Scotch College

RACING CODE FOR THE APS REGATTA

Reproduced with permission of the APS

Associated Public Schools of Victoria

ABN 61 949 738 691

APS House, 7 Morrison Street, Hawthorn Vic 3122
Tel: (03) 9810 4191 Fax: (03) 9810 4190 Mobile: 0417 512 174
Email: aps@scotch.vic.edu.au

RACING CODE FOR THE APS REGATTA

1. APPLICATION

1.1
This code shall apply to the conduct of the Associated Public Schools (“APS”) Regatta.
1.2
The application, interpretation and enforcement of this Code, shall be the responsibility of the Jury on behalf on Rowing Victoria Inc (“RV”).
1.3
For the purposes of this racing code, the APS shall mean the Chair of Heads, the APS Executive Officer, the Chair of Rowing and the Chairs of Delegates for both boys and girls. Where matters are to be referred to the APS, then they shall be referred to the APS Executive Officer or the delegate of the APS Executive Officer.

2. BOATS AND EQUIPMENT

The construction, design and dimensions of boats and oars shall in principle be unrestricted, subject nevertheless to the following requirements:
2.1
The bows of all boats shall be fitted with a white ball 4cm in diameter in soft rubber or similar material, unless the bow is so constructed as to afford equivalent protection and visibility.
2.2
No wireless transmission equipment shall be fitted or carried in a boat during competition, or used, whether for sending or receiving.
2.3
No substance capable of modifying the natural properties of water shall be applied to the hull.
2.4
The edges of blades must have a minimum thickness throughout as follows:
(a) Oars : 5 millimetres
(b) Sculls : 3 millimetres.
This thickness shall be measured 3mm from the outer edge of the blade for oars, and 2mm for sculls.
2.5
The use of sliding riggers in any class of boat shall not be allowed.
2.6
To avoid accidents arising from capsizing:
(1)
all boats must be equipped with stretchers or shoes which allow the rowers to get clear of the boat without using their hands and with the least possible delay;
(2)
If fitted with shoes, the heels of the shoes must be attached to the stretcher, to enable a quick release of the feet of a rower from the shoes.
2.7
The APS may require that crews in certain events cannot use cleaver oars. These are stipulated in the APS Rowing Regulations.
2.8
The APS may require that certain four oared events be conducted in regulation boats. These are stipulated in the APS Rowing Regulations.

3. DAMAGE TO EQUIPMENT

3.1
Any expenses incurred due to a collision or any other cause shall be borne by the crew responsible for it. In the event of a dispute arising as to the crew responsible for the damage, the RV is empowered to apportion the blame forthwith, and may cause an estimate to be made of the extent of the damage.
3.2
Only the umpire may decide to postpone or annul a race because of damage to equipment and only if such damage takes place in the first 100 metres of the race or as a result of a collision.

4. APPOINTMENT OF THE JURY

4.1
Rowing Victoria Inc shall appoint the members of the Jury for The APS Regatta. A nominated representative of the APS (Executive Officer) is entitled to be present at any deliberations of the Jury or the Board of the Jury.
4.2
Rowing Victoria Inc shall appoint members of the Board to the Jury, which shall hear any protest. The Board of the Jury shall comprise the Referee and two other members of the Jury.

5. WEATHER AND FAIRNESS COMMITTEE

At APS Regatta, the Jury shall act as the Weather and Fairness Committee.

6. BRIEFING OF COMPETITORS

If required by the APS, the jury shall conduct a briefing for competitors where the relevant aspects of the Racing Code shall be explained and the Jury shall answer any questions.

7. THE JURY

7.1
The Referee shall call a meeting of the Jury prior to the commencement of racing. The Referee shall allot duties to each member of the Jury and the Referee shall supervise their activities.
7.2
The Referee is appointed by Rowing Victoria Inc and acts on behalf of it. The Referee assumes the direction of the other members of the Jury and can replace any official. The Referee shall call the Jury together for a meeting immediately before and after the racing and shall take the chair at such meetings.
7.3
The Jury shall meet at the end of the regatta and draw up a report, which shall include the results of each race as well as comments on the running of the regatta and on any incidents and/or disputes arising during the regatta. This report, signed by the Referee, shall be completed and shall be forwarded to Rowing Victoria Inc and the APS.
7.4
The Jury shall consist of the Referee, umpires, starters, aligners and judges at the finish.

8. RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAIRNESS OF COURSE AND CONDITIONS

8.1
The Jury shall adjudicate on the fairness of conditions for all crews in a race in accordance with this Code.
8.2
A reference to the Jury in this Rule means the Referee, after consultation with the members of the Jury. Such consultation can be conducted by radio and does not need to be in person.
8.3
In determining the fairness of the course and any actions arising from the weather conditions, the Jury shall be entitled to take into account the time limits imposed upon it by the APS in conducting the regatta. Further the jury may, following consultation with the APS, make decisions that impact only certain races and may make no changes for other races.
8.4
The Jury may, at any time, move the course across available lanes to use the fairest lanes in which to conduct a race.
8.5
The Jury will stop racing where it considers the conditions to be too dangerous for competition.
8.6
Where conditions are deemed by the Jury to be substantially and manifestly unfair, and there is time available within the time limits imposed on the Jury for the conduct of the regatta by the APS, then the jury in their absolute discretion may-
(a) postpone racing: and/or
(b) redraw racing to permit racing to continue on a lesser number of lanes. In that event, the Jury shall advise all competitors the new progression sequence to the final.
8.7
Where-
(a) the conditions are substantially and manifestly unfair; and

(b) in the opinion of the Jury, the time remaining in which complete the racing does not permit any postponement or rearrangement of racing
then the Jury may in their absolute discretion -
(a) continue the racing with the best seeded crews taking the most favoured lanes. Where this occurs in a heat, the seeding shall be provided by the APS. Where this occurs in a final, the seeding shall be determined by the results in the heats; and/or
(b) following discussion with the APS, reduce the length of races; and/or
(c) following discussion with the APS, cancel certain races; and/or
following discussion with the APS, postpone certain races to another time and/or to another place.

9. THE START

9.1
The Countdown
Where time and conditions permit, the Starter shall inform the crews of the time remaining before the start and tell them in which lane each will race.
9.2
Late Arrival
(1)
Crews must be at their starting positions at least two (2) minutes before the starting time of their race.
(2)
The Starter may warn any crew arriving at its starting position less than two minutes before the starting time.
(3)
A Warning has the same effect as one given for a false start.
(4)
The Starter may exclude a crew arriving after the starting time.
(5)
The Starter must inform the Referee of any warning or exclusion.
9.3
Breakages
The start is not normally delayed for broken oars, fittings or equipment.
9.4
Two Minutes to Go
(1)
When the Starter announces “two minutes”, this shall signify to the crews that they are formally under Starter’s orders.
(2)
The announcement of “two minutes” shall also be an instruction to the crews to prepare to race and to the Aligner to commence the aligning of boats.
(3)
The crews must be ready to race within the two minutes period.
9.5
Aligning
(1)
The Aligner indicates to the Starter that the boats are properly aligned by raising a white flag.
(2)
With the prior approval of the Jury, alternate mechanical or electrical means for the Aligner to advise the Starter that the boats are properly aligned may be installed.
(3)
Should correct alignment be lost during the subsequent starting procedure, the Aligner lowers the flag, or, alternatively, indicates to the Starter by approved mechanical or electrical means, that the correct alignment has been lost.
9.6
2000 metre start
(1)
When the boats are aligned at the 2000 metre start, and the crews ready to race, the Starter shall make a roll call by announcing, in lane order, the names of each of the crews in the race.
(2)
Once the roll-call begins the crews must make sure that their boats are straight. Each crew is responsible for being both straight and ready at the end of the roll-call.
(3)
Once the roll-call begins, the Starter shall take no further notice of any crew which then indicates that it is not ready or that it is not straight.
(4)
After the last crew has been named in the roll-call, the Starter shall check that the Aligner’s flag is still raised and shall then say:
“Attention”
The Starter shall then raise the red flag.
After a clear pause, the Starter shall drop the red flag quickly to one side, simultaneously saying:
“Go”
The pause between the raising of the flag and the start command (dropping the red flag and saying “Go”) shall be variable.
(5)
With the prior approval of the Jury, the Start process conducted by the Starter may be assisted by electrical or mechanical apparatus
(6)
If the starting procedure is interrupted for any reason external to the crews or for a false start, then the Starter must begin the procedure again, starting with the roll -call.
(7)
In exceptional circumstances, the Starter may decide to dispense with the roll call. If so, the Starter must inform the crews that the “Quick Start” shall be used.
(a) Once the normal start has been used the Starter shall not change to the quick start for the same race.
(b) For the quick start, instead of the roll call, the Starter shall say:
“Quick Start, Attention”
The Starter shall then raise the red flag.
After a clear pause the Starter shall give the start by dropping the red flag quickly to one side and simultaneously saying:
“Go”
The pause between the raising of the flag and the start command (dropping the flag and saying “Go”) shall be variable.
9.7
1000 metre start
When the crews are aligned, the Starter may decide to dispense with the roll call. If so, the Starter must inform the crews that the “Quick Start” shall be used.
For the quick start, instead of the roll call, the Starter shall say:
“Quick Start, Attention”
The Starter shall then raise the red flag.
After a clear pause the Starter shall give the start by dropping the red flag quickly to one side and simultaneously saying:
“Go”
The pause between the raising of the flag and the start command (dropping the flag and saying “Go”) shall be variable
9.8
False Start
(1)
Should a crew start too soon, the Aligner shall inform the Starter and Umpire by waving a red flag. The Starter shall stop the race by ringing a bell and then waving the red flag.
(2)
After the race has been stopped the Aligner shall tell the Starter by name (not lane number) which crew or crews started too soon.
(3)
The decision as to whether one or more crews started too soon is the sole responsibility of the Aligner.
(4)
When the crews return to their starting positions, the Starter shall warn the crew or crews at fault. This warning shall hold good until the race has been rowed and shall therefore apply in the case of a postponement or a re-row.
9.9
Exclusion
The Starter shall exclude from the race a crew causing two false starts or which has received two warnings in the same heat.
9.10
Precedence
(1)
Except for the duties specifically attributed to them, both the Starter and Aligner are subordinate to the Umpire.
(2)
Should the start for any reason be faulty, the Umpire may order the Starter to stop the race or may stop it personally by ringing a bell and waving a red flag.
9.11
Start Zone
(1)
As soon as the race has started the Umpire’s launch shall follow the competitors.
(2)
If a crew, while in the Start Zone, indicates that it has suffered damage to its boat or equipment, the Starter or Umpire will stop the race.
(3)
The Umpire shall decide, after inspecting the damage, whether the claim was justified and shall, if necessary, apply any appropriate penalty.
9.12
Alternate Start
In the event that the conditions of the course do not permit a fair start under the forgoing conditions of this rule, the Starter may, with the approval of the Referee, adopt such alternate manner of starting as is considered appropriate under the circumstances.

