THE DOMINION DAY REGATTA

July 1, 2024

   Hosted by the Dominion Day Regatta Association

   COACHES MEETING: via Zoom, Thursday, June 27th at 7:00 P.M.

Regatta Chair:  Frances Burchat	Chief Umpire:  Lynda Dundas
Rowing Safety Advisor:  Jeany Ellis	First Aid/Medical Advisor:  Medix EMS
Canoeing Safety Advisor:   Brett Stien

 

REGATTA INFORMATION

To all Canadian & American rowing clubs, your club is cordially invited to participate in the 140th, Annual Dominion Day Regatta to be held on Monday, July 1st, 2024 on the Allan A. Lamport Regatta Course, Centre Island, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. All events will be conducted according to the current Rules of Canoe/Kayak Canada & Rowing Canada Aviron.

This regatta is unique, celebrating Canada Day by delivering an inclusive rowing/paddling festival on the Toronto Islands regatta course. As such, it combines canoe, kayak, dragon boat and rowing races on the same course. Rowing races are 1000m in length, 500m for dashes, and paddling races are either 250m or 500m.

Clubs with boats on trailers are requested to arrive on June 30th and park their trailer overnight on the Island. Security will be provided. Instructions on getting to the Island are included in the Transport to the Island section below. The DDRA is offering clubs an offset for the cost of transporting their boats, by ferry, to the Island.

Closing date for entries is 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 18th, 2024.

 

