Download: HOCR 2006 Rule Handbook

General Responsibilities (guidance to Crews and Scullers):

The Charles River is a narrow course with many tight turns. Good sportsmanship is expected at all times and costly penalties have been assigned in the past in cases of bad sportsmanship. The ability to accomplish effective and safe passing is an important aspect of successful racing. However, there are many situations when passing cannot be accomplished safely due to traffic congestion and physical obstacles. The following are the basic responsibilities of scullers and crews in these situations:

(i) The boat overtaking (Passer) has the right of way to pass (on the side of its choice) if a safe pass can be accomplished. However, crews and scullers must take note of the following: A. If a pass is attempted and there is not adequate room and time to perform the pass, the Passer is at risk of incurring interference penalties. B. In situations involving three and more boats, there are areas such as bridge arches and narrow, tight turns where passing cannot be accomplished safely. In these situations the Passer must be prudent and delay the act of passing until the pass can be accomplished without incident. The wise sculler or crew knows that more time can be lost by pressing a situation rather than by slowing down and waiting for the right moment to pass. C. Communicate effectively during racing. All shells with bow-loaded coxswains are strongly advised to have their bow seat rower notify the coxswain when there is clear water astern after completing the pass. Timely instruction from the bow seat rower may assist the Passer's coxswain in avoiding stern-to-bow collision and/or an interference penalty due to cutting in too soon.

(ii) The boat being overtaken (Overtakee) must yield and give suitable room to the Passer (on the side chosen by the Passer) if a safe pass can be accomplished. Generally this will be the shortest line that gives an advantage. Failure to yield to the Passer is one of the most serious infractions of competitive conduct. Crews and scullers must: A. Be alert to possible upcoming passing attempts and promptly yield when there is adequate room and time. B. Be prepared to miss a few strokes to allow the Passer to pass safely and without interference. C. Communicate effectively during racing. All shells with bow-loaded coxswains are strongly advised to have their bow seat rower notify the coxswain if a following crew is about to make a pass. Timely instruction from the bow seat rower may assist the coxswain in avoiding an interference penalty.

(iii) Respect for the safety of other competitors and their equipment must be observed at all times. At no time should an oar be used in anger toward another crew or competitor.

(iv) While racing, boats must proceed at a racing pace along the entire course, except where safety considerations dictate otherwise. Any boat whose time is more than 10 minutes slower than that of the fastest time in its event-division may be recorded as "did not finish."

RULES OF RACING

Interference and/or buoy penalties are assigned at the sole discretion of the Jury following their review of the observations and recommendations of the Umpires. Repeated or severe interference may result in disqualification.

1. Any boat showing a blatant disregard for safety will be severely penalized and may be disqualified from the Regatta.

2. Fours and eights must have their coxswain on board during the entire race. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.

3. During racing, boats must stay on the Course that is between the orange buoys (on the left, coxswains view) and the green buoys (on the right). Oar blades may go over the buoys but the hull of the shell must stay inside the buoy line. Each buoy taken on the wrong side of the hull will result in a 10-second penalty.

4. Responsibilities of the Overtakee (boat being overtaken)
If the Passer moves to within ½ length of open water on the Overtakee, it is the responsibility of the slower crew to yield the line chosen by the Passer in a timely manner. Failure to yield to a Passer when there is adequate room and time will incur the following penalties:

• 1st infraction: 60 second penalty
• 2nd infraction: 120 second penalty
• 3rd infraction: disqualification from the Regatta

5. Responsibilities of Passer

5.1 The Passer must plan passing actions to facilitate safe yields by the Overtakee. The Passer, having chosen a side to overtake, must allow sufficient room and time for the Overtakee to give way and to stay safely within the racecourse. Failure to do so will result in a 30-second interference penalty against the Passer.

5.2 If a pass is attempted and the Overtakee does not yield, the Passer shall not press the right to overtake to the point of forcing a severe collision or forcing either crew off the racecourse. If the Passer causes a collision resulting in damage, interlocking boats or injury, the Passer may face further sanctions under Racing Rule 1.

6. Use of profanity may result in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of 60 seconds!

The Regatta covers every section of the course, from start to finish, with fully trained Umpires. Their calls on questions of interference and buoy violations will be considered final. No re-rows or safety time credits to fouled entries will be possible. Offenders WILL BE PENALIZED according to the racing rules. Preliminary results will be released immediately following each race, and Official Results will be released once all Umpires' calls have been reviewed by the Judges.

Appeals seeking changes to the Official Results may be received, in writing, at the Information Booths at Cambridge Boat Club until 7:00 pm on Saturday for Saturday's races and 7:00 PM on Sunday for Sunday's races. Appeals received after this time will not be considered. The Race Committee reserves the right to extend the deadline due to scheduling changes of the Regatta. Appeals will no longer be accepted on Monday.

NOTE:

1. The Race Committee reserves the right to rule on any situation not covered in these or other printed rules and to penalize or disqualify any competitor or crew that appears to violate the spirit or letter of the Regatta's rules.

2. The Race Committee has the right to close the course and launch sites at any time during the weekend due to darkness or safety concerns.

3. Any sculler/crew which has solicited sponsorship or otherwise obtained any kind and wishes to wear company identification, or place company identification (“logo”) on rowing equipment during the race or during any sanctioned Head Of The Charles® activity, must seek approval from the Executive Director. In the event the approval is given, all identification must conform to the current FISA standards regarding size of corporate logos on all uniforms, shells, oars and related equipment. Failure to conform to this policy may lead to disqualification.