RegattaCentral

Rules of the Miles of Hope Regatta

Overview:  The Hudson River Rowing Association invites you to compete in a 1,000 meter race to benefit the Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation. The Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation was established in 2004 to fund support services for people affected by breast cancer in the Hudson Valley. 

All money raised in the Miles of Hope Regatta is used to support programs in the Hudson Valley. Some of the current programs funded by the Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation include:

• Medical Gap Care Fund for individuals who are faced with life emergencies and/or costs not covered by health insurance while they are undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
• Complementary Medicine – this includes funding of massage therapy, Reiki, acupuncture, music therapy, exercise/dance, and art therapy programs to enhance recovery.
• Scholarships for college-bound high school seniors whose lives have been affected by breast cancer. Scholarships are given in all nine counties.
• Peer-to-Peer – a program uniting recently diagnosed breast cancer patients with trained survivors.

News: Please contact the regatta director with any other questions you may have.

Venue: Spectating is best done at the Hudson River Rowing Association boathouse’s parking lot with viewing right along the river.

Rules and Regulations:

The regatta will use the Crew Timer timing system.

1. Entries
   1. All entries must be registered via Regatta Central and paid for by the deadline posted on Regatta Central.  Late entries may be accepted at the discretion of the Regatta Director. Unpaid entries will not be permitted to race. 
   2. Complete registration information must be submitted by the registration deadline. Missing or fictitious ages, names, abbreviations, initials, etc. must be corrected by the registration deadline. Entries with incomplete information will be deemed scratched and treated as such. Participants may enter more than one event but the regatta will not delay the schedule to guarantee time for hot seating.
   3. Scratched entries will be refunded their entry fees up until the registration deadline. Entries scratched after that deadline will not be refunded.
   4. Events must have a minimum of two entries. Entrants of races with only one entry will be given the option to enter a different or scratch with a full refund. In the event of race cancellation due to insufficient entries, the entry fee will be refunded.
   5. Should the Regatta be canceled by the Race Director prior to race day, entry fees shall be partially refunded or credited towards next year’s regatta. Races canceled on the day of the Regatta due to river conditions or inclement weather will not be refunded. 
2. Starting
   1. Prior to the Regatta, lane assignments will be determined by random draw. Bow numbers will be assigned according to this order. Every team is responsible for providing their own bow numbers. Boats will be called to the launch dock by event number and category. 
   2. Boats must be alert to the possibility that they may receive directions from race personnel at the start, finish, dock or in safety launches. They must follow any such directions in an expeditious manner. 
   3. If you intend to reuse a boat or hot seat, it is the responsibility of the coach and crew to ensure that enough time has been allotted for your crew to hot seat and arrive at the starting line prior to the start of the event. Coaches need to plan on a minimum of at least one hour to reuse equipment in a subsequent event. Crews arriving late to start may, at the discretion of the starting officials, not be permitted to race. 
3. Equipment
   1. All boats must be equipped with a protective ‘ball’ on the bow or its anti-puncture equivalent as specified by the current version of the Rules of Rowing, rule 3-105, available from US Rowing. Boats that fail to meet this rule will not be allowed to launch. 
   2. For boats with flexible-soled shoes attached to the foot stretchers, heels must be attached to the stretchers with a maximum distance of 3 inches to allow for quick release in case of emergency (heel ties). Boats will be inspected at the dock and must comply with this rule to be permitted to launch. 
   3. Watertight compartments must be properly sealed with the appropriate stern and bow caps. Boats with missing caps designed to cover air-tight compartments present a safety hazard for the crew and will not be permitted to launch. 
   4. Each boat must display its assigned bow number and be equipped with a bow clip for this purpose. No boat will be allowed to leave the dock without a bow number. 
4. Race Categories
   1. Participants will be classified according to the current version of the Rules of Rowing, available from US Rowing. Masters rowers are 21 years of age or older. 
   2. Participants in junior events must be enrolled in grades 7-12.
   3. Novice events are for participants in their first year of racing in that discipline, regardless of experience in younger categories. All rowers in varsity events cannot compete in novice events. Clubs meeting these criteria are permitted.
   4. Boats in mixed events must have an equal number of male and female rowers. 
   5. In the interest of fair competition, the Regatta reserves the right to rule on a crew’s eligibility and appropriate placement in any event.
5. Travel Pattern
   1. Two-way traffic is maintained on the river. Boats must not cross the racecourse at any time, whether approaching the starting line or racing down the course. 
   2. All boats must move to the start line and docks with purpose.
   3. After launching, proceed along the shore to the starting line. More detailed instructions will be provided at the coaches and coxswains meeting.
   4. Racing boats will pass the HRRA boathouse and dock. They will then approach the dock from the south. 
6. Awards
   1. Medals will be awarded based on the following criteria:
      1. Gold medals awarded to crews finishing 1st place in events with at least two entries
      2. Silver medals awarded to crews finishing 2nd place in events with at least three entries
      3. Bronze medals awarded to crews finishing 3rd place in events with four or more entries.
7. Protests
   1. Good sportsmanship must prevail at all times. Objections and protests will occur on the water and will follow the procedures outlined in the current version of US Rowing’s Rules of Rowing.
8. Parking
   1. Trailers will be permitted to park on-site in the HRRA Boathouse south lot.
   2. Spectators will be charged a $5.00 parking fee per vehicle. Hudson River Rowing Association season passes will be honored. All proceeds will be donated to Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation.