Regatta Package 

We hope that our regatta package for the Head of the Welland will answer any questions you have about regatta. It includes a list of events, competitive categories, fees, registration instructions, together with information you will need to know about weigh-ins, launching and wet launching.

To view the regatta package click here: Head of the Welland Regatta Package 

CLASSES

Lightweight
In any Men’s Lightweight event no rower shall weigh more than 72.5kg.
In any Women’s Lightweight event, no rower shall weigh more than 59kg.
Adaptive
As per RCA Classifications
Master
A rower may compete as a Master from the beginning of the year during which s/he attains the age of 21.
University/Collegiate - OPEN
A rower who in the current calendar year does currently and has been continuously enrolled in a post-secondary school as a full time student seeking a diploma or degree. 
Junior/Under 17
A rower or coxswain may compete as an Under 17 competitor until the 31st of December of the year in
which s/he reaches the age of 16.
Junior/ Under 19
A rower or coxswain may compete as an Under 19 competitor until the 31st of December of the year in
which s/he reaches the age of 18.
Under 15 / Grade 7/8
A competitor who in the current calendar year does not attain the age of 14 or who is currently and has
been continuously enrolled in Grade 7 or 8 as a full-time student.
Open
A rower or coxswain of any age may compete in an Open event.

To adhere to NCAA Bylaw 13.11.1.2 Competition against Prospective Student Athletes no junior aged (high school) athletes can compete in the Open or University/Collegiate category where there is a University entry from the U.S.A.

Handicapping
Master’s events will be handicapped. A handicap is awarded per RCA age category based on average age of the crew, not including coxies using the Henley handicap system.

Racing
Please see the Events List and Schedule online. Every effort will be made to keep to the published events schedule; but race times are subject to change. Two (2) entries are required to run an event.

Composite Crews:
Composite Crews will be allowed but will not be included in overall points calculations.

PENALTIES

BRIDGE VIOLATIONS:
Passing under any bridge improperly will result in a 30-second penalty in addition to any buoy violation penalties incurred by doing so.

ROWING UP TO THE START
Boats will row to the start line, north along the waterway’s west bank (to the coxswain's left,scullers right). Boats rowing to the start will at all times stay in the up lane. The up lane is the western most lane, clearly divided on the waterway by large orange buoys (the port side of the course looking North and the west bank). Passing another boat in the up lane to the start line is permitted except when under bridges. Boats in transit to the start may also be charged a penalty for crossing the buoys into the race course.

DURING THE RACE
Passing is allowed on the race course. Boats passing other racing boats shall pass on the more open side as they approach, preferably toward the centre of the course; the overtaken boat will yield to the side not chosen by the overtaking boat. Passing is permitted along the entire race course EXCEPT FOR THE AREA BETWEEN THE MAIN AND DIVISION ST BRIDGES. Passing another boat should only be done if necessary. If a crew passes another boat in the no-pass zone, their action may result in exclusion.

BUOY VIOLATIONS
Any racing boat crossing the buoys (with any part of the hull of the boat, but not the oars) will becharged a penalty of 10 seconds per crossing.

FINISH
All boats must finish between the finish line buoys, and any boat finishing outside the buoys will be charged a 20 second penalty.

INTERFERENCE
Any boat which, without justification, interferes with the forward progress of another boat, or which unreasonably fails to yield to an overtaking boat will be charged a one-minute time penalty or be excluded, at the discretion of the officials.