10. THE UMPIRE

10.1
Role
The Umpire ensures the proper conduct of the race and the safety of the competitors. The safety of the competitors is more important than any other consideration.
10.2
Advantage
The Umpire must ensure that no crew gains any advantage or suffers any disadvantage from its opponents or from outside circumstances.
10.3
Steering
The Umpire may not steer a crew unless there is an obstacle in its lane but must endeavour nevertheless to prevent crews being impeded by their opponents and to ensure that accidents are avoided.
10.4
Impeding
If a crew is about to impede another by its wash or by leaving its lane the Umpire raises the white flag and calls to the crew at fault, indicating the required change of direction by lowering the flag to one side.
10.5
Impending Collision
If a crew is about to cause a collision the Umpire may call its attention by raising the white flag and stopping it by giving the command “STOP”.
10.6
Exclusion
Crews interfering with their opponents may be excluded from the race but not the event by the Umpire, but normally only after a warning has been given.
10.7
Restoration
(1)
If a crew is impeded, the Umpire must ensure that its chance of winning is fully restored to it by taking (if necessary) the most appropriate of the following courses of action:
(a) Stopping the race, imposing the appropriate penalty and ordering the race to be re-rowed from the start immediately;
(b) Stopping the race, imposing the appropriate penalty and ordering the race to be re-rowed from the start at a time to be determined in consultation with the Referee;
(c) Excluding crews from the race after the race has finished;
(d) Allowing the race to finish and confining the re-row to such crews as the Umpire shall designate.
(2)
The Umpire may not simply penalize a crew at fault while a crew that has suffered interference does not have its chance of winning restored to it.
10.8
Use of electronic devices
No person from outside the boat may instruct, advise or control a rower or crew directly or indirectly by electric, electronic or other technical devices during racing.
10.9
Other crews on course
While a race is in progress it is strictly forbidden for any non-participating crew to row over the whole or part of the course, even though outside the marked area.
10.10
Protest
A race is over only when the last crew has crossed the line. Even if satisfied that the race was properly rowed the Umpire must be sure that no crew is making a protest before raising the white flag to indicate to the Judges at the Finish that the race was in order.
10.11
Red Flag
If the Umpire or one of the crews considers the race not to have been properly rowed the Umpire must raise a red flag and make any necessary explanations to the Judges at the Finish.

11. THE FINISH

11.1
Judges at the Finish
As a general rule there shall be three (3) Judges at the Finish plus a Chief Judge at the Finish.
11.2
Race Records
The Judges at the Finish shall record results of the races and their times. They are responsible for the race records and if the need arises they shall examine the films and photographs (or similar) of the finish.
11.3
Crew completing the course
(1)
A crew has completed the course when the bow ball of its boat crosses the finishing line.
(2)
If one or more rowers fall into the water in an event, before their boat has crossed the finish line, the race is still valid.
(3)
A coxed boat crossing the finish line without its coxswain shall not be placed.
11.4
Crossing the Finish Line
(1)
Any crew starting in a race must row the entire course and cross the finishing line except in circumstances beyond its control or by authorization of the Umpire.
(2)
Any crew not crossing the finishing line shall be removed from the race.
(3)
The Umpire and Judges at the Finish must report any competitor who has not crossed the finishing line.

