Sarasota Invitational

  • Feb 24, 2023 To Feb 26, 2023
  • sprint
  • Sarasota, FL (USA)
  • Hosted By: Sarasota County Rowing Club, Inc/dba Sarasota Masters
  • USRowing Sanctioned Regatta

UPDATED:    02-08-2023

SEE   BELOW   FOR   UPDATES   ON   U.S. ROWING   RULES   CHANGES   FOR   2023   AND   FOR   CLARIFICATIONS   ON   YOUTH   LIGHTWEIGHT   QUALIFICATIONS.
 

RULES   FOR   ALL  DIVISIONS :

No private drones, no exceptions.

Crews are responsible to know the rules on Regatta Central and information announced at the Coaches & Coxswain meetings.

C & C MEETINGS:  7am both Saturday and Sunday at the grandstand

WEIGH-INS -- On the first floor (ground floor) of the Finish Tower:

Weigh-ins for Saturday events start at 8am to 11am

Weigh-ins for Sunday events start at 7:30am to 9:45am

No coxswain weigh-ins required; only lightweight rowers.

PRACTICE SESSION FRIDAY FROM 1-5PM ONLY; LAST LAUNCH 4:15PM

EVENTS  MAY  CLOSE  EARLY:
It is anticipated that some events may see significant entries, usually in singles.
In the event we have more than entries than can reasonably be accommodated, we will have a head-style Time Trial.
Time Trials will take place before the start of competition on Saturday, and possibly even on Sunday.
In order to complete racing at a reasonable time, we may have to limit the number of flights per event to three.
This would allow for a maximum of 24 entries per event for the actual races.
If some events are under-subscribed, we may be able to add additional flights.
We reserve the right to close some events before the deadline if necessary.

THE STARTER WILL NOT WAIT FOR LATE OR HOT SEATING CREWS.

Any official delays will be announced. If it’s not announced, it is unofficial and temporary and referees will do all they can to make up the time.  

POSSIBILITY  OF  TIME  TRIALS :
Depending upon the total number of entries received, certain heavily subscribed events may have Time Trials added.
If Time Trials are added, they will take place near to or at the beginning of the daily schedule.
A determination on Time Trials will be made after Standard Registration closes.
If Time Trials are needed, you will be notified as soon as the decision is made.

ALL  TEAMS  MUST  COMPLETE  THE  REGISTRATION  SURVEY:
The survey shown on Regatta Central  MUST  be completed  BEFORE  you can pick up your packet at Registration.
Please do it in advance of Regatta Weekend to save time at registration.  Be sure to include the NAME of the hotel so we can complete our report to the County.

SAFETY   MARSHALS:    HEED  ALL  INSTRUCTIONS :
You  must  heed the instructions and warnings of  any   course marshal  or  Regatta Official,  not just  Referees.

Failure to do so may result in  penalties being assessed  for Saturday / Sunday races.

WAIVERS:  This is a USRowing Registered Regatta!
ALL  COMPETITORS   must  have  a valid   US Rowing  membership and waiver  for  2023.
The FSRA / NOARA Waiver does not apply to this regatta.

WAIVERS should be done  on-line  at  Regatta Central  for maximum convenience and efficiency!
Paper waivers are reserved for international crews!  If you have not signed an on-line waiver, you may not be able to race!  Coaches, make sure your rowers have signed their waivers!

SCRATCHES:
1.    Scratches made after Sunday, Feb 19  at  11:59 pm  Eastern time will not be entitled to refunds.

2.    Scratches made on regatta weekend:
       a.    Each team will be allowed four (4) scratches without additional penalty.
       b.    All scratches beyond the four (4) allowed will incur a penalty of  $ 50 per scratch.
       c.    Scratch penalties must be paid before awards are picked up.

 

* * * NEW SAFESPORT RULES * * *

Effective January 1, 2023, all participants 18 years of age or older are no longer required to take SafeSport training unless they are involved with junior athletes.   USRowing is revising their rules to clarify how this change will be implemented.

 

ADDRESSING  U.S. ROWING  RULES  CHANGES:

2-310   Broken Equipment
Breakage is  only  recognized after the starting commands but before the crew has left the starting area (the first 100 meters of the race).

SIR Local Rule Variation for Rule   2-310  for 2023: 
a.    In the event breakage occurs prior to the Start of the race, crews which report breakage to a race official will have a maximum allowed repair time of 15 minutes  past the scheduled  start of their race.

b.    Whether breakage occurs  prior to the Start  OR  within the first 100 m of the race, 
repairs must be completed within  15  minutes  after the scheduled race time.

c.    If the crew with breakage cannot complete repairs by that time,
they will be excluded and their flight will proceed at the next possible opportunity.

d.    Other flights will not be delayed while waiting for the repair to be made.
It is therefore in your best interests to report breakage promptly to give your crew as much time as possible to complete repairs.   This modified rule allows maximum opportunity for crews to repair problems, while minimizing any negative impact on other crews in the race and subsequent races.