ORDER OF EVENTS

2024 Dominion Day Regatta
Rowing & Paddling Order of Events
Rowing Events				Paddling Events
Event #	Time	Event		Event #	Time	Event
R01	8:50 a.m.	Mens 2x Senior		K02:	8:55 a.m.	Men K1 - 500 m
R03	9:00 a.m.	Womens 4x Senior		C04:	9:05 a.m.	Women C2 - 500 m
R05	9:10 a.m.	Mens 1x U23		C06:	9:15 a.m.	Men C1 - 500 m B Final
R07	9:20 a.m.	Womens 4+ U23		K08:	9:25 a.m.	WOD U16 - Women K-1 - 500 m A Final
R09	9:30 a.m.	Mens 2x U17		D10:	9:35 a.m.	Dragon Boat Qualifier 1A - 500 m
R11	9:40 a.m.	Womens 8+ U17		K12:	9:45 a.m.	Men K2 - 500 m
R13	9:50 a.m.	Mens 4x Senior		C14:	9:55 a.m.	Women C4 - 500 m
R15	10:00 a.m.	Womens 1x Senior		C16:	10:05 a.m.	WOD U16 - Men C-1 - 500 m
R17	10:10 a.m.	Mens 4+ U19		C18:	10:15 a.m.	Men C2 - 500 m
R19	10:20 a.m.	Womens 2x U19		K20:	10:25 a.m.	WOD U16 - Women K-2 - 500 m
R21	10:30 a.m.	Mens 8+ Open 500m Dash		D22:	10:35 a.m.	Dragon Boat Qualifier 1B - 500 m
R23	10:40 a.m.	Womens 1x U23		C24:	10:45 a.m.	Men C1 - 500 m
R25	10:50 a.m.	Mens 4+ U23		K26:	10:55 a.m.	Women K-4 - 500 m
R27	11:00 a.m.	Womens 2x U17		C28:	11:05 a.m.	Women C-1 - 500 m
R29	11:10 a.m.	Mens 8+ U17		K30:	11:15 a.m.	WOD U16 - Mixed K-4 - 500 m
R31	11:20 a.m.	Womens 4x Masters		D32:	11:25 a.m.	Dragon Boat Mixed Ability #1 - 250 m
R33	11:30 a.m.	Mens 1x Masters		C34:	11:35 a.m.	WOD U16 - Women C-1 - 500 m
R35	11:40 a.m.	Womens 4+ U19		C36:	11:45 a.m.	WOD U16 - Men C-2 - 500 m
R37	11:50 a.m.	Mens 2x U19		K38:	11:55 a.m.	Women K1 500 m - 500 m- B Final
R39	12:00 p.m.	Womens 8+ Senior		K40:	12:05 p.m.	Women K1 500 m - 500 m A Final
R41	12:10 p.m.	Mens Ltwt 1x Senior		K42:	12:15 p.m.	WOD U16 Mens K-4 - 500 m
BREAK	12:20 p.m.	Lunch Break & Presentations
R43	12:50 p.m.	Womens 4x+ U17		D44:	12:55 p.m.	Dragon Boat Qualifier 2A - 250 m
R45	1:00 p.m.	Mens 4+ U17		K46:	1:05 p.m.	WOD U16 - Men K-1 - 500 m - A Final
R47	1:10 p.m.	Parent/Guardian & Child 2x		K48:	1:15 p.m.	Men K-4 - 500 m
R49	1:20 p.m.	Mens 4x U19		C50:	1:25 p.m.	WOD U16 - Mixed C-4 - 500 m - A Final
R51	1:30 p.m.	Womens 1x U19		D52:	1:35 p.m.	Dragon Boat Qualifier 2B - 250 m
R53	1:40 p.m.	Mens 8+ Senior		C54:	1:45 p.m.	Mixed C2 - 500 m
R55	1:50 p.m.	Womens 4+ Senior		K56:	1:55 p.m.	WOD U16 - Men K-2 - 500 m - B Final
R57	2:00 p.m.	Mens 4x+ U17		K58:	2:05 p.m.	Mixed K-4 - 500 m
R59	2:10 p.m.	Womens 1x U17		D60:	2:15 p.m.	Dragon Boat Mixed Ability #2 - 250 m
R61	2:20 p.m.	Mens Ltwt 4+ Senior		C62:	2:25 p.m.	Women K2 - 500 m B Final
R63	2:30 p.m.	Para Athlete Rowing Event		SO64:	2:35 p.m.	Special Olympic Kayak - 200 m
R65	2:40 p.m.	Mens 8+ U19		P66:	2:45 p.m.	WOD U16 - Men K-2 - 500 m - A Final
R67	2:50 p.m.	Womens 4x U19		K68:	2:55 p.m.	Mixed C4 - 500 m
R69	3:00 p.m.	Mens 1x Senior		D70:	3:05 p.m.	Dragon Boat Consolation Final - 500 m
R71	3:10 p.m.	Womens 2x Masters		C72:	3:15 p.m.	WOD U16 - Women C-2 - 500 m
R73	3:20 p.m.	Womens 4+ U17		K74:	3:25 p.m.	Mixed K2 - 500 m
R75	3:30 p.m.	Mens 1x U17		C76:	3:35 p.m.	WOD U16 - Mens K-1- 500 m - B Final
R77	3:40 p.m.	Womens 2x Senior		P78:	3:45 p.m.	Women K1 - 500 m - C Final
R79	3:50 p.m.	Mens 4+ Senior		C80:	3:55 p.m.	WOD U16 - Women K-1 - 500 m - B Final
R81	4:00 p.m.	Mens 1x U19		D82:	4:05 p.m.	Dragon Boat Championship Final - 500 m
				C83:	4:10 p.m.	Men C4 - 500 m
				K84:	4:15 p.m.	Women K2 - 500 m
				K85:	4:20 p.m.	WOD U16 - Mixed K-4 - 500 m - B Final
				C86:	4:25 p.m.	Mixed War Canoe - 500 m

 

DAY OF COMPETITION – SCHEDULE INFORMATION

1. Coaches Meeting – There will be a mandatory Coaches Meeting, via Zoom, on Thursday, June 27th at 7:00 PM.

As per Rule 8.6 in the Rowing Canada Rules of Racing, the Chief Umpire may penalize a club for failure to attend the coaches meeting, including not permitting the club to race. The Club representative in attendance is responsible for conveying all information from the coaches meeting to all participating athletes and coaches. All participants are expected to be familiar with the information conveyed at the coaches meeting.

Closing date for entries is Tuesday, June 18th, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.. The draw will take place on Wednesday, June 19th, and the preliminary draw will be posted on Regatta Central by Thursday, June 20th. In large events, there will be 1 entry per club until the event is filled. Any empty lanes will be filled by waiting list up until Friday, June 21st. A final draw will be posted on Monday, June 24, 2024.

