Revised Rules of the 2015 Head of the Passaic Regatta

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 that deadline will not be refunded.

d. Events at the HOPR 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 according to this order and distributed along with a schedule in your race-day Registration Packets.  We will call boats to the PRRA launch dock by race number and bow numbers.  Boats launching from other locations will be called at the discretion of their dockmasters.  Boats on the river must position themselves in the marshaling area (marked on the course map) so they can start in bow number sequence.  Bow numbers will be collected at the return docks.

b. The Starter will space boats so that each shell crosses the starting line at regular intervals. 

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

d. The race will be officiated by US Rowing Referees.  Boats 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 boat is deemed to be overtaking another when it has moved to within one length of open water of the boat ahead. On those portions of the course that are straight, a boat being overtaken shall move closer to the shore and allow the overtaking boat to pass.

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

c. Passing is not allowed, nor is the boat being overtaken required to yield, in cases where the overtaking boat’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 marshaling 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 boat shall be penalized 10 seconds for each buoy passed incorrectly. A boat passes a buoy incorrectly when any part of its hull passes on the wrong side of the buoy.

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

c.  Boats failing to yield to a boat being summoned to the starting area, or otherwise interfering with the staging of the start, may be penalized 10 seconds by the Marshall or Starter.

d. Boats failing to yield to those having proper right of way shall be penalized 30 seconds.

e. Boats crossing the starting line without their required bow numbers shall be penalized 60 seconds.

f. Boats passing others in areas marked "no passing" shall be penalized 60 seconds for each violation.

g. Boats passing a bridge under an arch marked "non-navigable" shall be penalized 60 seconds for each violation.

5. EQUIPMENT

a. 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. 

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 current version of the Rules of Rowing, available from US Rowing.  Masters rowers are 21 years of age and older.

b. Participants in High School events must be enrolled in High School.  All rowers in High School: Junior Varsity events must be non-varsity (novices may ‘row up’).  Club and composite crews meeting these criteria are permitted.  Participants in Collegiate events must be bona fide students enrolled at and representing accredited/chartered colleges or universities and eligible to compete in intercollegiate athletics.  In the interest of fair competition, the Regatta reserves the right to rule on a crew’s eligibility and appropriate placement in any High School or Collegiate event.

c.  Boats in mixed events 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, as published in the current Rules of Rowing.  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.  The Parent/Child event will not be handicapped.

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.  Boats must not cross the race course at any time.  Whether approaching the starting line or racing down the course, at all times, boats 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.  Boats that are racing will be on the west side of the river, heading downstream.  Boats 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. Boats are not allowed to pass others within 100 meters of each bridge.  No exceptions.

8.  AWARDS                               

a. Rowers (and coxes) finishing first in their race will receive first-place medals, provided that the event has a minimum of two entries.  Second and third place medals also will be awarded as appropriate per race 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 boat 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 High School Varsity Coxed Four (4+).  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. Boats 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 rower(s) must then submit the protest in writing, along with a $50 fee (cash or check, payable to HOPR), to the Head Referee or his/her designee 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/protest jury 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.