from 7:00 - 10:00 am. The coxswain should display the card over his/her head for the Dockmaster to see as they approach the return dock. Under safe conditions, the hot seating boat will be given priority docking.</div>

<div>Athletes only need to weigh-in one time for the entire weekend. Athletes may weigh-in at the ABC Boathouse&nbsp;on Friday from 4:00 - 6:00 pm&nbsp;or&nbsp;Saturday from 7:00 - 10:00 am. Athletes in the same boat do not need to weigh-in together.</div>

<div>There will be no boat weight averaging for lightweights of either gender. These weight limits apply to all lightweight events (Open, Youth, Masters)</div>

<div>Male rowers will have a maximum weight of 160 lbs and female rowers will have a maximum weight of 135 lbs. There will be no weigh-in for coxswains.</div>

<div><strong>MASTER HANDICAP CALCULATION</strong></div>

<div>Six Bridges Regatta will use the handicap formula as listed in the US Rowing Associations Rules for Rowing 2014 Edition. Handicaps are rounded to the nearest second.</div>

<div><strong>AGE CLASSIFICATIONS</strong></div>

<div>Age classifications are extracted from the US Rowing Association Rules of Rowing 2014 Edition Section 4-104.</div>

<div>Masters crews shall be classified by age according to the following categories:</div>

<ul>
	<li>(AA) 21 to 26 years</li>
	<li>(A) 27 to 35 years</li>
	<li>(B) 36 to 42 years</li>
	<li>(C) 43 to 49 years</li>
	<li>(D) 50 to 54 years</li>
	<li>(E) 55 to 59 years</li>
	<li>(F) 60 to 64 years</li>
	<li>(G) 65 to 69 years</li>
	<li>(H) 70 to 74 years</li>
	<li>(I) 75 to 79 years</li>
	<li>(J) 80 and over</li>
</ul>

<div>The age category of a Masters crew shall be determined by the average age of the rowers in the crew, rounded to the nearest integer. The age of a coxswain shall not be counted. The ages of individual rowers need not fall within the age category, so long as each rower is a Master and so long as the average age of the crew falls within the applicable category.</div>

<div>The correct age must be provided for each crew member. If any age is missing, no handicap will be assigned to the boat. Calculated handicaps will be available for review at registration. Any handicap corrections must be submitted to registration in writing, including name and age of each participant. No handicap changes will be accepted after the crew has received their registration packet.</div>

<div>Bow numbers are assigned sequentially according to the following order:</div>

<ul>
	<li>Random draw from the remaining entries until one boat has been placed for each organization</li>
	<li>Random draw from the remaining entries until a second boat has been placed for each organization (repeated until all boats have been placed)</li>
</ul>

<div><strong>NOTES</strong></div>

<div>Within a single organization, boats are placed by designation (A, B etc.).</div>

<div>Entering several boats with the &lsquo;A&rsquo; designation will not result in better bow number assignments.</div>

<div>Swapping boat lineups to &lsquo;trade&rsquo; bow numbers is not permitted.</div>

<div>Crews are responsible for maintaining proper position at the start.</div>

<div>Bow number is not a guarantee of start order.</div>

<div><strong>ELIGIBILITY</strong></div>

<div>All races are open to any rowers except youth/youth lightweight/youth novice rowers.</div>

<div>College and Club events are limited to scullers, rowers, and coxswains who do not have Varsity status (except for novice events) and did not finish in the top six places in any class or event at any of the following Regattas in the calendar year or the preceding year: NCAA Championship, Canadian Henley, EARC, EAWRC, PAC-10, IRA, Dad Vail, any National Team Trial, National Championships, Head of the Charles, or Head of the Schuylkill.</div>

<div>Youth, Youth Lightweight, and Youth Novice events are limited to scullers, rowers, and coxswains currently enrolled in high school. Junior/high school scholastic teams, scullers, and coxswains may only enter Youth, Youth Lightweight, and Youth Novice events. Youth event competitors are defined as scullers, rowers, and coxswains who, in the current calendar year, do not attain the age of 19, or who are and have been continuously enrolled in secondary school as a full time student seeking a diploma.</div>

