Rules & Guidelines

It is the responsibility of Coaches and Athletes to be familiar with Regatta Rules and Guidelines for Entry and Racing at HOCR.

A PDF Version of the Rule Book w/ Maps will be available later this year

• HOCR 2024 Rule Updates

  Rule 1.6 & 1.7: Youth Event Eligibility

  HOCR uses USRowing definition of Youth athletes as stated in the USRowing Rules of Rowing.

  A Youth is a Competitor who in the current calendar year does not attain the age of 19, or who in the current calendar year does not attain the age of 20 and has been continuously enrolled in secondary school as a full-time student seeking a diploma. A Competitor thus ceases to be a Youth after December 31 of the year of their 18th birthday (U19), or upon completion of the 12th grade of secondary school, having been a full-time student within the year of their 19th birthday (U20). Athletes older than U20 are never eligible to compete as Youth.

  Rule 1.11: Master Doubles/Fours/Eights

  The Master Doubles/Fours/Eights events will have two age categories:

  • • Rowers’ ages average at least 40 years
    • Rowers’ ages average 30-39 years

  No rowers may be under 30 years old

  1.30. Mixed Gender Divisions

  Mixed Divisions are defined as having 50% athletes of any gender and 50% athletes assigned female at birth (coxswains excepted).

  3.2 (B, C). Institutional entry acceptance (includes Sweep, Para, and Youth events)

  (B) Youth Events: Including guaranteed entries, an institution may have no more than two (2) entries per event division*

  *If an organization holds 3 guaranteed entries prior to this rule update, the entries will be honored.

  (C) Non-Youth Events: Including guaranteed entries, an institution may have no more than three (3) entries in a single event-division

  If in an institution has three guaranteed (two for Youth events) entries in a single event-division, they may not submit an additional non-guaranteed entry application in that same event-division.

  4.2. Special Medals

  Age 90+ Competitor Special Medal: A special medal will be awarded to the top finishing athlete Age 90+ in the Men’s/Women’s Senior Veteran/Grand Veteran Singles Event.

  Grand Veteran 2x Special Medal: A special medal will be awarded to the top finishing Double with an age average of 80 years or older in the Men’s/Women’s Grand Master Doubles Event.

  10.5. Non-Yield (NY)

  When a passing crew (The Passer) closes to within one length of open water on the boat being overtaken, it is the responsibility of the slower crew to yield the line chosen by the Passer in a timely manner. The Yield should be completed by the time the overtaking boat has closed within ½ boat length. A crew failing to yield to a Passer when there is adequate room and time to yield will incur the following interference penalty; Non-Yield (NY):

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

  *New* It is the responsibility of the passer to complete the pass, while understanding the chosen line when initiating the pass may not continue to be the preferred line.

   

• Section 1: Specifications

  Section 1: Specifications

  SPECIFICATIONS

  (the age of a rower in a Masters rowing event is determined as of December 31 of the current calendar year)

  1.1. Club:

  Persons (coxswain included) not currently enrolled in high school*, who, in any sculling or sweep-oared competition (“para-rowing/master/veteran” competition excepted), DID NOT:

  (A) in the current or preceding eight calendar years (2017 to present), finish among the top three places at the FISA World Championships or Olympic Games;

  (B) in the current or preceding five calendar years (2020 to present), compete at the FISA World Championships or Olympic games;**

  (C) in the preceding five calendar years (2020 to present), finish in first-place in a Championship or Lightweight event-division at the Head Of The Charles Regatta;

  (D) in 2024, earn a medal in any Championship or Lightweight event-division at the Head Of The Charles Regatta or finish among the top three places in an eight at the Canadian University Rowing Championship;

  (E) in the current calendar year compete in any Championship event at Henley Women’s Regatta (juniors excepted)

  (F) in the current calendar year, compete in any Open event OR advance to a quarter final, semi final, or final of an Intermediate or Student event at Henley Royal regatta (juniors excepted)

  (G) in the current calendar year:

  • compete in the A/B finals in any national team trials (juniors excepted),
  • compete in international championships (e.g., FISA World Cup, Pan-Am Games, FISA Junior Worlds, World Under 23 Regatta, World University Games, etc.)
  • compete in a first varsity eight event (lightweight or open weight) at NCAA Championships (Division I events only), or IRA (Division I events only)

  (H) in the current calendar year, finish among the top three places in a 2000 meter event at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta (U19 and U23 events excepted);

  (I) in the current calendar year, finish in first-place in a varsity eight event (lightweight or open weight) at the Dad Vail Regatta, EARC Sprints, the National Invitational Collegiate Championships, the American Collegiate Rowing Championships, IRA Grand Final (all division), NCAA Grand Finals (all divisions).

  * As of 2013, students enrolled in high school are no longer permitted to enter Club events; high school athletes must row in the Youth events.

  ** Any athlete competing as a Senior or U23 national team member under the name of their nation’s governing body in national or international competition in the current calendar year is ineligible for the Club event-division. NB: The Regatta reserves the right to rule on any competition situation not specifically addressed above and to grant exceptions on the rules above based on competitive standards.

  1.2. College-Championship Doubles/Fours/Eights:

  (Special Medal within Championship Events) the fastest crew made up of undergraduates representing accredited/chartered Colleges or Universities

  1.3. Men’s Collegiate* Fours/Eights:

  Eligible men’s rowing programs are those whose crews did not:

  (A) in the current calendar year, compete in finals (grand or petite) of a first varsity eight at the EARC Sprints or IRA Championships;

  (B) in the current calendar year, finish among the top 3 places at the PAC-12 Championships;

  (C) in the preceding calendar year, finish among the top six places in an eight at the Canadian University Rowing Championships.

  1.4. Women’s Collegiate* Fours/Eights

  Restricted to crews whose rowing programs are considered Division II or III status under NCAA rules or non-varsity rowing programs whose crews did not:

  (A) in the current calendar year, compete in the finals (grand or petite) of a first varsity eight at the EAWRC ; or

  (B) in the preceding calendar year, finish among the top three places in an eight at the Canadian University Championships.

  * Bona fide undergraduate students enrolled at and representing a single accredited/chartered college or university and eligible to compete in intercollegiate athletics for the aforementioned institution are eligible for Collegiate event divisions. Applicants outside of North America must contact HOCR before applying for Collegiate event divisions.

  NB: In the interest of fair competition, the Regatta reserves the right to rule on a crew’s eligibility and appropriate placement in any Collegiate event-division.

  1.5. Alumni Fours/Eights:

  Persons (coxswain included) who attended the same academic institution (named at the time of entry application) who are not currently enrolled at the institution in question.*

  Athletes who competed as part of a Club youth program during the school year while enrolled at an academic institution are considered eligible as Alumni of their Club Program.

  *Alumni events require that no athlete will compete as a student-athlete (at any time in the future) for the rowing program of their former academic institution or club youth program

  *The Regatta may request verification of alumni status of individuals as defined above. 

  1.6. Youth Singles/Doubles:

  HOCR uses USRowing definition of Youth athletes as stated in the USRowing Rules of Rowing.

