Head of the Yarra Race Rules
4.0 Overview
The race will be governed by the current issue of the Rowing Victoria Rule Book.
Penalties are in addition to the normal rules of racing, and the President of The Jury (POJ) and the race organiser reserve the right to impose additional penalties including removal, for crews showing a blatant disregard for the safety of others.
4.1 Weighing
No crew or coxswain weighing is required.
4.2 Pre-Start
On-water warmups are STRONGLY DISCOURAGED
Crews are to be in the Start marshalling area at the upstream end of the of the city boat shed landing area 5 minutes prior to their start (and not before, in order to minimize traffic congestion).
Crews are to go direct to the start, keeping to the south bank (the boatshed side of the river) until clear of the commercial boat jetty opposite the city boat sheds.
Crews will be lined up in predetermined rows of four boats abreast, however one crew at a time will be signalled to start. As the last boat in each row is sent off, the next row of boats should be slowly touching forward into the “Start” marshalling area.
Late arriving boats must await instruction from the Start Marshals or the Starter.
4.3 Overtaking Rule
A boat is deemed to be overtaking when it has its bow ball within half a length of the stern of the boat in front. When this occurs the slower boat must not block or obstruct the faster crew. The faster boat must be prudent and delay the act of passing if a pass cannot be accomplished without incident.
Boats attempting to overtake or being overtaken must obey the overtaking rule.
There is to be no overtaking from the Power Street fishing landing to the Wallen Road Bridge. This bridge is too narrow to safely allow more than one boat to pass at a time.
4.4 Injury and Breakage
Should an injury or damage to equipment occur or if a competitor becomes separated from any part of their equipment during the running of an event, the crew must pull over to the bank as soon as is practical and wait for the race to pass.
In the event of an incident, competitors should not seek to retrieve equipment from the course until it is safe to do so. Instead they should leave their equipment and make their way to shore (provided they do not need the buoyancy of the vessel for personal safety).
Competitors involved in the incident must not resume racing without permission from an Umpire. If a competitor requires medical assistance, they should refer to the closest rescue boat or Umpire who will implement the Race Safety Management Plan.
4.5 Finish
Crews must not stop at or impede the finish line for safety reasons.
Crews are to continue rowing lightly having crossed the finish line in order to avoid collision from crews still finishing.
A Marshal will indicate where you may stop and turn. Where crews turn before the Marshal has advised a minimum 20 second penalty will apply.
4.6 Umpires
Crews are to obey Umpires and Marshals at all times, including after the finish and when racking boats. Failure to do so may incur a time penalty or removal from the event.
4.7 Crew Uniforms
Crews must be in appropriate uniforms as specified in the Rowing Victoria Rule Book.
Composite crews may apply to the Organising Committee for permission to wear a suitable alternative uniform.
4.8 Penalties
The following time penalties may apply:
Failing to start race within 5 seconds of start being called: 30 seconds
If a crew is up to 5 minutes late to the start: 1 minute
If a crew is 5 - 10 minutes late to the start: 2 minutes
If a crew is more than 10 minutes late to the start: Removal
Intentional interference: 1 minute or Removal
Cause of minor collision: 5 to 15 seconds
Cause of major collision: 15 to 30 seconds
Sitting at the finish: 10 seconds
Crossing line of buoys in finish straight: 30 seconds
No credit penalties will be applied to disadvantaged crews.
The Organising Committee and/or the POJ may remove a crew or penalise a competitor or crew who violates safety or the spirit of the race.