Hardcopies of the draw will not be distributed. The draw will be available online in Regatta Central as per the dates outlined above. Results will be available online in RegattaMaster on July 1st and in Regatta Central July 2nd. Updates will be shared on RegattaMaster and X during the regatta.

2. Race Times – The first race will start at 8:50 a.m. Athletes will be permitted to launch from Control Commission starting at 8:30 a.m.
3. Minimum Race Intervals and Expected Launch Times – All races will be sprints. The minimum race interval will be 5 minutes. Races will alternate between rowing and paddling as per the combined Order of Events above. Thus, the minimum rowing race interval will be 10 minutes.

Crews will not be permitted to launch more than 30 minutes or less than 15 minutes prior to the posted start time. (If crews wish to hot seat, they must notify Control Commission. Races will not be held.)

No athlete is permitted to row in back-to-back races.

4. Weigh-in Times – Weigh-ins will take place next to Control Commission between 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on a gauged bathroom scale.
5. Course Practice Times – The course will not be open for practice.
6. Regatta Office Hours - The “Regatta Office” will be at the Grandstand, when the Regatta Chair arrives on the first ferry until 30 minutes after the last race.

 

PROGRESSION FORMAT

Due to the tight race schedule, no heats will be possible. Therefore, all rowing races are finals. If there are two flights/heats of one boat class, there will be two trophies issued, one each for the winner of each flight/heat.

 

ELIGIBILITY

All rowing events are open to participants from any Club in Canada and the United States.  Athletes and listed coaches must be listed on their Club’s Regatta Central roster.

Ontario Participants	Registered and active member of a Row Ontario member club in the Athlete role; Registrations must be activated in the RCA Web Registration System to be valid.
Canadian Participants, outside Ontario	Registered and active member of a Member Club in the Athlete role; Registrations must be activated in the RCA Web Registration System to be valid.
International Participants	Registered with the appropriate National Rowing Federation.
Age Categories	Age is calculated as of December 31st, 2024. U17 – open to eligible athletes born in 2008 or later; U19 – open to eligible athletes born in 2006 or later; U23 – open to eligible athletes born in 2002 or later; Senior – open to eligible athletes of any age; Masters (21 – 49) – open to eligible athletes born between 1975 and 2003; Grand Masters (50+) – open to eligible athletes born in 1974 or earlier; Senior Grand Masters (60+) – open to eligible athletes born in 1964 or earlier.
Weight Restricted	Men – 74.5 Kg maximum Women – 61 Kg maximum
Coxswains	Coxswains will not be weighed, nor required to carry weight if underweight.
Para	Para events are open to all rowers who meet RCA Rules 2.12, but they are not required to have undergone classification prior to this regatta.

 

PROOF OF AGE AND IDENTITY

 

ENTRY DEADLINES AND PAYMENT TERMS

Submitting an entry does not necessarily guarantee a race. One entry per club per event will be eligible. Clubs will be notified of the decision on second entries. The decision of the Draw Committee is final.

RegattaMaster will be used to produce the race draw & program. A preliminary draw will be posted on Regatta Central, RegattaMaster and emailed to club contacts by Thursday, June 20, 2024. Any further updates will be published on Regatta Central and RegattaMaster, emailed to club contacts, and, during the regatta, shared via the X and WhatsApp platforms.  

1. Entry Fees

Boat Class	Single	Double	Coxed Four        Quad	Eight
Base Entry Fee*	$13.64	$27.48	$54.56	$109.12
Row Ontario Seat Fee**	$2.66	$5.32	$10.64	$21.28
RCA Fee	$4.00	$8.00	$16.00	$32.00
Total Entry Fee	$20.30	$40.60	$81.20	$162.40

* Base Entry Fee includes the RegattaMaster Seat Fee.

**Row Ontario See Fee includes HST.

All fees are stated in CAD funds.

Association fees of $50.00 are for member rowing clubs Argonauts, Dons & Hanlan. Association Fees will be invoiced separately and must be e-transferred to the DDRA Treasurer at [email protected] prior to June 30, 2024.

2. Late Entries - Late entries will be accepted up until 4:00 P.M. Thursday, June 27th only if lanes are available without creating another race. Late entry requests should be emailed to Frances Burchat at [email protected]. Late entry fees will be the entry fees plus 50%.