  A Youth is a Competitor who in the current calendar year does not attain the age of 19, or who in the current calendar year does not attain the age of 20 and has been continuously enrolled in secondary school as a full-time student seeking a diploma. A Competitor thus ceases to be a Youth after December 31 of the year of their 18th birthday (U19), or upon completion of the 12th grade of secondary school, having been a full-time student within the year of their 19th birthday (U20). Athletes older than U20 are never eligible to compete as Youth.

  1.7. Youth Quads/Fours/Eights:

  HOCR uses USRowing definition of Youth athletes as stated in the USRowing Rules of Rowing.

  A Youth is a Competitor who in the current calendar year does not attain the age of 19, or who in the current calendar year does not attain the age of 20 and has been continuously enrolled in secondary school as a full-time student seeking a diploma. A Competitor thus ceases to be a Youth after December 31 of the year of their 18th birthday (U19), or upon completion of the 12th grade of secondary school, having been a full-time student within the year of their 19th birthday (U20). Athletes older than U20 are never eligible to compete as Youth.

  1.8. Under 17 Singles/Doubles:

  Athletes are considered in the U17 category until December 31 of the year of his or her 16th birthday.

  1.9. Under 17 Fours/Eights:

  Athletes (coxswain included) are considered in the U17 category until December 31 of the year of his or her 16th birthday.

  1.10. Master Singles:

  At least 30 years old.

  1.11. Master Doubles/Fours/Eights:

  The Master Doubles/Fours/Eights events will have two age categories:

  • Rowers’ ages average at least 40 years
  • Rowers’ ages average 30-39 years

  No rowers may be under 30 years old

  1.12. Senior-Master Singles:

  At least 40 years old.

  1.13. Senior-Master Doubles/Fours/Eights:

  Rowers’ ages average at least 50 years, none except coxswain under 30 years old.

  1.14. Grand-Master Singles:

  At least 50 years old.

  1.15. Grand-Master Doubles/Fours/Eights:

  Rowers’ ages average at least 60 years, none except coxswain under 30 years old.

  1.16. Veteran Singles I:

  At least 60 years old (no handicap).

   1.17. Veteran Singles II:

  At least 65 years old (no handicap).

  1.18. Veteran Doubles/Fours/Eights:

  Rowers’ ages average at least 70 years, none except coxswain under 30 years old.

  1.19. Senior Veteran Singles I:

  At least 70 years old (no handicap)

  1.20. Senior Veteran Singles II:

  At least 75 years old (no handicap)

  1.21. Grand-Veteran Singles I:

  At least 80 years old (no handicap).

  1.22. Grand-Veteran Singles II:

  At least 85 years old (no handicap).

  1.23. Lightweight Singles:

  Men: not over 160 lbs. Women: not over 130 lbs.

  No person enrolled in high school.

  1.24. Lightweight Doubles/Fours/Eights:

  Men: rowers’ weights not over 165 lbs., no averaging;

  Women: rowers’ weights not over 133 lbs., no averaging. No person (coxswain included) enrolled in high school (Lightweight Double is a Special Medal within Championship Double).

  1.25. Championship Singles/Doubles/Fours/Eights:

  No person (coxswain included) enrolled in high school.

  1.26. Junior Varsity Eights

  An institution’s second or third entry in the Championship Eight. Institutions must have at least one varsity crew of a higher standard already registered.

  1.27. PR3 Mixed Fours:

  PR3 Mixed Fours with coxswain. Only a rower having a minimum disability as defined in the FISA Para-Rowing Classification Guidelines (the “Guidelines”) found in Appendix 19 “Para-Rowing Classification Regulations,” available at https://worldrowing.com/technical/para-rowing-classification/, such disability leading to a permanent and verifiable activity limitation, shall be eligible to compete.

  1.28. Men’s Divisions:

  Male rowers and scullers only (coxswain excepted). *

  1.29. Women’s Divisions:

  Female rowers and scullers only (coxswain excepted). *

  1.30. Mixed Divisions:

  Mixed Divisions are defined as having 50% athletes of any gender and 50% athletes assigned female at birth (coxswains excepted).

  *

  1.31. Gender Identity

  HOCR adheres to the USRowing policy regarding gender identity found HERE

  *Championship Singles: Championship singles events at HOCR will observe the guidelines for gender identity as defined by World Rowing for participation in Elite Competition (Olympics, Worlds, etc.). Athletes participating in the Championship Singles events should be prepared to provide verification upon request.

  1.32. Inclusion Divisions:

  Inclusion is defined as having equal number of para and non-para athletes

  1.33. Singles/Doubles:

  Traditional sculling racing shells, without coxswain.

  1.34. Fours/Eights:

  Traditional sweep-oared racing-shells, with coxswain.

  NB: Participants in the Veteran Singles I and II (age groups 60 – 64 and 65 – 69), Senior-Veteran I and II (age groups 70-74 and 75-79), and Grand Veteran (age groups 80 – 84 and 85 – 89) shall be run together and seeded accorded to final finish time in the preceding year’s Regatta. Results will be broken down into 5-year age bands. Doubles and crews in the Senior-Master doubles/fours/eights and Grand-Master doubles/fours/eights shall be run together and seeded accorded to raw finish time in the preceding year’s Regatta. Results will be displayed separately.

• Section 2: Entry Application Rules

  2.1. Sculling (Singles/Doubles) Entry Application:

  Entry Applications shall be accepted only from USA residents that are either individual members of USRowing or members of a USRowing-member institution, and from foreign nationals that are in good standing with their nation’s FISA-recognized governing body. Single scullers (Youth Singles excepted) may submit only one Entry Application and may not subsequently be renamed or substituted-for after the entry deadline (August 1st). Doubles Entry Applications (Youth and College-Championship Double excepted) must include the names of both scullers (only one application permitted per double) and neither may be renamed or substituted for after the doubles entry deadline, September 1st. *Exceptions may be made by the Managing Directors in the event of injury or illness.

  College-Championship Doubles (Special Medal within the Championship Doubles events), Youth Doubles, and Youth Singles: Applications must be made by the institution (September 1st Deadline); Institutions may submit no more than one non-guaranteed entry application to the Men’s event-division and no more than one non-guaranteed entry application to the Women’s event-division. Including guaranteed entries, an institution may have no more than three entries in either event-division (i.e. if an institution has three guaranteed entries in an event-division, they may not submit an additional non-guaranteed entry application).

  Athlete Line-up Changes for the Inclusion Double, Collegiate Championship Doubles, Youth Doubles, and Youth Singles: Please reference Rule 2.4.

  Lightweight applicants to the Championship Double must declare their intention to compete as “Lightweight” on the entry application at the time of online Registration.

  2.2. Sweep-oared (Fours/Eights) Entry Application:

  Entry applications shall be accepted only from institutions holding “institutional membership” in their nation’s FISA-recognized governing body and/or “institutional membership” in the Head Of The Charles Regatta (by having opted to pay the Regatta’s annual Institutional Membership Fee) and that have properly registered their entry validation signature and racing colors with the Regatta by the submission of a current year’s Institutional Registration Card and payment of the Regatta’s annual Institutional Registration Fee. Registrants must be at least 21 years of age or older to submit an Institutional Registration Card.

