RegattaCentral

Launching:    All Crews should launch from The Donahue Rowing Center. Boats should launch no later than 40 minutes before race time. A dock master will be present to expedite boat traffic.

Course Markings:    There will be buoys at periodic points on the race course and a string of buoys from the narrows to the RT 9 Bridge. Keep buoys on starboard side at all times during warm up and race. Ther will be two buoys marking the start and finish of the race.

Traffic Patterns:   

Traffic to the Start

Boats will launch off south side of dock and proceed down the Shrewsbury shore (see map). Proceed through second arch from left of Rt 9 Bridge. Proceed carefully through Narrows. There will be a marshal stationed at Narrows to indicate if it is safe to proceed. Boats warming up must allow racing crews precedence at Narrows. Failure to follow instructions from the marshal at the Narrows will result in a 60 second penalty. After Narrows, stay to the left of the Islands and proceed until last Island. Do not go beyond second lake narrowing into South Bay. A marshal will gather crews at this point and redirect them back up the Worcester Shore towards the Start. Keep buoys on starboard side at all times.

Racing Traffic

Racing crews may use all three arches from left in the RT 9 Bridge. (see map) Participants not passing through the finish buoys with bow marker intact are subject to exclusion from the race. Boats must row clear of the finish area and proceed up to the RT 290 Bridge before crossing the lake and returning to dock on the north side of the dock.
Method of Start:    Each crew is responsible for being at the starting line ten minutes before the start of their race. Boats will be started in order by bow number at roughly 10 second intervals. Late arriving boats may lose their starting position or be excluded at the discretion of the starter. Every reasonalble effort will be made to allow all particpants a chance to compete. Boats must pass through the starting buoys to be officially recognized.

Rules:     

An athlete may only row in one event at The Snake Race. There is no hot seating allowed.

Equipment: Bowmarkers must be picked up at The Registration Desk. All boats launching must have their bowmarkers secured. Bowmarkers will be collected after the race.

Bow clips: All boats must have a bowclip.

Bowballs: All boat MUST be equipped with a bowball.

Heel straps: All boats MUST have heel straps securely in place at launch per USRA rules.

Penalties and protests:

1. Any boat being overtaken must grant the right of way to the upcoming boat. An overtaken boat should begin to yield no later than the point at which the overtaking crew is within one length of their stern.
2. Boats must proceed downstream within the restraints of course buoys.
3. Boats not observing course rules and/or impeding other crews shall be penalized at the discretion of the Regatta Officials.
   
1. Missed Buoy: 10 seconds (each buoy missed).
   
2. Interference: 60 second penalty (e.g. , not granting right of way, not clearing finish area)
3. Reckless Endangerment: 120 seconds ( failure to follow instruction at the narrows, etc.)
4. Passing through the wrong Arch: 60 seconds ( Either traveling to the start or during racing)
   
4. Protests must be reported to the Dock master immediately upon docking and then submitted in writing to a USRA official. The protest must contain a concise description of the incident, bow numbers of all crews involved , names of witnesses, and the relief being sought. The signature of a member of the crew lodging the protest must be included as well as a check for $25 made out to the Quinsigamond Snake Regatta. The protest must be submitted to a USRA official not more than thirty minutes after docking.
5. There will be a $25.00 fee for each bow number that is not returned.