3. Substitutions – The substitute must meet all eligibility and entry requirements as listed above. No more than half of a crew may be substituted. No substitutions will be allowed in 1x events.

Substitution requests made prior to the regatta must be emailed to Frances Burchat at [email protected] by 4:00 PM on June 30th.

Substitution requests made during the regatta must be made at Control Commission at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the relevant race.

4. Scratches – If a club withdraws from an event in which it has been entered, it shall give notice to the Organizing Committee as soon as possible, in writing, and at least one hour before the start of the race in question. A withdrawal, once made, is irrevocable and any entry fee paid or owed will be forfeited. 

All scratches submitted after the entry deadline will be assessed a $50.00 Scratch fee. Clubs will be assessed a $50.00 Scratch fee for any crew that misses the start of their race for any reason. Scratch fees will be waived for medical reasons if a note from a qualified medical professional is emailed to [email protected] by 8:00 a.m. on Monday, July 1, 2024.

 

RULES OF RACING - ROWING

1. All clubs must compete in their club colours or they may be excluded from the race.
2. No composite crews will be permitted.
3. No rower or coxswain may compete in two consecutive rowing races. This will apply to the final race schedule which may arise from the collapsing of some races.
4. The course is 1000 metres long and is restricted to six lanes.
5. Regatta umpires and officials will do their best to request that other boats that venture on the race course (fishing, tour boats, cruisers) exit the course as quickly as possible. Toronto Search and Rescue will be in attendance to help facilitate this. If necessary, the Marine Police will be called.
6. Finish judges will time races using the CrewTimer mobile app. Race umpires will do back up timing.
7. National team rowers cannot compete in the events they have been selected for. They may only compete in senior or open events.
8. All competitors must have paid both RCA & Row Ontario membership fees (or be a member of their National Rowing Federation if not Canadian) and will be charged an RO/RCA seat fee of $6.66 per event entered.
9. Photographs taken in the launching area, during races and during winners’ presentations may be used on DDRA social media and for general publicity of the event.

 

RCA RULES OF RACING EXCEPTIONS

This regatta will follow the 2022 Rowing Canada Aviron Rules of Racing, with the exceptions (per Rule 1.6) noted below.

R. 2.5, 2.6 – Coxswains will not be weighed, nor required to carry weight (if underweight).

R 10.3, 10.5, 10.6 - all Starts will be Quick Starts with a horn, not a flag. All Starts will be floating starts with approximate alignment.

 

RESULTS AND MEDALS

1. RegattaMaster will be used to record & publish results.
2. Prizes will be awarded to all members of the winning crews. There are no medals or awards for second or third place.
3. There are no heats, all races are finals. If there are more than 7 entries, two races will be held with prizes awarded to the winners in each race.

4. For the Parent/Guardian & Child 2x event, the RCA Master's age-adjusted time (Henley version) will apply. The participant ages will be totaled, then divided by two.
5. A point system is applied to identify a Points Champion, according to the following table showing the number of points awarded for each finishing position. A plaque will be awarded to the rowing club winning the Points Championship.

 

Place	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
Single	10	5	4	3	2	1
Double	15	8	5	4	3	2
Coxed Four/Quad	20	10	8	6	5	4
Eight	25	12	10	8	6	5

 

TRANSPORT TO THE ISLAND - ROWING AND PADDLING

To get to the regatta, all boats, trailers and participants must take a ferry to the Toronto Island Park.

1. Passengers - The mainland Jack Layton Ferry Terminal is a ten minute-walk from Union Station, the city’s public transit hub. Public transit to the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal is also available from Union Station via the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and includes the 6 Bay bus and the Harbourfront LRT routes. If travelling to the ferry terminal by personal vehicle, user-pay parking is available nearby.

 

Groups of ten or more can receive a 10% discount.

It is highly recommended that you book ferry tickets online.

Additional passenger information is available by calling 416-392-8193.

It is recommended that all regatta participants take the Centre Island ferry to Toronto Island Park as this is the Island on which the regatta is being held.