  Only one Institutional Registration Card will be accepted from each school, college or university rowing organization with the following exception: two Institutional Registration Cards, one for men and one for women, will be accepted from a single institution (school, college or university) in cases where men’s and women’s programs have been historically separate, or where men’s and women’s programs are organized separately.

  2.3. Alumni Entry Application:

  Organizations submitting entries to the Alumni Fours/Eights must hold “institutional membership” in their nation’s FISA-recognized governing body and separate of their high school, undergraduate, or graduate institution. Alumni and graduate school rowing clubs will be considered as separate institutions from their affiliated school, college, or university and will not be permitted to share entries with their affiliated academic institution.

  2.4. Athlete Line-ups:

  The names of competitors in sweep-oared, youth single, youth double, Inclusion double, and collegiate-championship double entries need not be revealed until a week prior to the Regatta weekend by which time, crew lineups must be completed online. All coaches are responsible for requiring all named crew members to sign a waiver online and for ensuring that all substitute athletes are listed in their RegattaCentral rosters with completed waivers. Late changes may be made at Registration. It is the responsibility of the institution to ensure that the Head Of The Charles® Regatta is in possession of the correct crew lineup before the close of registration, and that all persons are eligible for the event-division in which they are listed as crew-members (athlete line-ups will be posted online at www.hocr.org). Only bona fide members of an institution shall be eligible to compete in a sweep-oared, youth double, or collegiate-championship double entry representing that institution. Because of liability in the event of an accident on the race course, any institution which knowingly allows any of its members to assume a spurious affiliation with another institution in order to enable a particular crew to gain entry to the Regatta, or any institution which knowingly allows its name to be used by any individuals who are not bona fide members of that institution in order to enable a particular crew to gain entry to the Regatta, will be subject to sanctions by the Managing Directors.

  2.5. Entry Deadlines:

  Singles Entry Applications must be received with payment by August 1st. Doubles, Fours and Eights Entry Applications must be received with payment by September 1st. Order of receipt prior to the applicable deadline is immaterial.

• Section 3: Entry Acceptance

  3.1. Sculling (Singles/Doubles) Entry Acceptance:

  On the basis of winning a Special Medal or finishing within the top 25% of finishers in an event-division in which they competed in the preceding year, single scullers are guaranteed entry acceptance into the singles event of their choice, provided all conditions of eligibility, deadlines, fees, etc., are met. Except for variances, which only the Managing Directors may grant, a blind draw in early August shall determine all other entry acceptances as follows: Single scullers who in the preceding year were not accepted, did not apply, or who placed outside the top 25% but within the top 50% (based on entries) in their event-division, will be drawn first, followed by those whose finish was outside the top 50% in their event-division. The singles draw will take place in early August.

  Guaranteed entry acceptance to the Veteran I/II Singles, Senior Veteran I/II Singles, and Grand Veteran Singles event-divisions will be determined on the basis of finishing within the top 25% (based on entries) in the athlete’s respective age class (60 – 64, 65 – 69, 70 – 74, 75 – 79, 80 – 84, 85 – 89)

  Entry acceptance for Double Scullers shall be conducted following the same procedure as Single Sculls. The finishing percentages apply only to double scull entry applications naming the same two individuals who competed the prior year. Any other combination will be considered a new entry. In the Inclusion Double, Youth Double, and College-Championship Doubles only, guaranteed entries will be applied to the institution rather than to individual athletes. Programs with these entries must register for Institutional Membership. The doubles draw will take place in early September.

  In the Youth Double, Youth Single, and Para Mixed Doubles only, guaranteed entry acceptance will be granted to the top half of the event division.

  Guaranteed entry acceptance to the Veteran Doubles will be determined on the basis of finishing within 25% (based on entries) of the Veteran Double within the Grand-Master Double event-division.

  Guaranteed entry acceptance to the Lightweight and College-Championship Doubles will be determined on the basis of finishing within 25% (based on entries) in the Lightweight or College-Championship Double (respectively) within the Championship Double event-division.

  3.2. Institutional Entry Acceptance (Sweep, Para, and Youth entries):

  On the basis of winning a Special Medal or finishing within the top half (based on entries) of the sweep-oared event-division in which they competed the preceding year, institutions are guaranteed entry acceptance into those same event-divisions, provided all conditions of eligibility, deadlines, fees, etc., are met. Institutions planning to compete for the College-Championship (CC), Club (C) Special Medals shall elect to do so when submitting athlete line-ups. Designations may be made on-site at Registration.

  Guaranteed entry acceptance to the Veteran Fours and Eights will be determined on the basis of finishing within the respective top half of all Veteran crews registered within the Grand-Master Fours and Eights

  Transfer of Guaranteed Entries

  • If a medal was earned in a Club event-division, such guarantee may be transferred, at the time of entry application, to the same division (Men’s/Women’s) and boat type (Fours/Eights) in another sweep-oared event but may not exceed entry limitations. Transfer Requests must be made to the Regatta Office (regatta@hocr.org) prior to entry submission.
  • A guaranteed entry may be transferred from a Masters [40+] sweep-oared event to a Senior-Master [50+], or from a Senior-Master [50+] sweep-oared event to a Grand-Master [60+] sweep-oared event of the same division (Men’s/Women’s) and boat type (Fours/Eights) but may not exceed entry limitations. Transfer Requests must be made to the Regatta Office (regatta@hocr.org) prior to entry submission.
  • Seeding of Transferred Guaranteed Entries: For medal winning crews seeking to transfer to an older age class in which 75% of the crew is in tact, will be seeded behind the medal winners of the older age category from the previous year.  Non-Medal Winning crews seeking to transfer their entry to an older age class will be seeded at random among lottery entries.

  In addition to such ‘guaranteed’ entries, an institution may submit up to four sweep-oared non-guaranteed entry applications in men’s event-divisions and up to four sweep-oared non-guaranteed entry applications in women’s event-divisions with the following restrictions:

  (A) Institutions may submit only one non-guaranteed entry per event-division.

  (B) Youth Events: Including guaranteed entries, an institution may have no more than two (2) entries*

  *If an organization holds 3 guaranteed entries prior to this rule update, the entries will be honored.

  (C) Non-Youth Events: Including guaranteed entries, an institution may have no more than three (3) entries in a single event-division

  If in an institution has three guaranteed (two for Youth events) entries in a single event-division, they may not submit an additional non-guaranteed entry application in that same event-division.

  Except for Charity Program entries and special circumstance variances, which only the Managing Directors may grant, a blind draw from among the applications in each event-division shall determine the final entry acceptances as follows: applications from institutions that, in the previous year, were not accepted, did not apply, and those that finished outside of the top 50% but within the top 75% of finishers, based on entries, will be drawn first; applications from institutions that, in the previous year, finished outside the top 75% of finishers, based on entries, will be drawn second.