<div>Due to NCAA rules defining recruiting violations, high school rowers and coxswains may only enter events identified as Youth, Youth Lightweight and Youth Novice events. NO EXCEPTIONS.</div>

<div>Masters events are limited to scullers and rowers who have each attained at least 18 years of age during the calendar year. For Master 2x, 4x, 4+, and 8+ the age of the crew will be the average of the rowers (except for coxswain). Age handicapping for Master events will follow US Rowing Association standards.</div>

<div>Masters AA-D 1x events are limited to rowers whose ages meet the requirements for the US Rowing Association Masters AA through D age categories only.</div>

<div>Masters E-J 1x events are limited to rowers whose ages meet the requirements for the US Rowing Association Masters E through J age categories only.</div>

<div>Novice events are limited to scullers, rowers, and coxswains who have been competing for one year or less on the day of the Six Bridges Regatta. Experience in sculling events does not count as experience in sweep events and vice versa.</div>

<div>Men&rsquo;s events are for male scullers and rowers only. Women&rsquo;s events are for female scullers and rowers only. Coxswains may be of either gender.</div>

<div>Mixed crews shall have an equal number of men and of women. Coxswains may be of either gender.</div>

<div>Composite Boats must meet the following requirements:</div>

<ul>
	<li>8+ cannot contain more than 6 members of the same club, not including the coxswain</li>
	<li>4x/4+ cannot contain more than 2 members of the same club, not including a coxswain&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

RULES

Boats should queue for launch in bow number order. Please follow directions of the officials. Oars may be placed on a grassy area near the launch dock and/or shells may be accompanied by an assistant. Crews must be at the marshalling area 10 minutes before their scheduled start time.

The race will be with the current down the center of the river, whereas rowing upstream to the start will be along the Northshore. Ensure crews have enough time to row up to the start.

The Six Bridges Regatta Committee will schedule launch times to allow sufficient time to row to the start with consideration for the Arkansas River current on each race day. Average observed flow fluctuates from 10-30 kcfs, but may reach 50-60 kcfs. Moderate flow rate may result in crews being advised to warm up at a brisk pace to ensure that racing can proceed on schedule.

The start line is located 5,500 meters upstream from the boat launching area. Yellow buoys will separate the race course from the upstream traffic and red buoys will mark the outside channel. Shells are required to keep to the North side of the river while proceeding to the start. This rule will also apply on the designated practice day as well as on race day.

Regatta marshals will be on the course during the practice session held on Friday, August 29th from noon to 7:00 pm. For safety purposes, no boats shall be allowed to launch before noon or after 6:30 pm. All crews must be off the water no later than 7:00 pm. During practice, race traffic patterns apply throughout the course. Penalties may be assessed for repeated infractions.

Boats racing must carry a bow number, provided by the Six Bridges Regatta denoting their assigned starting position. Bow numbers must be returned to the dock volunteers as boats come off the water.

Coxswain space requirements for bow coxed shells as defined in the US Rowing Association Rules of Rowing 2014 Edition Section 3-110 shall apply.

Foot gear release and bowball requirements shall be in accordance with US Rowing Association Rules of Rowing 2014 Edition Sections 3-105 and 3-109.

"Every boat shall have a supple or plastic ball, of a white or fluorescent color, firmly attached and mounted on its bow, unless equivalent provision for visibility and protection against puncture injury is included in the boat's basic construction. The bowball shall be at least 4 centimeters in diameter." Section 3-105

"Where the feet of the competitor are held in place by footgear affixed to the structure of the boat, the design of such footgear shall provide for the quick release of the competitor's feet in case of emergency, without the use of hands. Any pull strings shall now allow the heel to raise more than three inches (7.5 cm) above the foot board to which it is anchored." Section 3-109

All boats will be checked and tagged by referees for safe footgear and bow balls. If such equipment is not present, the crew will have limited time to make corrections or that boat will not be allowed to launch. Once boats have been checked, they will be tagged with a ziptie so they do not have to be checked again for subsequent races.

Detailed instructions will be available at registration and at the Coach and Coxswain (C&C) meeting. Please review and ensure your coxswain knows and understands them well.