It is advised that passengers take the first Centre Island ferry run on July 1st. The DDRA will request a 7:30 a.m. ferry and it is possible that such a ferry will be scheduled. If not, the first ferry will run at 8:00 a.m. Later ferries become very crowded and the wait times can vary.

On July 1st, ferries returning to the mainland from Centre Island depart the Centre Island Terminal at approximately 15-minute intervals.

See the Passenger Ferry Schedule for more information.

Passenger ferry fees are round-trip and are as follows:

• • Adults: $9.11
  • Seniors & Students (15 to 19): $5.86
  • Juniors (Under 15): $4.29

2. Boats & Trailers - Transport of boats and trailers to Centre Island will take place on Sunday, June 30th via the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport ferry. The DDRA will work with club contacts prior to this date to create a transport schedule. On June 30th, club contacts are then requested to advise Rob Cook, via text at 416-930-1041, of their approximate arrival time at the ferry dock. On the evening of July 1st, trailers will return to the mainland via the Billy Bishop Airport ferry. Details of the costs and timing of these departures are still being worked out with the Airport and an update will be provided when finalized.  Clubs are asked to assist in this process by emailing the names, email addresses and cell phone numbers of their drivers to Charlie Stevens at [email protected].

Participating clubs will be offered a $250.00 subsidy to offset the vehicle ferry cost. They will also be offered a $50.00 subsidy to provide for a dinner for their driver.

 

TRAFFIC PATTERN AND COURSE UPDATES

The regatta course runs along Long Pond. It is approximately 1000m in length and runs in six lanes from the Rowing Start to the Grandstand, where the Finish line is located. There are buoys every 250m along the course with five buoy lines creating the six lanes.

Crews will wet launch from the athletes’ side, head south, then west around Forrester’s Island and west along the south part of the course outside lane 6, to the Start. Rowers must keep an eye out for paddling races when exiting the channel from Forrester’s Island onto the course. Follow the directions of the Marshal in the Safety Boat at this position.

Crews may warm up in Backhouse Bay (travelling north-south) but be careful of cruiser traffic and do not get too far from the Start as you may not hear the call to the Start, which will come only once per race.

Follow the Starter’s directions to be aligned in your lanes. Lanes number from north (1) to south (6).

All starts will be Quick Starts.

The Chief Umpire (rowing) and the Chief Official (paddling) are in constant communication and in radio communication to their respective Start lines. The Rowing Start will be advised to start their race, only when the previous paddling race has crossed the Finish line, and vice versa. 

At the Finish line, winning boats will make their way to the Grandstand to receive their awards. The remaining boats will return to the launch point. Boats should exit the race course quickly to avoid collisions with boats making their way down the course.

There will be a ZERO-TOLERANCE policy for any crews ignoring or disobeying the volunteers or

umpires. Offending crews are subject to a red card and disqualification from racing.

 

SITE AMENITIES

Food vendors are available at the Centre Island Ferry Terminal, the Centre Island Amusement Park and the Pier.

Washrooms can be found along the walking path from the Centre Island Ferry Terminal toward the Grandstand as well as on the athletes’ side. Drinking water fountains are located next to the washrooms.

Shelter for participants is available in the picnic area on the athletes’ side. Shelter for observers is available at the Grandstand.

Public phones are available in the park and at the Toronto Island Marina (at the 500m start line).

 

COMMUNICATION

Communication throughout the regatta will take place via the PA system as well as @DDRAregatta on the X and WhatsApp platforms.

 

MEDICAL SERVICES

Medix EMS (trained paramedic) will be onsite with a tent, oxygen, and other necessary first aid equipment. The staff will be located on the athletes’ side of the Island, just east of the Finish Line.

There also will be a First Aid kit at the Control Commission and an AED at the Grandstand.

See Appendix A: First Aid & Safety Plan

 

EMERGENCY PROVISIONS

In the event of a weather event (high winds, heavy rain, thunder or lightning), a decision may be made to shorten the course, or the regatta may be suspended or cancelled, depending on the time of day.

Crews on the course will be instructed on actions to be taken in accordance with Appendix B: Emergency Action Plan.

In the event of such a delay, an agreed-upon process will be defined to determine how the racing will be concluded, once the delay is over.  A series of principles may be appliced in accordance with Appendix C: DDRA Principles on How to Shorten the Regatta.