  3.3. Extra Entries:

  As compensation for providing operational assistance to the Regatta, the Managing Directors may grant the acceptance of extra (but “non-point earning”) entries to a limited number of local institutions into the sweep-oared event-division of the institution’s choice, subject to the restrictions of section 3.2. Extra entries may be used by Alumni crews as designated by the head undergraduate coach.

  3.4. Event-Division Sizes:

  In addition to Charity Program and Extra entries, the Regatta shall accept up to 1205 sweep-oared entries, 500 singles entries, 220 doubles entries.

  Beyond each event-division’s allowed minimum or its number of received guaranteed entry applications, whichever is greater, and subject to the above cited maximum, the number of non-guaranteed entries accepted into an event-division shall be determined by the event-division’s proportional share of the remaining non-guaranteed entry applications received for its “boat type” (e.g., singles or doubles).

  3.5. Club Singles Status:

  Accepted Club Singles entrants that continue to meet Club specifications as of September 1st shall be considered to have met them for the current year’s Regatta, but any that lose their Club status between the time of entry application and September 1st, must notify the Regatta immediately so as to be eligible for transfer to a less restricted singles event by September 27th.

  3.6. Entry Withdrawal Deadline and Penalties:

  The deadline for withdrawing an entry is September 27.  There are no refunds given for withdrawn entries.

  Accepted entries who fail to notify the Regatta in writing of their withdrawal or inability to compete on or before September 27th shall not be eligible to compete in any event in the current year’s (2024) Regatta, nor in any event in the following year’s (2025) Regatta. The Regatta will replace withdrawn entries by offering entry to the next applicant or crew on the waiting list (based upon the original blind draw) for the same event-division.

  Medical Deferrals – Singles and Doubles that must withdraw entries due to medical reasons have the option to defer the entry to the following year pending confirmation from a medical professional.  Medical deferrals/scratches will receive a refund if withdrawn before the September 27th scratch deadline. Medical deferrals/scratches after the September 27th deadline will not receive a refund on entry fees.

  3.7. Personal Competition Limits:

  With the sole exception of the Directors’ Challenge Races, no person (including coxswains) shall be eligible to compete in more than one event-division (race) at the Regatta and any person that remains entered in a sculling event after the September 27th withdrawal deadline shall not be eligible to compete in any sweep-oared event in the current year’s Regatta.

  Invitational Exhibition Entries: At the Executive Director’s discretion, current U.S. and/or foreign national team athletes may be invited to participate with one another in Invitational Exhibition entries within the Championship or Lightweight Eight sweep events. These entries will not be eligible to earn guaranteed entries to the following year’s HOCR.

  Athletes who race in an Olympic boat class at the World Rowing Championships or at the Olympic Games in the current calendar year may row in an HOCR Championship event representing their national team, or in an Invitational Exhibition Entry, and in an additional Alumni or Championship event of their choosing. Entries representing a national team must be at minimum 75% athletes who represented that national team in an Olympic boat class at the aforementioned competitions.

  3.8. Ineligibility Discovery:

  All scullers and all members of crews must be eligible for the event-division in which they are competing. Any crew containing an ineligible competitor and any sculler not eligible will be assumed to be knowingly violating the rules and will be disqualified from this and possibly future Regattas, and the institution may face further sanction.

  Only bona fide members of an institution shall be eligible to compete in a sweep-oared entry representing that institution, and the names of all such competitors must be accurately reported at Regatta Registration. Following the completion of Registration, any entry discovered (either before or after competing) to include an incorrectly identified or ineligible person, shall be subject to immediate disqualification.

  Objections to any entry’s eligibility may be made at the Information Booths at the Cambridge Boat Club and the Rowing & Fitness Expo at any time, but preferably before the race in question. All athlete line-ups will be posted at www.hocr.org following the close of on-site registration.

  3.9. Appeals:

  Scullers, and institutions represented by sweep-oared entries, may appeal for relief from any ruling of ineligibility or any penalty imposed upon them by the Regatta for alleged infractions, e.g. interference, course violations, etc., but no protest alleging interference by a competing entry shall be heard. (Please refer to Section B, Rule 11: Appeals)

  3.10. Seeding/Starting Order:

  Single scullers, with exception of the Youth Single, who properly competed in a singles event in the previous year and whose entries are accepted will start ahead of all newcomers and will be seeded in the order of their final (raw+penalties) times recorded in the previous year. The starting position of all newcomers will be determined by a blind draw during the lottery process. With the exception of the Youth Double, seeding of double scullers will follow the same procedure.

  Scullers in the Men’s Grand Master, Men’s Veteran I, and Veteran II Singles will race together and will be seeded according to final finish time in the preceding year’s Regatta. Scullers in the Men’s Senior Veteran I, Senior Veteran II, Grand Veteran I, and Grand Veteran II Singles will race together and will be seeded according to final finish time in the preceding year’s Regatta. The same event breakdown will also apply to the women’s races. Results will be divided by age class and first place medals will be awarded by age class (50 – 59, 60 – 64, 65 – 69, 70 – 74, 75 – 79, 80 – 84, 85 – 89, 90+).

  Doubles and crews in the Senior-Master doubles/fours/eights and the Grand-Master doubles/fours/eights will race together and be seeded according to final finish time in the preceding year’s regatta. Results will be divided into Senior-Masters and Grand-Masters events.

  An institution which has an entry accepted into a Youth Single, Youth Double, College-Championship Double event-division, or a sweep-oared event-division in which it properly competed in the previous year will start ahead of all new entrants in that event-division and will be seeded according to its finishing position in that event-division in the preceding year.

  The starting position of newcomers in all events will be determined during the draw. The Regatta reserves to right to make exceptions to the seeding policy.

  Seeding of Transferred Guaranteed Entries (reference Rule 3.2): For medal winning crews seeking to transfer to an older age class in which 75% of the crew is in tact, will be seeded behind the medal winners of the older age category from the previous year.  Non-Medal Winning crews seeking to transfer their entry to an older age class will be seeded at random among lottery entries.

  *Preliminary Bow Draw will be posted during the lottery and will be finalized after September 27th Scratch Deadline. Returning crews from the waitlist will be seeded according to time, new crews will be added to the end of the field.*

  3.11. Elite Competitor Seeding:

  Current elite athletes (top finishers at the Senior World Championships or Olympics, depending on the year) in an event for which they did not compete the previous year will be seeded immediately behind the returning medal winners. Anyone else who did not compete in the event the previous year will be seeded randomly behind all those who both competed the previous year and received a guaranteed entry.

  3.12. Championship Singles Elite Athlete Entry

  Current Elite Athletes (top finishers from World Championships or Olympics) in sculling disciplines will be given extra consideration for entry in the Championship Singles events.

• Section 4: Awards

  4.1. First Place Medals:

  Two-and-one-half inch bronze medals, engraved 1st PLACE shall be awarded to all competitors in entries that post the fastest time in the event-division in which they competed.

