Once your boat has left the breakage zone, which is the first 100 meters in a buoyed course or the first 20 seconds in a non-buoyed course, you have entered what is considered the body of the race. This continues until your bow ball has broken the plane of the finish line. There are numerous Rules of Rowing which govern your behavior during the body of the race, and it is my intent to discuss them here.

You are responsible for steering your own course. Do not expect the following referee to do so. You are actually allowed to go anywhere in, or off, the race course that you wish so long as you a) do not interfere with another competitor; b) do not endanger yourself; or c) do not gain an unfair advantage. Should it appear you are likely to do one of these three things, the following referee will direct you to alter your course. This will be done by the official calling your name, raising the white flag above his/her head, and then dropping it in the direction (to the right or left) you are intended to move. Failure to obey this direction can result in a penalty. Since these directions will be given to the back of the coxswain, it is imperative that the stroke relay the order. In a bow loader, this can involve multiple messengers before the coxswain gets the word.

Your assigned lane is your water and the following referee will protect you from interference so long as you remain there. Should you leave your lane, you give up that protection. The following referee will direct any other boat which threatens to invade your lane to move away from that protected water using the commands described above. This invasion includes blades crossing the buoy line. Should two boats be out of their assigned lanes, but in danger of collision, the following referee may direct them to stay apart. This is done by calling the boats names, raising the white flag directly over head, and issuing the command “Keep Apart.” Should the situation become serious enough that the referee feels a boat(s) should stop rowing, the boat’s name will be called, the white flag will be raised overhead, and the command “Stop” will be issued. When the situation has been corrected, the boats name will be called, the white flag will be dropped directly forward, and the command “Continue Rowing” will be issued. Should a referee wish to stop an entire race, rather than just one or two crews, he/she will sound a siren, air horn, or other noise making device, waive a red flag, and issue the command “Stop”.

Should a crew be in danger of colliding with a known obstacle on the course, the following referee will call the crews name, raise the white flag directly overhead, and issue the command “Obstacle.” If it was a known obstacle and the referee’s direction negatively affected the crew’s chances of winning, placing, or advancing, no remedy will be taken. If, on the other hand, the same occurs with an unknown obstacle, the commands to the crew shall be the same and remedy will be taken to restore the crew’s placement in the race.

In heats where, because of the number of entries, each boat will advance, all boats are expected to row at race cadence. If the following referee feels this is not the case, the offending crew’s name will be called, the white flag raised overhead, and the command “Race Cadence” will be issued.

The following referee can issue any of the allowed penalties for rule infractions as he or she sees fit. The penalties may be a reprimand, a warning, or disqualification. Warnings will not carry forward to another race, however, a disqualification prevents the rower or crew from further participation in the regatta. It is presumed that a collision will result in exclusion from the race for the offending crew. Unsportsmanlike conduct, which can include abusive language, will also be penalized.

It also should be pointed out that racing crews are not allowed to receive any outside assistance unless it is delivered by the unaided voice.

Should a crew feel the race conditions were unfair, or that the rules of rowing were not followed, they may protest at the conclusion of the race, but before the race has been declared official by the primary referee.

In a nutshell…never leave your lane and we Blue Shirts take care of the rest. Row Hard, Row Safe, and have FUN!!!