All questions should be addressed to Frances Burchat at [email protected].

 

 

Appendix A: First Aid & Safety Plan

First Aid & Safety Plan - Dominion Day Regatta

All safety boat drivers, coaches and race umpires and officials should familiarize themselves with the First Aid and Safety Plan. Coaches will attend the coaches meeting before the event Coaches will attend the coaches meeting before the event (online the week before the regatta) and are responsible for the safety of their athletes. All coaches are responsible for understanding our First Aid & Safety Plan prior to attending the regatta. It is recommended that all volunteers and staff have taken a first aid/CPR training course.

Boat drivers are responsible for carrying a valid Pleasure Craft Operator’s Permit and a Toronto Port Authority (TPA) Power Vessel Operator’s Permit and have a basic understanding of how to operate the boat they are driving. Boat drivers must make sure they have enough gas and that their boat carries a paddle or oars, bailer, sound signal, PFDs for the largest crew on the water where participants are not wearing PFD’s (i.e. 9 PFDs for a rowing eight). Boat drivers must wear their PFD at all times on the water. 

Boat drivers and coaches are responsible for keeping a lookout up and down the course and listening for official notices on the PA system and on the radios. Safety boat drivers will be supplied with two-way radios.

 

RADIOS: 

Each safety boat will carry a radio. Radios are to be used for official communication only.

Safety issues/flips should be called as “SAFETY/SAFETY/SAFETY”- all radio chatter should stop except for the person(s) dealing with the issue.

No other races shall proceed until the “ALL CLEAR” has been given.

 

FIRST AID PROVIDER:

Medix EMS will be on hand with two emergency First Responders for the regatta day.

 

PRIMARY FIRST AID LOCATION:

Medix EMS will be situated in a small white tent in the athletes’ area, just east of the Finish Line, on the south side of the path.

The First Aid Location will be available to athletes, participants, coaches and spectators from the time boats are allowed on the water until 30 minutes after the last boat is off the water (8:30 AM - 5:30 PM approx.).

 

911 EMERGENCY:

The Island is well serviced by Fire, Police and Ambulance services. Public phones are available in the park and at the Toronto Island Marina (at the 500m start line).

In an Emergency Call 911, and specify your location:

• Toronto Island, Allan A. Lamport Regatta Course,
• On the water, or near the Grandstand
• In the athletes’ areas near Franklin Gardens.

If 911 is called the Chief Umpire/Official must be immediately informed.

 

FIRST AID KIT LOCATIONS:

 

FIRST AID TENT:

Medix EMS, an Event Medical Service will provide two emergency First Responders for the day.

• They will be situated in a white tent in the athletes’ area, just east of the Finish Line on the south side of the path.
• EMS will be equipped with fully stocked Trauma Kits,
• Oxygen and Resuscitation Equipment (Suction Units, Oral and Nasal Airway Devices)
• Pulse Oximetry.
• Ice packs and bandages.
• Cell phone for external communication
• Radio for internal event communication
• First Aid will be available from the time boats are allowed on the water until 30 minutes after the completion of the last race of the day.

 

REPORTING:

For every attendance at the First Aid location for assistance of any kind, an incident report will be completed. Incident Reports will be submitted to the Regatta Chair at the end of the event.

The Regatta Chair will ensure any relevant incidents are reported as required to RCA/CKO on their appropriate form.

 

VICTIM CARE:

If an individual connected with the regatta comes alone to the First Aid location every effort will be made to locate a coach, guardian, or responsible adult to be with them.

Whenever there is contact with someone requiring First Aid that contact should remain with the victim until EMS takes over and a coach, parent, volunteer is located.

If the victim has been pulled out of the water, the safety boat team is responsible to ensure the victim receives First Aid care by either using a radio to call First Aid to meet them at the edge of the water or by escorting the victim to the Primary First Aid Location.

Under no circumstances will the victim be left alone.

 

CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT:

Any head injury shall be considered a concussion until a qualified medical responder assesses the individual.

All safety personnel must be aware of Row Ontario’s Concussion Management Policy.