  4.2. Special Medals:

  Two-and-one-half inch bronze medals, engraved (a) COLLEGE-CHAMPIONSHIP, (b) LIGHTWEIGHT, (c) CLUB, (d) UNDER-17, (e) JUNIOR VARSITY, or (f) PARA INCLUSION shall be awarded respectively to (a) the fastest crew made up of undergraduates representing accredited/chartered Colleges or Universities in each event-division of the Championship 2x, Championship 4+ and Championship 8+, (b) the fastest Lightweight crew in the Championship 2x, (c) the fastest crew made up of athletes representing a rowing club that is a member in good standing of its nation’s governing body and that is unaffiliated with an academic institution in each event-division of the Club 4+ and Club 8+, (d) the fastest athlete under the age of 17 as of December 31 of the current calendar year in the Youth Single, Youth Double, Youth Coxed Quad, and Youth Eight, (e) the fastest JV entry in the Men’s and Women’s Championship Eight, or (f) fastest Para Inclusion Double divisions (4)

  Institutions planning to compete for a (a) COLLEGE-CHAMPIONSHIP, (b) LIGHTWEIGHT, (c) CLUB special medal must elect to do so at the time of entry application.

  The UNDER 17 Age Division crews will automatically be calculated and designated based on lineups (coxswain included).

  Age 90+ Competitor Special Medal: A special medal will be awarded to the top finishing athlete Age 90+ in the Men’s/Women’s Senior Veteran/Grand Veteran Singles Event.

  Grand Veteran 2x Special Medal: A special medal will be awarded to the top finishing Double with an age average of 80 years or older in the Men’s/Women’s Grand Master Doubles Event.

  Para Inclusion Doubles Special Medal Divisions – participants will be asked to select their division by the lineup deadline:

  • Mixed Inclusion PR2. At least 50% PR2, at least 50% Female
  • Mixed Inclusion PR1. At least 50% PR1, at least 50% Female
  • PR3Mix 2x: Both Athletes PR3, at least 50% Female. Intellectual disabilities race within PR3, unless qualifying for PR2 or PR1.
  •  PR2Mix 2x: Both Athletes PR2, at least 50% Female.

  Winners of special medals will not be awarded subordinate medals should they qualify. No special medal will be awarded if the first place medal winner also qualifies for a special medal.

  4.3. Subordinate Medals:

  Subordinate Medals are awarded as follows: 2nd PLACE in event-divisions comprising at least ten entries, 3rd PLACE in those comprising at least twenty entries, 4th PLACE in those comprising at least thirty entries, and 5th PLACE in those comprising forty or more entries.

  4.4. Championship Singles Cash Prize

  A cash purse of $35,000 will be paid out to top finishers in the Men’s and Women’s Championship Singles events. The prizes will be $10,000 for First Place, $5,000 for Second Place, and $2,500 for Third Place in each event

  NCAA regulations will be observed for any collegiate athletes finishing within the top 3 places in the Championship Singles.

• Section 5: Registration

  Waivers and Athlete Line-ups must be submitted before arriving onsite.

  5.1 Registration Hours and Location

  Every single sculler, a representative from every double scull, and every institution entering one or more crew events must also register on-site. Competitors may NOT register any later than 3 hours prior to the start of their race. There is NO Sunday Registration. Registration is held at the Attager Tent, at the Finish Area Launch Site (FALS).

  5.2 Registration Requirements

  (A) Waivers: Waivers must be submitted prior to arriving onsite. Scullers who applied online completed waiver requirements during the online application process. Scullers who submitted paper applications and all crew athletes (including minors) must complete the event waiver available on RegattaCentral.

  (B) Scullers (Singles and Doubles): All single scullers and one representative from each double scull entry must attend registration. If you are a US rower unaffiliated with a USRowing member organization, you must bring your current USRowing membership card.

  (C) Crew Lineups: All crews must submit lineups through RegattaCentral prior to arriving onsite. Athletes must have completed waivers (see above). Registration will have on record the crew’s Athlete Information including waiver status. No substitutions are permitted once a crew has completed on-site Registration.

  (D) Lightweight Weigh-In Procedures: Entrants in the Lightweight Events (Doubles, Fours, and Eights) must be weighed in by the Clerk of Scales and must obtain from the Clerk a properly stamped official Weigh-in form to present at Registration. All lightweight rowers (singles and all crew members) must bring photo ID (e.g.: driver’s license, passport) to weigh-in. All rowers in a crew must weigh-in together. Weigh-ins will be conducted on Friday from 12 PM – 5 PM and Saturday between 7:30 AM and 3:00 PM at the Attager Row Tent.

   

  WARNING: Any entry that fails to register by the close of Registration may be denied access to its race. Notwithstanding the prescribed penalties for failing to give notice of withdrawal by September 28, any entry which finds it cannot compete and/or register on time, should notify the Regatta immediately at (617) 868-6200.

  5.3. Numbers

  (A) Each boat is assigned a starting number, which is reflected on the Bow Number Card and on Shirt Number Card (bib) that will be given out at Registration.

  (B) The Bow Number Card must be affixed within one foot of the bow tip of the boat. Boats without Bow Number Cards appropriately affixed when crossing the Starting Line will be given a 60-second penalty. FISA-approved bow number clips must be used to secure Bow Numbers. Additional adhesives may be applied to secure the Bow Number Card to the boat provided that they do not obscure the numerals.

  (C) The Shirt Number Card (bib) must be worn visibly on the back of each single sculler, each bow seat rower, and each coxswain. In the case of a bow-coxed shell, the coxswain’s number should be affixed flat to the stern decking with tape.

  (D) An additional adhesive Shirt Number Card (bib) will be provided for all boats (singles, doubles, quads, fours, and eights) and must be affixed to the stern decking.

  (E) Entrants with obscured or missing numbers may miss being timed.

  5.4. Equipment

  (A) Each crew, single, or double is responsible for having a protective “ball” on the prow 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. Boats observed to be without this feature will not be allowed to race.

  (C) All competing scullers and crews must row in fixed-rigger sliding-seat racing shells.

  (D) Boats used in the LTA Mixed 4+ shall be subject to the same restrictions as those for coxed fours (4+) under the FISA Rules of Racing. No additional restrictions shall apply.

  (E) The FISA standard Para-Rowing TA Mixed 2x has a fixed seat and may have stabilizing pontoons. The hull, the pontoons where fitted, and the seat are part of the standard specifications. The seat itself and the rigger design of the standard Para-Rowing TA Mixed 2x are not restricted.

  TA Mixed 2x rowers are required to comply with the following strapping requirement: rowers shall be secured with a strap to prevent flexion and extension of the knee(s) during rowing. The strap must be secured under the seat or rails and over the thighs, as close to the knees as possible.

  (F) Per FISA rules, rowers classified as visually impaired must wear FISA or IBSA approved eyewear at all times when on the water during training, warm-up, cool down, and competition from the opening day of the course until completion of the final race of their competition. Such eyewear shall completely block all light. All eyewear must be checked to ensure a secure fit and complete light occlusions by an IBSA doctor during classification or by a FISA international Classifier if an IBSA doctor is not present.

