Wisemans Bridge Rowing Club

WSRA Rules of Racing

Before racing:

Crews will be registered before the start of the event. Unregistered crews must not take to the water during events
Crews will declare their WSRA points category at registration. This cannot be changed once racing is underway.
All boats must display their correct number on the hull in a legible size.
All boats must be seaworthy to race.
All crew members must have paid their WSRA personal levy/affiliation fee and be registered with the WSRA membership secretary.
Crews consisting of non-affiliated members will not be allowed to race and will be disqualified.
All crews must send a representative to the coxes' briefing. All local rules explained in this meeting must be abided by.

Race starts:

All crews are to take to the water promptly when asked to do so.
Crews should form a line between 2 start markers (2 buoys or 1 buoy and 1 start boat). Crews may start behind the line but not in front of it. Penalties may be applied to crews jumping the start line (see organising events).
Yoles will start a one end of the start line.
When crews are resembling a line, the race organisers will signal a 'ready' alert (identified in coxes' briefing) and the raising of the race flag. Racing may start at any point after this.
The start of the race will be signalled by the dropping of the race flag and the sounding of a hooter.
All coxes must wear lifejackets.
All junior crew members must wear lifejackets. U18s must wear a lifejacket even when rowing with a senior crew.

During the race:

The race will take the course outlined in the coxes' briefing. A lead boat will lead the rowing boats around the course and will display the following flags:

Green flag – Racing under way. Course as advertised.
Yellow flag – Racing under way. Course altered. Follow lead boat against advertised course.
Red flag – Race cancelled. Follow lead boat to shore. Do not hinder progress of other boats.
Overtaking boats must yield to the crew being overtaken. The leading crew has priority (except under certain circumstances – see buoy turns).
An overtaking crew becomes the leading crew once overtaking has been fully completed and clear water is obtained.
Oar overlap is permissible, but the crew being overtaken has priority and should not be obstructed by clashing oars.
Ramming from any direction is prohibited.
Weaving and other unsportsmanlike behaviour is prohibited.

Buoy turns:

Priority at any turn is determined 3 boat lengths from the turn.
At 3 boat lengths, if there is any overlap between 2 crews, the inside crew (i.e. crew closest to the buoy when turning) has priority.
The outside crew must yield to the inner crew and not impede their progress.
At 3 boat lengths, if there is clear water (i.e. no overlap) between the 2 crews, the leading crew has priority.
The chasing crew must yield to the leading crew and not impede their progress.
As the distance to the buoy decreases, it is likely any gap will shorten or disappear due to the lead crew slowing for the turn.
If the chasing crew catches the lead crew and gains inside overlap inside 3 boat lengths, the chasing crew must still yield at the turn.
The crew with priory may take any course around the buoy unimpeded.
The above rules will cascade through the field.
It is possible that a leading crew may have to yield to the crew in 4th or 5th position under some circumstances.
An official boat may be stationed on buoy turns to ensure correct procedures are followed.
Crews found to obstruct other crews holding priority may have points/positions docked or be disqualified entirely.
This is at the discretion of the league official at the race.

Appeals:

Appeals or objections should be addressed to the race referee immediately after the race (see organising events).