Updated launch schedules will be posted at the Pasta Dinner on Friday, August 29 and at the C&C meeting on Saturday morning at 7:00 am. There will be only ONE call to launch prior to each event. The launch officials at Control Commission will encourage all boats to launch on time, but it is expected that crews be aware of their launch times and not depend solely on calls to launch from regatta officials. More details will be provided during the C&C meeting.

REGISTERED BOATS FAILING TO LAUNCH DURING THE APPROPRIATE LAUNCH WINDOW FOR THEIR RACE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO RACE AND WILL INCUR A $25 SCRATCH FEE. ANY ORGANIZATION WITH SCRATCH FEES DUE WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM LAUNCHING SUBSEQUENT BOATS UNTIL ALL SCRATCH FEES ARE PAID.

Crews shall be responsible for maintaining their proper starting position, for maintaining the proper interval between themselves and other crews and for aligning themselves in the start chute.

For safety purposes and efficiency of starting boats, the committee asks coaches to please refrain from sending first time coxswains out on the water. If a coxswain is deemed unsafe by the Dockmaster or Start Marshal the boat will be not be allowed to race.

At the start, crews will be called to the start chute on approximately 20-second intervals. Starting order shall be determined by random draw. Next year's starting order will give priority to this year's top finishers.

All crews not currently involved in the staging of the start shall yield to crews being summoned by the Start Marshal. Interference with the staging of the start shall result in a penalty.

If racing is delayed, the Start Marshal shall provide for a sufficient amount of time between events so that crews in different events do not overlap at the finish line.

One crew is deemed to be overtaking another crew when it has moved to within one length of open water of the crew ahead. On the portions of the course that are straight, a crew being overtaken shall move to the starboard and allow the overtaking crew to pass. Where the course turns, a crew being overtaken shall move to the outside of the turn and allow the overtaking crew to pass along the shorter path. Strokes in coxed boats shall advise their coxswains when an approaching boat closes to within one boat length of open water.

Crews will be disqualified if they cross the finish line missing a crew member. After crossing the finish line, crews shall continue to row and slowly proceed to the turnaround area as marked, avoiding interference with other crews.

Intent to file a protest must be indicated to an official on the water or at the dock immediately following the finish of a race. After a crew leaves the takeout docks, all rights to protest are waived.

The regatta will consider a protest from a coach or coaching representative per US Rowing Association rules. A fee of $20 will be charged for each protest. The protest must be filed with the Control Commission, located at the Arkansas Boathouse Club Boathouse, and the fee must be paid within 45 minutes of the last boat finish time for the race in question. Successful protests will be refunded their protest fee. The Regatta Jury will consider appeals from crews who have been assessed a penalty.

All race results become “Official” 45 minutes following the last boat to finish in an event if no protests are pending.

The Dock Master asks that athletes cooperate and get off the dock ASAP so that a delay penalty does not need to be assessed.

A 30-second penalty may be assessed to crews that exceed the allowed dock times:

3.5 minutes for Novice 8+
3.0 minutes for all other 8+
2.5 minutes for Novice 4+
2 minutes for all other

Other penalties are:

10-second penalty for passing a buoy on the wrong side
10-second penalty for failing to follow Officials’ instructions
20-second penalty for interfering with start staging
30-second penalty for failing to yield to crew with right-of-way
60-second penalty for crossing the starting line without required bow number

“Hot Seating,” or changing crews in a boat on the water is prohibited. “Hot Seating” is only permitted on land in the launching area with designated card (see below). Crews will approach the return dock, take their boat out of the water and move to the designated area for hot seating. The new crew taking control of the boat will pick up the boat and join the queue for boats going onto the racecourse from the launch dock. Crews will not hot seat at the return dock.

IMPORTANT

Boats wanting to hot seat must have the coxswain pick up an orange card at Control Commission. Hot seat cards will be available on Friday from 4:00 - 6:00 pm or Saturday from 7:00 - 10:00 am. The coxswain should display the card over his/her head for the Dockmaster to see as they approach the return dock. Under safe conditions, the hot seating boat will be given priority docking.

Athletes only need to weigh-in one time for the entire weekend. Athletes may weigh-in at the ABC Boathouse on Friday from 4:00 - 6:00 pm or Saturday from 7:00 - 10:00 am. Athletes in the same boat do not need to weigh-in together.