• Section 6: The Race Course

  6.1. Race Course Description:

  The race course starts at the Boston University Boathouse and goes almost immediately under the combination of a railroad trestle bridge and the B.U. Bridge. It then proceeds through 5 (five) triple-arch bridges to the Finish Line approximately 3 miles upstream.

  While the railroad trestle bridge’s second arch from the right (Cambridge shore) is the mandated lane and the center arch of the five remaining bridges is the preferred route over the rest of the course, the right (closest to Cambridge shore) arch of four of those remaining bridges may be used when a center arch appears too congested, the exception being the Lars Anderson Bridge (by Harvard’s Weld Boathouse), whose right (closest to the Cambridge shore) arch is out of bounds. Going through the right arch (closest to Cambridge shore) of the Lars Anderson bridge (by Harvard’s Weld Boathouse) and the Boston University Railroad Trestle Bridge or going through any bridge’s left (closest to the Boston shore) arch, will result in a 60-second penalty in addition to any buoy violation penalties incurred by doing so.

  

  6.2. Race Course Boundaries:

  From the coxswain’s view on the race course from the start line, the right hand shore (to starboard) is the Cambridge shore and the left hand shore (to port) is the Boston shore. The Race Course is bounded by a continuous line of orange buoys to port (Boston side) and an intermittent line of green buoys to starboard (Cambridge side). Where there are no green buoys, the Cambridge shore is the right side boundary of the course.

  6.3. Coxswain’s Clinic:

  All coxswains in the Club and Youth events are strongly advised to attend the Coxswain’s Clinics.

• Section 7: Traffic Rules (Racing and Non-Racing Boats)

  7.1. Safety:

  Any boat showing a disregard for safety, at any time during the weekend (including practice) will be given a 60-second penalty or may be disqualified. Safety violations may include but are not limited to: not following the published traffic patterns; not following the instructions from the Marshals and Dock Masters; etc.

  7.2. Buoys:

  Boats must keep to the right (coxswain’s view) of the orange buoys at all times during the weekend. In areas where there are no buoys (early on Friday before the course has been set or above or below the buoyed course) boats should keep to the right side of the river (coxswain’s view). Traffic patterns should be observed during practice as well as during races. Please see “Practice Traffic Pattern Map” and “Race Traffic Pattern Map” diagrams.

  7.3. Sportsmanship:

  Good sportsmanship must prevail at all times. Instances of unsportsmanlike conduct by scullers, crews, and/or coaches will be reported to the Jury, and penalties may be assigned.

  7.4. Double Buoyed Areas:

  The Cambridge Boat Club bend, downstream from the Eliot Bridge, and the Weeks Bridge turn will be double buoyed on the Boston side (orange and white buoy lines). The space between the colored buoys and white buoys is considered completely out-of-bounds for hulls of all racing and non-racing boats. Persistent excursion into the out-of-bounds zone may be grounds for a penalty as assessed by the Jury. (see Rule 7.6)

  7.5. Travel Lane:

  Once the buoyed course has been set, at all times during the weekend (Friday or race days), crews and scullers proceeding downstream in the Travel Lane must proceed firmly, with no stopping to watch races, and with no power strokes, and shall remain in single file unless there is clear room to pass. The Travel Lane areas are defined as 1) Boston-side travel from the finish line to just downstream of Weeks footbridge. Warm up (power strokes) is permitted from just downstream of Weeks footbridge to BU Bridge only if it is safe to do so, exercising extreme caution near Riverside Boat Club and Magazine Beach. No stopping is permitted between BU Bridge and the entrance of the Queuing Zone. The primary Warm-up area is in the designated Warm-up Zone in the basin downstream of the start funnel.

  *** Competitors should anticipate a limited on-water warm-up.

  7.6. Non-Racing boats:

  Except when crossing the river, and at the discretion of the Jury, any non-racing boat proceeding downstream on race day which enters the race course may be penalized 10-seconds for each orange buoy violated by the hull. Even when the hull of a non-racing boat stays within the travel lane, any non-racing boat which interferes in any way with a racing boat will be severely penalized and may face possible disqualification. (Note: non-racing boats must take into consideration that a racing crew’s oars may cross the orange buoy line – see Rule 10.3)

  7.7. Right of Way:

  Boats racing have the right of way over all other boats. Boats not racing shall not proceed upstream along any part of the course after the start of the first race of the day until the conclusion of the last race of the day except when necessary to launch or land. Practicing on the course between races could result in a 60-second penalty, at the discretion of the Jury.

  7.8. Crossing:

  Boats proceeding in line with the direction of the river have the right of way over boats crossing the river. Care should be taken when turning around or crossing the river.

  Boats returning to the Cambridge Boat Club or Buckingham Browne & Nichols docks must adhere to the return traffic pattern – proceeding to the crossing point at the Newel Boathouse at the direction of the River Control personnel, and returning single file to the docks in the travel lane provided.  Failure to adhere to the traffic pattern will result in a 60 second penalty.

  7.9. Finish Line:

  After crossing the finish line, boats should immediately paddle upstream to the end of the line of buoys and wait for instructions from the Marshal.

  7.10. Launching from Non-HOCR Docks:

  Crews launching from Belmont Hill – Winsor Boathouse, Buckingham Browne and Nichols Boathouse, Cambridge Boat Club, Weld Boathouse, and Riverside Boat Club should await instruction from a Marshal before crossing the race course. Boats launching from Boston University Boathouse should travel downstream along the Cambridge shore prior to entering the Queuing Zone. Boats returning to Boston University Boathouse should travel downstream along the Boston shore to the end of the Queuing Zone and proceed around the warm-up zone with the flow of traffic and then hug the Cambridge shore after passing MIT Boathouse, proceeding to the BU Boathouse (unless light traffic allows crossing to the Cambridge shore between the Queuing Zone and the warm-up zone). Returning crews should be alert for crews launching from BU Boathouse coming towards them.

  7.11. SADL Launching:

  Boats launching from the Singles and Doubles Launch (SADL) site should await instruction from the SADL Dockmaster prior to crossing.

  7.12. Right to Close the Course:

  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.

  7.13. Wet Launching:

  No boats are permitted to wet launch. All crews and scullers must use the docks provided by the HOCR. Violation of this rule may result in disqualification.

• Section 8: Practice Rules

  8.1. Launching Hours:

  Safety and insurance considerations mandate that all boats be off the water by 6:00 PM on Regatta weekend. No Boats will be allowed to launch after 5:00 PM on Friday. The course will not be open for practice Saturday or Sunday. Crews violating this rule may be penalized or disqualified.

  8.2. Coaching Launches:

  No coaching launches of any kind will be allowed on the river on Friday, Saturday or Sunday at any hour.

  8.3. Practice Hours:

  There is no official practice (no safety launches, no river control) any day during the week leading up to the Regatta. Rowing at any time before the official FALS and SADL docks open is at your own risk. Official Practice is open on Friday to all crews and scullers after racing has concluded at 10:15am. All boats be off the water by 6:00 PM.  No boats will be permitted to launch after 5:00 PM.  The course will not be open for practice on Saturday or Sunday.

