Rules on the Water

These Rules and Guidelines are primarily used for the Amber Zapatka Memorial Regatta. Please refer to the OFFICIAL Regatta Packet of any other races hosted in partnership with the LRRA for the Official Rules of that Regatta.

Time Trials Instructions

Overview

  • All boats will go through 1900 meter time trials (head races).  The top crews from the time trials advance to A (Grand), B, C, D, or E – Finals, depending on the number of entries in the event.
  • There will be a Single Buoyed Lane Line separating the two primary race lanes used for the time trial.
    • Smaller Can Buoys every 10 meters.
    • Even numbered crews will race in lane 4,
    • Odd numbered crews will race in lane 3.
  • There will also be Lane Lines separating the secondary race lanes used for yielding crews (those being passed or with breakage).
    • Smaller Can Buoys every 20 meters.
    • Even numbered crews will Yield to Lane 5,
    • Odd numbered crews will Yield to Lane 2.
  • Crews start with intervals of 15 seconds between boats; 30 seconds between boats in same lane.
  • All Crews must have their assigned Bow Number securely fastened to the bow of their shell and their Bib Number fastened on the back of the bow-most rower.

Warm Up

  • The Warm Up Travel Lane follows the North (Boathouse) Side of the River.
  • Under No circumstances should a crew cross over to lane 1 of the racecourse while on their way up to the start.
  • Once past the bridge, the travel lane narrows and all crews should remain in single file until reaching the warm up area found up river from the starting line.
  • Upon arriving at the 2000 meter starting line, the marshals will direct you to continue upriver to the warm-up area.
  • Do NOT go past the Powerlines up river from the start. Continue in a Counter Clockwise pattern in the warmup area until the Marshal calls your event. Use this time to find other crews from your event and put yourself in order.
  • It is your responsibility to be in numerical order, staying behind the numbers lower than yours and ahead of the numbers higher.
  • Every effort will be made by the Marshals to send crews down the chutes in ascending numerical order, but this can only be accomplished with your cooperation.

The Start

  • The Marshals will direct you into the chute when it is your event’s turn.
  • As you approach the chute, a Marshal will be stationed in the middle of the course between lanes 3 and 4. Odd numbered boats will keep the marshal to their Starboard side (Lane 3), Even numbered boats will pass with the marshal to their Port side (Lane 4).
  • Crews shall be responsible for:
    • Maintaining their proper order at the start,
    • Maintaining the proper interval between it and the crews racing before and after it in the chutes, 
    • Staying within the chutes as they approach the starting line.
  • Crews not maintaining their proper position may be delayed, moved to the end of the starting order, penalized, or excluded from the event.
  • The starter will tell you that you are approaching the starting line. You should increase pressure and cross the line at full pressure.
  • Stay in your lane for the entire race course except for broken equipment or to yield to an overtaking boat.

Passing

  • A crew is deemed to be overtaking another crew when it has moved to within one length of open water of the crew ahead.
  • A crew being overtaken shall move to lane 2 (if rowing in lane 3) or lane 5 (if rowing in lane 4) to allow the overtaking crew to pass.
  • Any crew failing to yield to an overtaking crew will be Assessed a 30 Second Penalty.
  • Course marshals will give instructions as set forth in the USRowing Rules of Rowing. Should it be necessary to exclude a crew during a race, the marshal will raise a white flag and order the offending crew to “stop”. A crew so ordered shall quickly move out of its lane so as not to interfere with any other crew.

Broken Equipment

  • Broken Equipment is defined in the Definition section below.
  • What to do when equipment breaks.
    • Before a Race:
      • Notify the closest Referee. The referee can coordinate with the cheif referee, starter referee, regatta director, and coach to determine the next steps. 
    • During Time Trials:
      • Move to lane 2 (if rowing in lane 3) or lane 5 (if rowing in lane 4).
      • Stop rowing and get the attention of the nearest referee.
    • During Sprints
      • Stop rowing and get the attention of the nearest referee.  
  • If the broken equipment occurs within the first 100 Meters, you will be allowed to return to the boathouse and attempt repairs after your event passes. If the repair can be competed within 45 Minutes from the start of your event, you will be allowed to restart the time trial.
  • If the broken equipment occurs after the first 100 Meters, proceed down the course to the finish line without hindering racing crews (if possible). You will not be permitted to restart.
    • If this was during a Time Trial, you will be seeded based on your finish time.
    • If this was during a Sprint, you will be marked as Did Not Finish (DNF).

