Head of the Buffalo Regatta

  • Hosted By: Buffalo Scholastic Rowing Association

Regatta Caps

  • Athletes (excluding coxswains) are limited to 2 events for this regatta
  • The alumni events do not count towards the event cap

 

Classifications

Junior Events:

A competitor who in the current calendar year does not attain the age of 19, or who is currently, and has been continuously, enrolled in secondary school as a full-time student seeking a diploma.

  • Varsity - Competitors are all currently enrolled in a high school or secondary school
  • JV -  Competitors are enrolled as high school juniors or lower, OR:
    1. A team may enter a JV team boat that includes seniors, if those teams are also be entering a Varsity boat.
    2. No more than half of any JV boat lineup can be comprised of seniors (not including the coxswain)
    3. It is understood that the Varsity boat entered is faster than the JV entry.
  • Freshman/Novice - Competitors must be in their first season of competitive rowing or in grade 9 or lower

 

Collegiate Events:

Full time college students

  • Varsity - Competitors are all currently enrolled in a collegiate program
  • JV -  Competitors are enrolled as college juniors or lower, OR:
    1. A team may enter a JV team boat that includes seniors, if those teams are also be entering a Varsity boat.
    2. No more than half of any JV boat lineup can be comprised of seniors (not including the coxswain)
    3. It is understood that the Varsity boat entered is faster than the JV entry.
  • Freshman/Novice - Competitors must be in their first season of competitive rowing or in their freshman year 

 

Open Events:

  • No handicaps applied

 

Masters Events:

A competitor who has attained or will attain the age of 21 during the current calendar year. Categories will be as follows: (AA) 21 to 26 years, (A) 27 to 35 years, (B) 36 to 42 years, (C) 43 to 49 5 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 to 84, (K) 85 and over. The category of a Masters Crew shall be determined by the average age of the rowers in the crew, rounded down to the nearest whole number.

  • Masters (21-55) - small boat events for athletes ages 21-55
  • Masters (55+) small boat events for athletes over the age of 55
  • Novice - Competitors must be in their first season of competitive rowing 
  • Mixed - Must contain an equal number of men and women excluding the coxswain. The coxswain may be of either sex. (Male rowers shall not compete in events for women)
  • All Masters races will be handicapped. Competitors/crews entered in Masters races who do not have their ages listed on their entry forms will NOT have their handicaps calculated (actual elapsed time will be used). Handicaps will be applied for all Masters boats using the standard US Rowing handicaps for a 1,000 meter course and will be multiplied by 4.3 to factor for the length of the course. 

 

General Rules
 

Bow Numbers:
Bow Numbers must be picked up at the Registration desk (one per boat per race). All boats launching must have their bow markers secured. Bow markers will be collected at the launch site.
Bow clips:
All boats must have a bow clip to which a bow marker can be secured.
Bowball:
All shells MUST be equipped with a bow ball per USRA rules.
Heel straps:
All boats MUST have heel straps securely in place at launch time per USRA rules.

Passing:

  • ­A crew is deemed to be overtaking another crew when it has moved to within one length of open water of the crew ahead. 
  • Participants are asked not to overtake another boat while under any bridge due to the width of the shells and oars and the approach lane. 
  • On those portions of the course that are straight, a crew being overtaken shall move to the right (to 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 on the shorter path.
  • Overtaking crews should loudly indicate the path they intend to take while passing

Hot-seating:
All crews are on notice of the scheduled launch and start times and enter at their own risk. The Regatta Director retains the final authority regarding the launch and retrieval order of shells. Crews missing their official start time due to hot seating may be allowed to race for time at the discretion of the Regatta Director / Chief Referee.  Please plan accordingly.


Launching & Recovery:
Launch:
Boats will come onto the dock from the south side ramp, stern first, and swing their sterns to the north side. Oars can be staged on the rock wall leading up to the dock. Boats will have no more than 60 seconds on the dock. Launched boats will be instructed when it is safe to cross the river to travel up the course on the right-hand side. 

Warmup: 

  • Boats warming up will row by all 2, 4 or 8 rowers to the starting line
  • If racing boats are coming around a turn at the same time as a boat on their warm up, the boat warming up will pause rowing until the racing boat is through the turn.
  • Be cautious of shoreline hazards 

Recovery:
Boats will row back to the dock on the left-hand side of the river. Again, boats will have no more than 60 seconds on the dock. Boats will exit the dock on the north side ramp, and return to Father Conway park by walking through the boathouse parking lot.

 

Conduct during transit, racing and penalties:
Red and orange buoy lines will indicate hazards, and separate race/warmup lanes around major turns. Neither oars nor hulls may cross over a buoy without penalty.
White buoys will indicate the start, and orange buoys will indicate the finish. 

Monitors have been stationed along the water to have eyes on the entire course. If a crew feels their race has been impeded in some way, the coach should talk to the Regatta Director or Chief Referee. The crew should also raise their hand at the finish to indicate they think their race was impeded. If a crew would like to appeal an assessed penalty, the coach may see the Regatta Director. Failure to heed instructions of course officials or entering the race course from the travel lane may result in a warning or exclusion. Foul language and unsportsmanlike behavior will not be tolerated in any form and will result in penalties, including possible exclusion.

Code    Seconds     Penalty
1               60           Unsportsmanlike Conduct   (exclusion if extreme)
2               10           Missed Buoy
3               30           Interference - failure to separate
4               60           Interference - contact
5               60           Failure of crew being passed to yield
6               60           Failure of passing crew to slow or yield if unsafe to complete a pass
7               60           Pushing a crew into an unsafe situation or off the course
8               60           Bridge violation
9               60           Safety violation
10             30           Late to start
11              EXL        Failure to recognize officials' commands

 

Results:

Results will be posted on CrewTimer @ https://www.crewtimer.com/regatta/r12166

 

Medals:

1 boat in the race - no medals awarded

2 boats in race - Gold awarded

3 boats in race - Gold and Silver awarded

4 or more boats in race - Gold, Silver and Bronze awarded

Medals can be picked up at the registration table, following the posting of official results.