  8.4. Turning:

  No turning is permitted at any point on the race course.  Crews will row the course in a circuit from and back to their launch point.

  8.5. Lights:

  All crews launching before sunrise or on the water after sunset must use bow and stern lights.

• Section 9: Starting Procedures

  9.1. Schedule of Races:

  All races are expected to start on time as posted in the most current schedule posted on www.hocr.org.

  9.2a. Competitor Identification – Visual:

  All competitors are issued identifying shirt number cards, bow number cards, and instructions for required display of cards at Registration (See Rule 5.3). Competitors without required identification displayed may be penalized or disqualified from Starting.

  9.2b. Competitor Identification – Verbal:

  It is the practice of the HOCR to call each competitor to the Start Line by Surname (1x scullers) and/or by name of the Institution represented (for crews).

  N.B.: It is useful for competitors to familiarize themselves with the names of competitors preceding them in the Start Sequence

  9.3. Competitor Start Time:

  All competitors are required to be in the Start Line Chute area within earshot of the Start Line no less than 5 minutes prior to the scheduled race start time.

  9.4a. Latecomers:

  Because of the nature and size of each event it is impossible to wait for latecomers. Each crew and sculler is responsible for being on time for their event.

  9.4b. Late boats:

  Late arriving boats should not cross the line of buoys to jump into the starting sequence, but should await instructions from the Marshals or Starter. Any boat that starts out of sequence against the orders of the Starter will be disqualified.

  9.5. Basin Traffic Pattern:

  All Competitors warming up for the start must follow the Basin Traffic Pattern (this map should be downloaded from the Maps section of the HOCR website) except when otherwise directed by Marshals.

  All competitor s should be in the buoyed Queuing Zone five (5) minutes prior to the start of their race. Boats should assemble in the Queuing Zone in numerical order in two rows, with ODD numbers on the Boston side and EVEN numbers on the Cambridge side (see: Start Chute Traffic Pattern on previous page).

  9.6. Equipment Failure Prior to Start:

  If a competitor loses his/her bow marker or experiences equipment breakage prior to the Start, he/she should notify Marshals as soon as possible upon entering the Basin.

  9.7. Start Line Approach:

  Boats should merge into ONE a single file line in numerical order as they enter the Start Chute, allowing an interval of 2-3 lengths (or as instructed by Marshals or the Starter) of open water behind the preceding boat. Boats should maintain an interval of 2-3 lengths as they approach the Start Line. Crews or scullers that fail to follow the commands of Marshals or the Starter will be penalized.

  Any competitor who crowds, forces contact with, or otherwise creates an unsafe condition (including but not limited to a severe collision) with or for another competitor in the chute or before the BU Bridge, may be given a 60 second safety violation penalty.

  9.8. Re-Start:

  Once a boat has crossed the starting line and a Start time has been captured, under no circumstances shall a restart be permitted.

  9.9. Time Gaps between Event-Divisions:

  The HOCR Starter may instruct competitors to maintain a predetermined variable gap of several minutes between each event-division.

• Section 10: Racing

  10. 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.

  10.1. Disregard for Safety (SV):

  Any boat showing a blatant disregard for safety will be severely penalized (time penalties awarded by the Jury) and may be disqualified from the Regatta.

  10.2. Coxswain on Board:

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

  10.3. Buoys During Racing:

  During racing, boats must stay on the Course that is between the orange buoys to port (Boston side) and the green buoys to starboard (Cambridge side). Oar blades may go over the buoys but the hull of the shell must stay inside the buoy line. If a boat takes a buoy on the wrong side of the hull during an event, it will be assessed a 5-second penalty for the first buoy, and a 10-second penalty for any additional buoys passed on the wrong side during the same event. A crew that has left the course may only return to the course when it is safe to do so. Re-entry that causes an unsafe situation or impedes the progress of another crew may incur a 60-second SV penalty.

  10.4. Bridges:

  Going through the right arch (closest to the Cambridge shore) of the Lars Andersen Bridge (by Harvard’s Weld Boathouse) and the BU Railroad Trestle Bridge, or going through any bridge’s left (closest to the Boston shore) arch, will result in a 60-second penalty in addition to any buoy violations incurred by doing so.

  Unsafe passing will be penalized with a 60-second Safety Violation.

  10.5. Non-Yield (NY):

  When a passing crew (The Passer) closes to within one length of open water on the boat being overtaken, it is the responsibility of the slower crew to yield the line chosen by the Passer in a timely manner. The Yield should be completed by the time the overtaking boat has closed within ½ boat length. A crew failing to yield to a Passer when there is adequate room and time to yield will incur the following interference penalty; Non-Yield (NY):

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

  *New* It is the responsibility of the passer to complete the pass, while understanding the chosen line when initiating the pass may not continue to be the preferred line.

  10.6. Severe Collision (SC):

  A passing crew (The Passer) has the right to pass on the side of its choice if and when a safe pass can be accomplished. The Passer must allow sufficient room for both their boat and the boat overtaken to stay safely within the race course. If a pass is attempted, the Passer shall not press the right to overtake to the point of severe collision. The actual severe collision incident can be caused by either a Passer or a Passee. During a severe collision one or more of the following may occur:

  (A) damage to a boat;

  (B) personal injury;

  (C) the boat being overtaken is forced either off the race course or into a bridge; or,

  (D) a rower is struck by the blades of another boat.

  If a crew causes a severe collision that crew may be assessed a 60 second (SC) Severe Collision time penalty and may face further sanctions under Rule 10.1.

  10.7. Caboose Rule:

  Crews or scullers who are being overtaken by a boat from the next event must yield and assume a distinctly outside line. Interference will result in disqualification from this regatta and potentially future regattas.

  10.8. Safety of Rowers:

  If one or more rowers are lost from a boat during the race, the affected crew should first ensure the safety or rescue of the rower(s). If the rower(s) is (are) safe, the crew may continue to the finish line.

  10.9. Unsportsmanlike Conduct:

  Incidents of unsportsmanlike conduct by a competitor or crew, including the use of personally abusive language shall be reported to the Jury by the witnessing official. The Jury may impose penalties ranging from reprimand to a time penalty up to 60 seconds to disqualification.

  10.10. Public urination is strictly forbidden at all times.

• Section 11: Appeals

  11.1. Appeals vs Protests:

  Scullers, and institutions represented by sweep-oared entries, may appeal for relief from any ruling of ineligibility or any penalty imposed upon them by the Regatta for alleged infractions, e.g. safety violations, non-yield, severe collision, etc., but no protest alleging interference by a competing entry shall be heard.  Course violations, e.g. buoy penalties and arch violations, reported by Umpires are considered to be statements of fact and are not eligible for appeal.  Appeals must be made by a race participant who observed the incident.  Coaches can be present to support the appeal.

  11.2. Enforcement of Racing Rules:

  The Regatta covers every section of the course, from start to finish, with fully trained Umpires who monitor racing and assess penalties for safety, fairness and course violations. No re-rows or 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’ determinations have been reviewed by the Jury.