Progression/Seeding:

  • Places are determined by the results of the Time Trials
    • Places 1-6 will race in the Grand A – Finals.
    • Places 7-12 will race in the Petite B – Finals.
    • Places 13-18 will race in the Petite C – Finals.
    • etc…
  • B, C, and D – Finals will only take place if there are at least 2 eligible crews that qualify from the Time Trial.
    • Once scheduled, Finals will not be cancelled due to No Shows/Scratches/dis-qualifications.
    • Additional boats that are not scheduled in a final may be raced as exhibition in another similar race as approved by Chief Referee and Regatta Director.
    • Everyone will get to race in a sprint race.
  • Lanes will be assigned based on the following results:
    • Fastest crew in Final = Lane 3
    • Second Fastest in Final = Lane 4
    • Third Fastest in Final = Lane 2
    • Fourth Fastest in Final = Lane 5
    • Fifth Fastest in Final = Lane 1
    • Sixth Fastest in Final = Lane 6
  • Medals will be awarded to all Grand Finals as follows:
    • 4-6 boats:            Gold/Silver/Bronze
    • 3 Boats:                Gold/Silver
    • 1-2 Boats:            Gold Only

Weigh-Ins: 

There are NO OFFICAL weigh-ins for coxwains.  

Weight Limits: 

There are no lightweight events.

INCLEMENT WEATHER

The Chief Referee and Local Organizing Committee will work together to monitor the weather continuously during the regatta. In the event that inclement weather causes delays in the regatta schedule, the following weather plan will be utilized:

Notification Process:

All schedule change notifications will be announced in the following places:

  • On-site on the results/announcements, board by the boathouse
  • On-site through any on-site public address systems in use
  • Online via Twitter or Facebook. https://twitter.com/LowellRegattas

Schedule Changes will be made with the following priorities:

  • If time is available, we will delay racing either later the same day or to the next day.
  • If possible, we will begin racing earlier than previously announced. An announcement will be made no later than 3 hours before racing or 9:00 PM the evening before in the case of morning racing.

In the event of Cancellations:

  • Priority will be given first to holding Time Trials
  • Followed by Final Only events by boat size and skill level.
  • Finally, seeded Finals will be scheduled based on boat size and skill level.
  • If Finals are cancelled after a Time Trial has been raced:
    • Gold/Silver/Bronze Medals will be awarded to the 3 fastest times of the event based on the time trial results.
    • Cancellation priority will be: Small boats, novice events, varsity events. 

Regatta Cancellation

  • Under no circumstances will races be rescheduled for a date later than May 14, 2023. 

OTHER INFORMATION

DEFINITIONS:

  • Definition of a Novice: A Novice shall be a coxswain or rower whose initial competition within the same discipline has been in the previous 12 months of the regatta. Coxswains who wish to become rowers may race for one year as a novice rower regardless of their coxing experience. 
  • Definition of a Freshman: A Freshman shall be a coxswain or rower who is in 9th grade or younger. 
  • Broken Equipment: Defined as part of the boat or oar that has broken and cannot be repaired without returning to the boathouse.
    • Breakage does not include the following:
      • Oarlocks that open from not being tightened enough
      • Footstretchers that were not tightened properly
      • Steats that pop out of their track. 

CREW’S RESPONSIBILITIES

  • All Crews must have their assigned Bow Number securely fastened to the bow of their shell and their Bib Number fastened on the back of the bow-most rower.
  • Crews must provide their own bow balls and Finals Bow Numbers 1-6.
  • Crews must be able to back into a stakeboat. Each full buoy line contains two lanes, with large buoys every 500 meters marking the separation of the two lanes.
  • Objections
    • A crew with an objection related to their race should notify the USRowing Referee Marshal at the finish prior to returning to the docks/beach.
    • The crew will then have 1 hour from the start to submit a protest with $50 deposit to Registration at the boathouse.
      • The $50 deposit will be refunded if the protest is upheld.

PARKING:

  • Tow vehicle and Trailer parking will be along Pawtucket Blvd, on the river side of the road.
  • Team van and spectator parking will be in Regatta Field, across the street from the boathouse. $20 per day, per car.