RegattaCentral

RULES OF THE 2013 HEAD OF THE PASSAIC REGATTA

2013 Rules can be downloaded here

1. ENTRIES

a. 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 Race Director.  Late entries that are accepted will be assessed an additional late entry fee equal to 50% of the entry fee. Unpaid entries will not be permitted to race. 

b. 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.

c. Scratched entries will be refunded their entry fees up until the registration deadline.  Entries scratched after the registration deadline will not be refunded.

d. Each event must have a minimum of two entries.  Races with only one entry may be combined with another event or canceled.  In the event of race cancellation due to insufficient entries, the entry fee will be refunded.

e. Should the Regatta be cancelled by the Race Director prior to race day, entry fees shall be refunded.  Races cancelled on the day of the Regatta due to river conditions or inclement weather will not be refunded.

2. STARTING

a.  Prior to the Regatta, starting order will be determined by random lot.  Bow numbers will be assigned to each boat accordingly and distributed along with a schedule in race-day Registration Packets.  Crews will be called to the PRRA launch dock by race number and bow numbers.  Crews on the river must position themselves in the marshalling area so they can start in bow number sequence.  Bow numbers will be collected at the return docks.  “Crew” as used in these Rules applies to the occupant(s) of racing shells, i.e. to rowers (and coxes, where appropriate) in both 1x and multiple-rower boats.

b. The Starter will space crews so that each shell crosses the starting line at approximately 20 second intervals. 

c. Blue/green buoys will approximate both the start and finish lines. 

d. The race will be officiated by US Rowing Referees.  Crews must be alert to the possibility that they may receive directions from officials at the start, finish, dock, or in safety launches.  They must follow any such directions in an expeditious manner.

3. RIGHT OF WAY

a. A crew is deemed to be overtaking another crew when it has moved to within one length of open water of the crew ahead. On those portions of the course that are straight, a crew being overtaken shall move closer to the shore and allow the overtaking crew to pass.

b. Where the course turns, a crew being overtaken shall move to the outside of the turn and allow the overtaking crew to pass along the shorter path.

c. Passing is not allowed, nor is the crew being overtaken required to yield, in cases where the overtaking crew’s position clearly prevents safe passage or where there is insufficient room to yield.

d. Passing is not allowed within 100 meters of and under bridges.  There are no exceptions.  See the designated "no passing" areas on the course map.

e. Care should be taken when turning around at the marshalling area or past the finish line. Boats racing have the right of way over all other boats.

4. PENALTIES

a. Where buoys mark the boundaries of the course, and in particular mark turns on the course, a crew shall be penalized 10 seconds for each buoy that the crew passes incorrectly. A crew passes a buoy incorrectly when any part of its hull passes on the wrong side of the buoy.

b. Crews missing the correct order at the start shall be penalized 10 seconds.

c. A crew that fails to yield to a crew being summoned to the starting area, or that otherwise interferes with the staging of the start, may be penalized 10 seconds by the Marshall or Starter.

d. A crew that fails to yield to a crew having proper right of way shall be penalized 30 seconds.

e. A crew that crosses the starting line without its required bow number shall be penalized 60 seconds.

f. A crew that passes another crew in any area marked or designated as "no passing" shall be penalized 60 seconds.

g. A crew that passes a bridge under an arch marked "non-navigable" shall be penalized 60 seconds.

5. EQUIPMENT

a. All boats must be equipped with a protective "ball" on the bow.  Boats without such bow balls will not be allowed to launch. 

b. For boats with flexible-soled shoes attached to the foot stretchers, heels must be attached to the stretchers by a method allowing quick exit in case of emergency (“heel ties”). Boats will be inspected at the dock and must comply with this rule to be permitted to launch. 

c. 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.

6. RACE CATEGORIES

a. Participants will be classified according to the Rules of Rowing, available from US Rowing.  Masters rowers are 21 years of age and older.

b. All novice events are Junior events, unless otherwise specified.

c. All mixed race events are Masters events.  Each crew must have an equal number of male and female rowers.

d. Handicaps will be utilized for all Masters races and will be determined using US Rowing guidelines.  Masters races may be split according to age categories, depending on the number of entries, at the discretion of the Race Director.  Participants are responsible for providing correct age information for Masters crews.

e. A single shell in the recreational single category can be no more than 24 feet long, with a deck beam of not less than 17 inches.

7. TRAVEL PATTERN

a. Two-way traffic is maintained on the river.  Crews must not cross the race course at any time.  Whether approaching the starting line or racing down the course, at all times, crews must keep the red buoys near the center of the river on their port side and the yellow buoys near the shore on their starboard side.  Racing crews will be on the west side of the river, heading downstream.  Crews that are launching, landing, or proceeding to/from their docks must row in the buoy-designated lane on the east (upstream) side of the river.

b. Navigable arches of the 2 bridges on the course are indicated on the course map.  These are the arches closest to the middle of the river.  Buoys will indicate which arches must be used.

c. Crews are not allowed to pass other crews within 100 meters of each bridge.

 8.  AWARDS

a. Crews finishing first in their race will receive first place medals, provided that the event has a minimum of two entries.  Second place medals will be awarded in events with four or more entries and third place medals will be awarded in events with five or more entries. 

b. The HOPR Points Trophy shall be awarded to the club amassing the greatest number of points at each year’s regatta.  One point is awarded for each rower of the winning crew in each race.  For example, the winning crew of an 8+ race will be awarded eight points, the winning crew of a 4x will be awarded four points, and the winner of a 1x event will be awarded one point.  Points will not be awarded to second or third place finishes.  The Points Trophy is a travelling trophy and must be returned to the organizers before the next regatta.

c. The Robert J. DeVita Cup shall be awarded to the winning Men’s Open Novice Four.  The Cup is a travelling trophy and must be returned to the organizers before the next regatta.

d. Other awards or cups may be offered at the discretion of the Regatta Committee.  Details of any such will be made available on the Regatta website.

9. PROTESTS

a. Good sportsmanship must prevail at all times.

b. Crews wishing to protest must first lodge the protest at the finish line to the finish line official(s), while still on the water.  The protesting crew must then submit its protest in writing, along with a $50 fee (cash or check, payable to HOPR), to the Head Referee within one hour of reaching land.  The protest must be signed by a member of the protesting crew and represent that, to the best of their knowledge and belief, the facts contained are true and accurate.  The decision of the Head Referee shall be final and may not be appealed.  If the decision is found to be in favor of the protesting crew or substantially justified, the protest fee will be returned to the protesting crew.  If the decision is against the protesting crew or the protest found unjustified, the fee will be retained