4-103   Eligibility to Compete in Events
Places responsibility on competitors to only enter events for which they are eligible.

4-106   Weighing of Competitors
The weight of Rowers in lightweight Events as described in Rule 4-104.3 (“Lightweights”) shall be determined once each day during either the Weigh-in Window or the Adjusted Weigh-in Window but not both. Each Rower shall have only one (1) initial opportunity to weigh in. A Rower within one (1.0) pound or less of the weight standard is allowed one (1) re-weigh within the same window as their initial opportunity. A Rower whose initial weight is greater than one (1.0) pound above the weight standard will be ineligible to compete in the Event.

TRAFFIC  PATTERN  ON  WATER:
Launch from south side of Regatta Island & head due south;  follow along the  length  of  Wave Attenuator
Row south to southern end of lake and turn to starboard,  Cross past the southern end of the Wave Atttenuator;
Turn to starboard and enter the race course. 
DURING  PRACTICE  SESSIONS:  On the course, you may  ONLY  row northward.    Do NOT cross lanes.

>  Watch out for the starting platforms (at 500 meter point on Saturday; 1000m on Sunday)
>  Preferred practice lanes:  #'s  1,  3,  5,  &  7  --  spread yourself out.
>  Pass through Finish Line;  Keep rowing to clear area;  turn to Starboard;  proceed through island canal.
>  Circle island in canal;  pass under bridges  and  return to recovery docks on south side side of island.
(For a visual, please see the map posted under Venue on Regatta Central)

SCULLING  MAY  BE  NECESSARY  AT  THE  START:
Coxswains must be trained in keeping the bow pointed in the correct direction.
Please review proper sculling technique with all rowers.

This is especially important with Novice and Freshman rowers.
Boats which are unable to lock on in a reasonable amount of time may be excluded from the race.

NOVICE  ROWER  DEFINED:
The definition of  novice  is a rower in his/her first year of competition in  either  sculling or sweep.
The first year of competition is defined as being within  365  days of your first competition in that discipline.
Therefore, it is possible to be a novice sculler but an experienced sweep rower, or vice versa.

REQUIRED:    BOW  BALLS,    BOW  NUMBERS,   &   QUICK  RELEASE  SHOES:
All boats must have adequate Bow Balls, Bow Numbers, and Quick Release shoes as per US Rowing rules.
These will be checked prior to launching.

BOW NUMBERS:
Please provide your own Bow Numbers.    These will not be supplied by the regattaThe Racing Lanes will be numbered from 0 to 7, with lane 0 on the western side and lane 7 nearest Regatta Island.  Be sure you have enough bow numbers!

PARENT - CHILD   EVENTS:
>  Restricted to  parents and their children   or   grandparents and their grandchildren.
>  Can be  single gender,  or  one female and one male.

COXSWAIN  WEIGHTS:
There shall be no minimum weights for Coxswains.

CLUB  REGISTRATION  WITH   US ROWING  :
For our insurance to cover you, each club entering must be a current member of USRowing.
Unaffiliated individuals must be individual Championship members of USRowing.
Please make sure your membership is current.

MEDALS:
Beautiful, heavyweight medals will be awarded to the top three finishers in each flight.

ALL POINTS CUP SCORING SYSTEM:
An All PointsTrophy  will be awarded to the Junior Team accumulating the most points on Saturday.

The points calculation for the Points Trophy will be based on the Event as a whole.
All boat finish times for each event will be ordered as though they are in a single heat.
Points will be awarded based on overall finish time placement.
Points will be awarded to 6th place based on the US Rowing points system (tbc).

ROWING FOR LIFE RULES :

We will be having the Rowing for Life competition on Saturday again this year!   Each boat must be half juniors and half masters, and at least four women. The plan is to go with mixed events for all entries. 

Juniors: All the Juniors must be from the same club, AND MUST ALSO COMPETE IN AT LEAST ONE OTHER EVENT IN THE REGATTA

Masters:  If the Junior club has an affiliated masters club, then all the masters must come from that affiliate.

 If the junior club does not have a masters affiliate, they can have masters from another club within their region of which ever gender is needed, but all the masters must come from that one club; “cherry-picking” high performance rowers from multiple clubs is not permitted.  Junior Coaches may compete as masters.

There are two $1000 prizes for the event.  If there is just one heat, the two prizes will be awarded to the first two finishers.  If there are two heats, the winner of each heat.  If more than two heats the prizes go to the fastest two finishers overall. 

The $1000 goes to the Junior club, so, you Juniors, find some Masters to row with and compete for the prize!


RULES   FOR   YOUTH   ONLY :

ENTRY  LIMITS  /   YOUTH  DIVISIONS :    
The youth entry limits per club established in 2013 will be continued:
1X :         max  6  per club per event
2X,   2- :          max  3  per club per event
4+,   4X,   8+ :          max  2  per club per event
Middle School  8+ :          max total  6  per club

EXCEEDING  ENTRY  LIMITS   /   YOUTH  DIVISIONS :
Due to the growth of the regatta, entries in excess of the entry cap limits cannot be allowed in 2023 unless an empty lane is available.  Those crews will be waitlisted until entries have closed.

