Regatta Rules

Rules of the Regatta

1. Format of Competition
1.1 The Regatta will be raced from a standing start between the Stump at the bottom of the Long Reach and Peter’s Posts. The length of the course is approximately 1100m. The course may be shortened at the umpire’s discretion should a houseboat or other such obstacle present itself on the course.
1.2

The Regatta is open to all College Student VIIIs and College Alumni VIIIs:

  1. Rowers in Student crews must meet CUCBC eligibility requirements.
  2. Rowers in Alumni crews should have graduated from the College they are representing. The Regatta Secretary will consider requests for rowers who do not meet this criterion to compete in an Alumni crew.

Without exception, rowers who row in one category are then ineligible to row in any other category.
1.3 There will be 4 Student men’s Divisions and 4 Student women’s Divisions. 1st VIIIs will be entered into the M1/W1 Division, 2nd VIIIs into the M2/W2 Division, subsequent college crews containing more than 6 senior rowers will be entered into the 3rd Division. Other College VIIIs will be entered into the lowest available Division. The Regatta Secretary will consider requests for a crew to be entered into a category lower than that described, but such requests will not normally be accepted. Reason must be given for such requests. Alumni VIIIs will be entered into the 2nd Divisions under the alumni category.
1.4 Prizes will be awarded to winning crews in each Division.
2. Marshalling
2.1 All coxes and coaches must have read and understood the Marshalling Instructions (as issued on the Regatta website) prior to the Regatta.
2.2 There will be marshals at Chesterton, at the Railway Bridge and on Plough Reach. Crews must obey instructions given by the marshals, and these instructions are to take precedence over any contained in the Marshalling Instructions.
2.3 Crews must have marshalled by the time given in the Event Timetable (as issued on the Regatta website).
2.4 Crews intending to scratch from races should make every effort to inform the Regatta Secretary of their intentions as soon as possible.
3. Racing
3.0 The start marshal will ask both crews if they are ready. They will then call “Attention” and then “Go”. If the Start umpire judges both crews to be straight then, at their discretion, they may choose to call “Attention” without waiting for both coxes to reply that they are ready, or lower their arms, in the interests of not delaying race proceedings.
3.1 Umpires will be present at the start and at the finish, and a Race Umpire will cycle alongside each pair of racing crews. Crews must obey the instructions of the Umpires. The race umpire will cycle alongside the bow ball of the winning crew. Bank parties must not obstruct the race umpire.
3.2 In the interests of safety, bank parties are restricted to four persons on bicycles. The use of loud hailers is prohibited.
3.3 A crew will be disqualified after its second false start in the same race.
3.4 Boats will race side-by-side and must keep to their station throughout the race, irrespective of the position of the opposition. If a boat moves to take the opposition’s water it will be warned to move back on station by the Race Umpire who will blow their whistle for a short burst (1 time for a first offence, 2 times for a second offence, etc.) and shout the name of the offending crew, or both crews. The crew(s) in question must act on this warning or they will be considered for disqualification at the end of the race, either following the third offence or following a more significant single offence.
3.5 Unless unsafe to do so, boats must continue rowing until well past the finish line. The emergency stop signal from the Race Umpire will be continuous whistling, usually followed by sirens from static umpires.
3.6 Subject to disqualification, the boat whose bow ball passes the finish line first will be declared the winner. A dead heat may be awarded at the senior umpire’s discretion. This will result in a re-row, which will be incorporated into the next division of races.
3.7 Should a race require to be stopped, the race will be re-run with both crews starting from the same position. The course may be shortened at the discretion of the Senior Umpire. In general races will only be stopped for safety reasons (e.g. an obstacle on the river). Races will not be stopped for reasons such as equipment failure – it is the responsibility of the crews to ensure that their equipment is in working order.
4. Safety
4.1

In accordance with the relevant CUCBC regulations:

  1. All coxes must wear a serviceable lifejacket when on the river, and must be able to demonstrate how to inflate it.
  2. All boats must be correctly fitted with a bow-ball.
  3. All boats must be fitted with heel restraints which comply with BR regulations. Concept II type footplates must be modified in accordance with BR guidelines.
  4. All boats must have covers correctly fitted to all hatches, and canvasses must be watertight.

Crews which do not comply with these regulations will not be permitted to race.
4.2 The emergency stop signal will be a SUSTAINED BLAST on a siren. Upon hearing this signal all crews must stop.
4.3 First Aid will be provided as required by a crew stationed by Peter’s Posts.
4.4 All crews should dress appropriately for the weather conditions on the day. Information will be posted on the Pembroke College Boat Club website and emailed to captains in the days leading up to the Regatta. Bank parties are kindly requested to help ensure their crews are properly equipped.
5. Disqualification and Appeals of Decisions
5.1 Umpires may disqualify any crew which does not comply in full with all of the Rules of the Regatta.
5.2 Any appeals should be directed to the Senior Umpire. The decision of the Senior Umpire is final in all matters relating to conduct in the Regatta and no correspondence will be entered into.