  11.3. Appeals Process:

  Appeals seeking changes to the Official Results must be received, in writing, by the Jury Clerk at Cambridge Boat Club before 12pm on Friday for Friday’s races, before 6:30 PM for Saturday’s races, and before 6:00 PM on Sunday for Sunday’s races. Only appeals that could impact medal standings will be heard on Friday. Appeals received after the aforementioned times will not be considered. The Race Committee reserves the right to extend the deadline due to scheduling changes of the Regatta.  The Jury’s rulings on appeals is considered final; there is no appeal process beyond the Head Of The Charles Jury.

  11.4. Eligibility:

  Objections to any entry’s eligibility may be made to the Jury Clerk at the Cambridge Boat Club and the Rowing & Fitness Expo at any time, but preferably before the race in question.

  11.5. Note:

  (A) 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.

  (B) Any sculler/crew which has solicited sponsorship or otherwise obtained any kind of sponsorship 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 Regatta 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.

• Section 12: Guidelines and Responsibilities

  12: 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:

  12.1. Responsibility of Overtaking Boat (Passer):

  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.

  (D) When boats come together and interlock, this does not necessarily result in a penalty situation if there were no specific violations of the racing rules (section 10).

  12.2. Responsibility of Overtaken Boat (Overtakee):

  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 and on which side the passer is approaching. Timely instruction from the bow seat rower may assist the coxswain in avoiding an interference penalty.

  12.3. Safety:

  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.

  12.4. Race Pace:

  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.”

• Section 13: Boat Launching and Storage

  13.1. Singles and Doubles:

  Rowers of singles and doubles will store their boats and launch from the Singles and Doubles Launch (SADL) at Magazine Beach, off Memorial Drive on the Cambridge side of the Charles River. Competitors will be directed to an off-site lot. SADL opens on Friday of race weekend.

  13.2. Driving to SADL:

  I-90 (Mass Pike) East to Exit 131 (old Exit 18) Brighton/Cambridge. Follow signs to Cambridge. Proceed through several traffic lights and cross the Charles River via the River Street Bridge. Once across the bridge, take a right onto Memorial Drive so the river is on your right.

  13.3. Fours/Eights/Quads:

  Boat launching and storage space will be available at the Finish Area Launch Site (FALS) on Soldiers Field Road on the Boston side of the Charles River, between Eliot Bridge and Northeastern’s Henderson Boathouse. FALS consists of one large parking lot adjacent to the finish line, and three smaller lots nearer to Eliot Bridge. Trailers will be parked very close together and not necessarily in close proximity to the launching docks. The Regatta will provide rack space near the docks for storage of boats during the weekend and use of these racks is strongly encouraged.

  13.4. Trailer Parking Registration:

  Due to limited space for parking and rigging, Trailer Parking at FALS will be limited to trailers carrying at least four sweep hulls. All other trailers will be asked to offload at a designated location at the Finish Area Launch Site and move to an over-flow location. Trailer parking pre-registration is required. All organizations planning to bring a trailer on-site must register on RegattaCentral by October 1. In order to park on-site, trailers must carry a minimum of 4 sweep-oared hulls.

  13.5. Driving to FALS:

  I-90 (Mass Pike) East to Exit 131 (old Exit 18) Brighton/Cambridge. Follow signs to Cambridge. Proceed through several traffic lights and cross the Charles River via the River Street Bridge. Once across the bridge, take a LEFT onto Memorial Drive so the river is on your left. Continue for 1.6 miles. When the road forks (near the Cambridge Boat Club), stay to the left, following signs for Watertown/Newton. Proceed through the traffic light, staying in the left or center lane to approach the Eliot Bridge. While crossing the Eliot Bridge, move to the right, and then turn to the right, following signs for Newton. A Regatta Volunteer will meet trailers and direct them to a parking space. Please use the utmost caution when traveling on Soldiers Field Road, which is not designed for large vehicles. DO NOT attempt to drive under any overpasses on Soldiers Field Road. A portion of this route closes at 8:00 AM Saturday and Sunday. Trailers arriving after that should contact the Regatta for alternate directions.

  13.6. FALS Parking Policy:

  The FALS area will open for trailer parking from 11AM – 4PM on Thursday, and 7AM – 6 PM on Friday of Regatta Weekend. Those arriving outside of the designated times will be directed to an off-site lot until opening time. All trailers must approach the area from the Eliot Bridge end of Memorial Drive/Soldiers Field Road. A Regatta Volunteer will meet all trailers and issue the driver a parking permit for a specific area and direct the driver to that area. Courteous cooperation with their direction is expected. NO OTHER VEHICLES ARE PERMITTED TO ENTER THE PARKING AREA. All unauthorized parked vehicles will be towed.

  13.7. Notes:

  (A) Due to limited space, preference will be given to fully loaded trailers. Partially loaded and late arriving trailers may be asked to unload and then park in an offsite lot. Those arriving before 7AM Friday will be directed to an off-site lot until opening time. If your vehicle is carrying shells to be used only Saturday and you wish to remove the vehicle permanently after Saturday’s racing, please let the Regatta Volunteer know; an attempt will be made to assign an unobstructed space to allow you to leave. Trucks which detach from trailers and leave the parking area may not return until late Sunday afternoon. Vehicles carrying only single or double shells will not be permitted to enter FALS. They will be directed to the Singles and Doubles Launching (SADL) area at Magazine Beach.

  (B) Officers will be on-site Friday and Saturday evenings to provide security, but the Regatta cannot assume responsibility for equipment. The DCR and State Police will also control traffic at each end of Soldiers Field Road when the Regatta is over.

  13.8. Vehicular Parking:

  Parking is available on Birmingham Parkway on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Drivers should obey posted regulations and should not park after dark. A shuttle bus for athletes and spectators will circulate throughout the race area Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning and afternoon.

• Section 14: Venue Usage

  14.1: Venue Usage

  Tents, fires, alcohol, littering, unauthorized tents, and/or unauthorized selling of any kind on the banks of the Charles River and adjacent roadways is prohibited by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Please help us assure the continuance of the Regatta by seeing that everyone from your organization is fully aware of these prohibitions, and by informing your Boston area Alumni leaders as soon as possible.

• Section 15: Safety

  15.1. First Aid:

  Along the course there are eight (8) First Aid Stations; six (6) Launches with First Aid, and three (3) Ambulances staffed by professional EMTs. All Emergency Services, including State Police, Cambridge Fire Department, and the Ambulance Companies are in radio contact with the Emergency Communications Center at the Cambridge Boat Club.

  15.2 Emergency Response:

  If you see or have an emergency:

  (A) Alert the nearest First Aid Station, Launch Volunteer, Police Officer or Course Umpire. You can call the Emergency Communications Center directly at 617-868-0002.

  (B) Describe the emergency. State the location (e.g.: Boston or Cambridge side of the river; up or down stream from a specific landmark). State the nature of the incident and number of people involved.

  (C) Stay calm! Help will be on the way immediately, as there is a radio network at HOCR for emergency situations. If possible, prevent people from interfering with response efforts.