LIGHTWEIGHTS :
>    Each rower in a Junior Women's lightweight crew shall weigh no more than 130 lbs.

>    Each rower in a Junior Men's lightweight crew shall weigh no more than 150 lbs.

>    There shall be no boat averaging.

>    We do not require minimum weights for Coxswains.

>    There is  no  Friday weigh in period.

>    Lightweight crews must weigh-in together in seat order bow to stern.
      Competitors shall be weighed in racing uniform, without shoes or other footgear.

>    The weigh-in area will be open for lightweight crews starting at  8:00am on Saturday and 7:45am on Sunday.
      Priority will be given to those crews which must be on the water first.
      
Weigh-in must be completed at least 1 hr prior to the scheduled time of the first race where the weight is relevant..

>    Opportunity for reweighing:  See Rule 4-106 above.

RULES GOVERNING  ELIGIBILITY:
Unless otherwise noted herein, FSRA eligibility rules will apply.

YOUTH  RACE  DISTANCE:
Youth events will be  1500 m  and start via  Anchored Starting Pods.

SPECIAL  RULE  FOR  YOUTH   MIXED 8+,   MIXED 4+,   AND  MIXED 4X:
Youth Mixed boats must have a  minimum  participation of  50%  female rowers
However, you are allowed to seat the boat with greater than  50%  female rowers;
i.e.  five or more females in a Mixed 8+, or 3 or more females in a Mixed 4+  or  Mixed 4x. 

SPECIAL  RULE  FOR  YOUTH   1V,   Lightweight,    &   2V  classifications:
>    As per FSRA rules, in order to enter a  2V 8+  race, you must also enter a  1V 8+.
>    In order to enter a  3V 8+, you must first enter a  2V 8+.
>    The  1V  should  always  be faster than the  2V;  the  2V  should  always  be faster than the  3V.
>     A Lightweight 8+  may  take the place of a 1V  if  the Lightweight 8+ uses your Varsity rowers.
Therefore, if the remaining 8+ is truly not your Varsity 8+,  you can skip the  1V 8+  and enter directly to the  2V 8+.
>    This rule is to be applied if entering the Ltwt 8+ negatively impacts your remaining 8+.
>    It is designed to place crews in the appropriate classification, so that true  1V8+  crews will race other  1V8+  crews.
>    If you have any doubt as to whether or not you should skip the 1V8+ classification, please do not.
>   This rule is designed to make the competition more even and fair throughout the levels.
>    Please advise Norm Thetford 
[email protected] if you will be taking this exemption.
>    In the interest of fairness to all teams, exemptions to this rule will be watched closely.

>    The Sarasota Invitational Regatta Organizing Committee reserves the right to examine race times and  may  disqualify a team which is found to abuse this rule.

SPECIAL  RULE  FOR  YOUTH :   NEW PROGRAMS :
>   If your school is just starting competition, contact the director for exceptions to the above rules.

 

RULES   FOR   MASTERS   ONLY:

LIGHTWEIGHTS :
>    Each rower in a Masters Women's lightweight crew shall weigh no more than 130 lbs.

>    Each rower in a Masters Men's lightweight crew shall weigh no more than 160 lbs.

SPECIAL  RULE  FOR  MIXED  MASTERS  NOVICE  8+ :
The Mixed Masters Novice 8+ may have up to (2) experienced rowers in the boat.

SPECIAL  RULE  FOR   MASTERS MEN'S AND WOMEN'S NOVICE  4+ :
The Mens and Womens Masters Novice 4+ may have up to (1) experienced rower in the boat.

SPECIAL  RULE  FOR  MASTERS  WOMEN  COMPETITORS :
In order to increase potential for participation, the SIR allows provisions that:
>    Masters Women may participate in Masters Mens' open events, but not lightweight events.
>    Masters Mixed boats must have a  minimum  participation of  50%  Women rowers.
      However, you are allowed to seat the boat with more than  50%  Women,
      i.e. five or more Women in a Mixed 8+, or three or more Women in a Mixed 4+, etc. 

SPECIAL  RULE  FOR  MASTERS  COMPOSITE  BOATS :
Composite boats will be awarded  Team Points  on a pro rata basis.
Teams must clearly identify participating team of each rower.   (Coxswain's team will not be counted.) 

MASTERS  RACING  DISTANCE :
Races will be 1000 m and start via Anchored Starting Pods.

MASTERS  HANDICAP  SYSTEM :
Masters events will use the US Rowing Handicaps.
We will  NOT  be using a staggered start; all handicaps will be calculated at the finish.

MASTERS  PRACTICE  SESSION  ON  SATURDAY :
From 10 minutes after the last race until 6pm.  Avoid the area on the course while the starting docks are moved.

MASTERS  DIVISIONS  FOLLOW  US ROWING  RULES :
Unless otherwise noted herein, US Rowing eligibility rules will apply.

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