 

LIGHTNING:

All boats will leave the water immediately if lightning is seen. Refer to Emergency Action Plan for evacuation procedure.

HIGH WINDS AND POOR CONDITIONS:

At the Chief Umpire’s/Official’s decision, the course may be shortened or the regatta may be delayed or called off due to high winds or poor water conditions. Their decision is final.

Coaches should take into consideration the ability of their athletes to cope with the prevailing weather and wind conditions. Coaches should NOT send an athlete on the water if there is any doubt as to their ability to line up, start, and row/paddle and finish their race.

 

ON WATER RESCUE PROCEDURE:

• Safety boats are positioned on either side of the course on lookout for boats that have tipped or need assistance. The biggest hazard for someone in the water is other boats. BE CAREFUL.
• When a safety boat is heading to a rescue, raise your hand to indicate that you are “on the way”
• When they get to the “victim”, approach from downwind to avoid drifting over the victim.
• The engine should be put into neutral and then turned off when you reach the victim. The engine should never be left on with people in the water near your boat.
• Safety drivers should refer to the EAP re: correct radio call and process for managing a rescue.
• Assist the athlete to either return to their shell or to get into the rescue boat.
• A second safety boat should attend to the shell/boat to ensure that it is moved off the course in a timely manner.
• Athletes taken to shore must be handed over to their respective coach or parent and are not to be left unattended.
• Any athlete who has capsized must be referred to the medical tent for assessment.

 

 

 

 

Appendix B: Emergency Action Plan 2024

 

Emergency Action Plan - Dominion Day Regatta

 

1. 1. Emergency Action Plan:

This emergency action plan provides an outline of the steps to be taken in the event that weather conditions become a safety concern, and crews need to be evacuated from the water. The Dominion Day Regatta WhatsApp group will be established prior to the Regatta and the link will be posted on the Regatta Central website.

Please note: the Dominion Day Regatta delivered by the Dominion Day Regatta Association is a combined rowing and paddling regatta. It is held under both the RCA Rules of Racing and CKC Sprint Competition Rule Book. The head official in rowing is termed a Chief Umpire, in paddling, is termed a Chief Official.

In the event of an approaching storm, The Chief Umpire/Official or Regatta Chair will call the Storm line toll free at 1-800-463-9463 and further monitor the weather as necessary.

The Chief Umpire/Official or Regatta Chair will monitor weather forecast through web sites (radar, local weather stations and local weather forecasts), as well as by phone with One-on-One Environment Canada Weather.

1. Environment Canada Lake Ontario: https://weather.gc.ca/marine/forecast_e.html?mapID=11&siteID=08207
2. Buffalo Radar (South): http://radar.weather.gov/
3. Wind finder (Port Weller): www.windfinder.com/forecast/port_weller
4. Sail flow: www.sailflow.com/windandwhere
5. The Weather Network (hourly forecast, and radar forecast): https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ca/weather/ontario/toronto-islands

 

1.2 Initiating the Weather Action Plan procedures:

The Chief Umpire/Official and Regatta Chair meet to review the weather status – before the regatta, during the regatta, as required, when notified conditions are changing for the worse. The Weather Action Plan is set into action when:

0. 1. 1. The Chief Umpire/Official and Regatta Chair determine that action is required to ensure safety. The required actions may include the following:
1. Holding additional boats from launch and finishing the races on course, or
2. Immediately calling all crews off the water, or
3. Continuing to monitor weather and review additional data.
   1. 2.  If action is required, following are the responsibilities of the Regatta Chair and Chief Umpire/Official.

1. Chief Umpire/Official informs the jury (control commission, start line, race umpires, and finish) of the action plan and instructs the Regatta Control Commission to monitor and account for all boats on the water by club or crew. The Chief Umpire/Official will also communicate the action plan to all safety boats on the water, and all the coaches by posting a notice on the WhatsApp group.
2. The Regatta Chair informs the Organizing Committee and the Committee Directors that the action plan is being initiated. The Regatta Chair ensures that a public announcement is made regarding the action plan.

