HOPR 2011 - REGATTA RULES

Rules of the 2011 Head of the Passaic Regatta

(can be downloaded here)

 

 

1. Entries

a. All entries must be registered and paid for by the registration deadline posted on Regatta Central.  Late entries will not be accepted.  Crews who have not paid will not be permitted to race.

b. All crews must submit complete registration information by the registration deadline.  Fictitious names, abbreviations, and initials will not be accepted beyond 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 once the registration deadline has passed 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 a cancelation of race, the entry fee will be refunded.

e. Should the regatta be cancelled by the Race Director, entry fees shall be refunded.

f. The Race Director is aware of the PSAT scheduling conflict with this year’s HOPR.  If a youth is unable to make it to the race and is forced to scratch on the day of the race, the entry fee for that particular youth will be refunded, provided that the Race Director is informed of the youth’s name, team, and event prior to the entry deadline.  If the Race Director is not informed prior to the entry deadline, any scratch will be treated in accordance with the scratch policies above.  Substitutions for youth events affected by the PSAT will be allowed, subject to the notification procedure set forth herein.

 

2. Starting
a.  Prior to the start of the race, the starting order shall be determined by random lot and bow numbers will be assigned to each crew according to this order.  Crews should position themselves in the marshaling area so they can start in bow number sequence. 

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

c. A blue/green buoy 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 and must follow any directions from officials in the safety launches 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, with no exceptions. See "no passing" areas on 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 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. A crew that misses its 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 Marshal 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 "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. Each crew, single, or double is responsible for having a protective "ball" on the bow of the boat. Any shell without a protective ball will not be allowed to start.
b. Each crew or single or double sculler rowing in a shell equipped with flexible sole shoes attached to the foot stretchers is responsible for making sure that the heels of the shoes are attached to the stretchers by a method that allows for quick exit in case of emergency (“heel ties”). Boats observed to be without this feature will not be allowed to race.
c. Each boat must display its number and be equipped with a bow clip. No boat will be allowed to leave the dock without a number.

6. Race categories
a. Participants may be classified as Junior or Masters rowers according to the Rules of Rowing, available from US Rowing.  Masters rowers are 27 years of age and older.

b. All novice events are youth (junior) events, unless otherwise specified.
c. Handicaps will be utilized for all Masters category races. Handicaps will be determined using US Rowing guidelines.  Participants are responsible for providing correct age information for Masters crews.
d. A single shell in the recreational single category can be no more than 24 feet long and not less than 17 inches wide.

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, launching and landing crews and crews returning to their docks will row on the east 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 may 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 medals, provided that the event has a minimum of two entries.

b. The Points Trophy shall be awarded to the club who amasses the greatest number of points at this 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 winning crew of a 1 x will be awarded one point.  Points will not be awarded to second or third place finishes.  The Points Trophy must be returned before the next regatta.

c. The Robert J. DeVita Cup shall be awarded to the winning men’s open novice four.  The Cup must be returned before the next regatta.

 

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 $25 fee (cash or check, payable to HOPR), to the Race Director and 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 non appealable.  If the decision is found to be in favor of the protesting crew or substantially justified, the 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.