There will be no boat weight averaging for lightweights of either gender. These weight limits apply to all lightweight events (Open, Youth, Masters)

Male rowers will have a maximum weight of 160 lbs and female rowers will have a maximum weight of 135 lbs. There will be no weigh-in for coxswains.

MASTER HANDICAP CALCULATION

Six Bridges Regatta will use the handicap formula as listed in the US Rowing Associations Rules for Rowing 2014 Edition. Handicaps are rounded to the nearest second.

AGE CLASSIFICATIONS

Age classifications are extracted from the US Rowing Association Rules of Rowing 2014 Edition Section 4-104.

Masters crews shall be classified by age according to the following categories:

(AA) 21 to 26 years
(A) 27 to 35 years
(B) 36 to 42 years
(C) 43 to 49 years
(D) 50 to 54 years
(E) 55 to 59 years
(F) 60 to 64 years
(G) 65 to 69 years
(H) 70 to 74 years
(I) 75 to 79 years
(J) 80 and over

The age category of a Masters crew shall be determined by the average age of the rowers in the crew, rounded to the nearest integer. The age of a coxswain shall not be counted. The ages of individual rowers need not fall within the age category, so long as each rower is a Master and so long as the average age of the crew falls within the applicable category.

The correct age must be provided for each crew member. If any age is missing, no handicap will be assigned to the boat. Calculated handicaps will be available for review at registration. Any handicap corrections must be submitted to registration in writing, including name and age of each participant. No handicap changes will be accepted after the crew has received their registration packet.

Bow numbers are assigned sequentially according to the following order:

Random draw from the remaining entries until one boat has been placed for each organization
Random draw from the remaining entries until a second boat has been placed for each organization (repeated until all boats have been placed)

NOTES

Within a single organization, boats are placed by designation (A, B etc.).

Entering several boats with the ‘A’ designation will not result in better bow number assignments.

Swapping boat lineups to ‘trade’ bow numbers is not permitted.

Crews are responsible for maintaining proper position at the start.

Bow number is not a guarantee of start order.

ELIGIBILITY

All races are open to any rowers except youth/youth lightweight/youth novice rowers.

College and Club events are limited to scullers, rowers, and coxswains who do not have Varsity status (except for novice events) and did not finish in the top six places in any class or event at any of the following Regattas in the calendar year or the preceding year: NCAA Championship, Canadian Henley, EARC, EAWRC, PAC-10, IRA, Dad Vail, any National Team Trial, National Championships, Head of the Charles, or Head of the Schuylkill.

Youth, Youth Lightweight, and Youth Novice events are limited to scullers, rowers, and coxswains currently enrolled in high school. Junior/high school scholastic teams, scullers, and coxswains may only enter Youth, Youth Lightweight, and Youth Novice events. Youth event competitors are defined as scullers, rowers, and coxswains who, in the current calendar year, do not attain the age of 19, or who are and have been continuously enrolled in secondary school as a full time student seeking a diploma.

Due to NCAA rules defining recruiting violations, high school rowers and coxswains may only enter events identified as Youth, Youth Lightweight and Youth Novice events. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Masters events are limited to scullers and rowers who have each attained at least 18 years of age during the calendar year. For Master 2x, 4x, 4+, and 8+ the age of the crew will be the average of the rowers (except for coxswain). Age handicapping for Master events will follow US Rowing Association standards.

Masters AA-D 1x events are limited to rowers whose ages meet the requirements for the US Rowing Association Masters AA through D age categories only.

Masters E-J 1x events are limited to rowers whose ages meet the requirements for the US Rowing Association Masters E through J age categories only.

Novice events are limited to scullers, rowers, and coxswains who have been competing for one year or less on the day of the Six Bridges Regatta. Experience in sculling events does not count as experience in sweep events and vice versa.

Men’s events are for male scullers and rowers only. Women’s events are for female scullers and rowers only. Coxswains may be of either gender.

Mixed crews shall have an equal number of men and of women. Coxswains may be of either gender.

Composite Boats must meet the following requirements:

8+ cannot contain more than 6 members of the same club, not including the coxswain
4x/4+ cannot contain more than 2 members of the same club, not including a coxswain

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