 

1.3 Procedure for Evacuation from Water:

1. Control Commission:

1. A Notice will be posted on the Coaches WhatsApp group to the effect that all Coaches should ensure that all their athletes are safely accounted for.
2. The Rowing Control Commission will account for all rowing crews on and off the water. The Canoe/Kayak coaches will be responsible to monitor and record all crew names and follow up with crew coaches to ensure all crews are off the water.

2. At the Start Line:

1. Umpire/Official boats at the two start positions will notify/announce to all persons in the starting areas that they are to return to the launching area or take shelter in the starter’s tent on land (paddling start only).
2. The Starter will observe all crews at the start including in the warm-up area to ensure they have been informed of the plan and start heading back to the launching area. Starters will designate an umpire/official boat to follow the last crew back to the launching area.

3. Umpire and Safety Boats:
   1. Umpire/Official and safety boats will direct the crews to the launching area and will follow the last crew to the launching area to be the last ones off the water.
4. At the Finish Line:
   1. Chief Finish Judges will monitor all crews at the finish and in the last 200m area and communicate to Control Commission to ensure all crews are accounted for, and an appropriate notice will be posted on WhatsApp.
5. At the Launch Docks or Area:
   1. One of the Control Commission umpires or volunteers will serve as a Dock Marshal for rowing shells and will ensure crews quickly exit launch area. During course closure, the Dock Marshal will allow boats to dock from either direction ensuring that docking shells are able to land from both directions.
   2. Canoe Kayak Coaches, according to the WhatsApp message, will monitor the returning Canoe/Kayak boats to ensure that everyone is off the water.
6. Coordination of All Officials:
   1. Chief Umpire/Official, Regatta Chair and Chief of the Control Commission will confirm everybody (crews, umpire boats, safety boats, start personnel and others) are safely off the water. A system will be created for all Canoe/Kayak Coaches to report to the Chief Canoe/Kayak Official that all of each club’s crews are off the water.

 

1.4 Following Evacuation from Water:

The Regatta Chair and Chief Umpire/Official will review options related to the weather and make announcement as soon as possible regarding any delays or regatta cancellation.

 

 

1.5 Delay Contingency Plan:

The DDRA Regatta Organizing Committee may reschedule races later in the day for safety reasons in the event of bad weather. Any changes in the schedule will be discussed with the appropriate coaches and announced by the Control Commission and posted on the WhatsApp group chat. (This will also include shortening the length of races). It is the responsibility of the crew and club coaches to monitor and stay current with the schedule.

Any changes required by a weather delay will supersede the published related requirements of the RCA Rules of Racing and Canoe/Kayak Sprint Competition Rule Book. During the condensed schedule, the Race Umpire/official has the discretion to determine whether a crew is maintaining a competitive position in the race. If the Race Umpire/Official determines this is not the case, the Race Umpire/Official can make the call to exclude that crew from the race and direct them to remove themselves from the course. No allowance will be made for athlete or equipment conflicts due to reducing time between races, and substitutions will not be allowed.

 

1.6 Schedule Changes Options Due to Weather Delay:

Races may be run with reduced time between races until 5:30 PM to complete the schedule. Racing will not take place after 5:30 PM, as the permit for the course expires at 6:00 PM.

The Regatta Chair and Chief Umpire/Official will decide on the requirements of the schedule change. The Regatta Chair will communicate with the Regatta Committee, DDRA Executive Directors and coaches via the WhatsApp group chat and ensure that announcements are made and communicated to all areas of the regatta (Control, public, starter and finish).

 

Toronto Police Marine Unit E-mail Marine 259 Queen's Quay W., Toronto, ON, M5V 1A2 Phone: 416-808-5800

Toronto Fire Services is the City’s only all hazards emergency response organization. Fire Services provides City of Toronto residents, visitors and businesses with protection against loss of life, property and the environment from the effects of fire, illness, accidents, and all other hazards through preparedness, prevention, public education, and emergency response, with an emphasis on quality services, efficiency, effectiveness, and safety. Fire Station on Toronto Island (Wards) – Call 911

The Toronto Police Marine Unit is a part of the Specialized Emergency Response for the Toronto Police Service. The Marine Unit is located at 259 Queens Quay West. Marine Unit also has 3 sub-stations located at Bluffers Park, Center Island and Humber River, which all are used for police and lifeguard functions.