12. CONDUCT OF CREWS

12.1
All rowers and coxswains shall compete in their races in accordance with this Racing Code.
12.2
All rowers and coxswains shall comply with instructions from the Jury and of the APS and they shall observe any traffic regulations in force. In particular:
(1)
Non-competing crews within 100 metres of the finish must stop when competing crews are within 100 metres of the finish;
(2)
Crews shall not cross the finishing line (in any direction) while boats from another race are in the processing of finishing;
(3)
Crews shall stop when competing crews approach within 100 metres of their position.

13. DISCIPLINARY MEASURES

13.1
Sanctions
In the exercise of their duties under this Code, the Umpire, Referee, APS representative or Jury can (normally after first issuing a warning) impose disciplinary sanctions on any competitors who commit an offence against the Racing Code, refuse to obey instructions or to show deference to the members of the Jury;
13.2
Sanctions against competitors may consist of:
(a) Reprimand;
(b) Award a false start;
(c) Exclusion from the race in which the infringement occurred;
(d) Disqualification.
13.3
A crew which is disqualified is excluded from all races at one or more regattas.

14. PROTESTS

14.1
Initial Protest
Except in unavoidable circumstances, a crew claiming that its race has been improperly run must make its protest to a member of the Jury immediately after the finish of the race and before getting out of the boat.
14.2
Protest in writing
The delegate or his/her representative of such crew shall confirm any such protest in writing to the Referee within half of one hour of the completion of the race concerned setting out the reasons for the protest.
14.3
Decision on Protest
The Board of the Jury shall decide if the protest was justified and shall announce its decision not later than one hour after the race in which the protest arose.

15. COXSWAINS

Coxswains shall:
15.1
Be deemed to be a member of the crew but may be of a different gender to that of the rowers provided that the coxswain complies with the minimum weight requirements of that crew;
15.2
For boys 1st and 2nd eight oared crews, have (in racing uniform) a minimum weight of 57.5 kilograms;
15.3
For girls 1st and 2nd eight oared crews, have (in racing uniform) a minimum weight of 52.5 kilograms;
15.4
For all other crews there is no minimum weight.
15.5
Make up the required weight by carrying dead weight;
15.6
Not include any article of racing equipment as a part of dead weight (if any) for the purposes of this Rule;
15.7
Carry deadweight in a sealed bag which shall be placed in the boat as close as possible, but not attached, to the coxswain;
15.8
Be weighed in racing uniform by a person duly authorized by the Jury or the Regatta Secretary conducting the Regatta;
15.9
For the purposes of the preceding paragraph, coxswains shall be weighed between 4 and 6 pm on the day prior to racing.
15.10
Immediately after a race, the coxswain of the winning crew, together with the dead weight carried (if any) may again be weighed by a person duly authorized by the Jury. If the coxswain does not weigh in at the required weight at such re-weighing, the coxswain’s crew shall be disqualified.

16. ALTERATIONS TO CREWS

16.1
All crews have the right to replace their rowers and the coxswain, provided that:
(1)
The substituted rower is from the same School on the original entry form and qualifies for the event;
(2)
A written declaration of the names of such replacement(s) be presented to the Regatta Secretary prior to racing;
(3)
That the written declaration notifying the change of name and status of such replacements is certified by the School to confirm that the notified substitute competitor(s) is/are from the same School and has the same status as notified on the entry.
16.2
No change may be made to a crew which has already raced in a heat of its event, except:
(1)
in the case of serious illness, or
(2)
an accident
and in either case a medical certificate or such evidence as the APS requires shall be tendered to the Referee, and the Jury of that Regatta shall decide whether such change shall be permitted.

17. STATUS OF COMPETITORS

The APS is responsible for determining the status of all competitors at this regatta.

18. ADVERTISING

The APS is responsible for controlling all advertising on boats, oars, rowers and any equipment used at this regatta.

19. UNIFORMS

The APS is responsible for controlling all matters to do with the uniforms worn by competitors at this Regatta.

20. APPLICATION OF ROWING AUSTRALIA AND ROWING VICTORIA RULES

Where this Racing Code does not cover a situation needing a decision, the rules or practices applied by Rowing Australia Inc in such a circumstance shall apply. If there is no relevant provision or practice of Rowing Australia for such a circumstance, then the relevant provision or practice of Rowing Victoria Inc shall apply.

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