RegattaCentral

Race Category Definitions:

Age is age in current calendar year per USRowing rules.

• Junior rower: 18 years old or less or enrolled in secondary school
• Master rower – 23 years or older for team boats
• Master: 27 or older for singles
• Master Team boats – master rowers only.  Boat age is average of rowers age
• Junior Team boats – junior rowers only

Mixed events: equal number of male and female rowers in boat, coxswain either gender

Rules & Regulations for Coxswains & Strokes

Before The Race:

Launch & Warm-up:

1. Check in with dock master or control commission; if there is a problem, report it at once and write down the official's name to which you reported the delay.
2. Recheck bow number one last time; make sure bow ball is O.K.
3. Carefully follow normal warm-up pattern. Be familiar with race lanes and traffic pattern. Do NOT cross racing lanes. Caution: If you are entered in the first 1000m event following a 2000m event, do not enter race lane until instructed to do so by an official.
4. It is the competitor’s responsibility to get to the start on time; races may stat without out late boats.
5. Be very conscious of races on the course; stop to let them pass if you are near them to avoid a warning
6. Follow traffic pattern religiously
7. All boats must launch from boathouse main dock (Beach launch site is closed)

The Race:

At the Start:

1. Be at the starting area 5-8 minutes before race if possible; do not play mind games at the start--get there with time to spare and focus
2. If possible, listen to starter's voice and cadence for previous race to get a sense of how he will call yours.
3. Know the various starting commands.
4. Check in with referee or marshal; identity yourself and race; this is very important in large regattas;
5. Races will utilize a floating start and may use a quick start format.
6. Get your point and target; compensate for wind or current in keeping point; if there is a long delay, know where to keep your point to compensate for winds
7. Know that "hands" are not recognized during a quick start nor after the crews have been announced or polled.
8. Check position of your rudder especially after you have backed in
9. Know exactly how to scull bow around; check on where you want blades depending on current/wind
10. Acknowledge any warnings from starter
11. Remember, the movement of the flag starts the race not the voice of the starter

Lateness & False Starts & Breakage:

1. If you are late and permission has been given, don't panic your team on getting to the line
2. False starts: kinds of alignments; misleading other crews; backing down and your rudder
3. Not ready at the start
4. Breakage time or buoys
5. The regatta will utilize a 20 second breakage rule. (USRowing Racing R. 2-310 (c))

The Body of the Race:

1. Lanes: know your own lane and others. For 2000m events, know which bridge arch and which side of the arch to pass through. (2 lanes pass through each arch).
2. Do not interfere with other boats in their lane.
3. Referee commands and flags: white and red flags.

The Finish of the Race:

1. Make dead sure you have crossed the finish line before you stop rowing. Look for finish line flag.
2. What five things the referees need to do at the finish: safety, weights, time, look for protests, certify race with white flag.
3. Checking your athletes health; lying down in the boat
4. Knowing when to leave the finish
5. Filing a protest on the water
6. Withdrawing a protest
7. Meaning of the flags

After The Race:

Filing a Protest:

1. The protest procedure is as stated in USRowing Racing Rules 2-604, 2-605, and 2-606.