Aberdeen Dad Vail ® Regatta - USRowing Rules of Racing

The Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta is a USRowing Registered Regatta, and takes place on the Schuylkill River which is under the jurisdiction of the Schuylkill Navy.

Please also review Schuylkill Navy Rules of the River

The Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta is a USRowing Registered Regatta.

These USRowing Rules of Racing will be enforced:

2-404 Interference or Foul

(a) If a crew has left, or is about to leave its own water and is in danger of interference with another crew that is rowing in its own water, the Referee shall instruct the offending crew to alter its course as described in Rule 2-407(a) (“referees instructions to crews”). A crew leaves its water when any part of its boat or equipment leaves the crew’s assigned lane.
(b) Interference shall consist of physical contact with another crew (including clashing of oars), washing another crew, or forcing another crew to alter is own course in order to avoid imminent collision.
(1) It shall not be interference if a crew is washed or obstructed while rowing outside its own water. If two crews both rowing outside their own water are in danger of a collision the Referee shall instruct them to keep apart as described in Rule 2-407(a)(1)(“referee’s instructions to crews”), but neither shall be entitled to claim interference as a result f any such collision. A crew improperly rowing outside of its water, shall yield to another crew attempting to return to its own water.
(c) If a crew fails to respond to instructions, or if it is about to cause a serious collision, the Referee may order the crew to stop rowing as described in Rule 2-407(b)(“referees instructions to crews”).

2-408 Instruction to Avoid Unsafe or Unfair Conditions

(c) If a crew is rowing outside its assigned lane and is thereby in a position to gain an unfair advantage, either by shortening its course or receiving benefit of more favorable environmental conditions such as wind or current, the Referee shall instruct the crew to return to its lane as described in Rule 2-407(a)(“referees instructions to crews”). If the crew does not comply with such instruction, in the absence of any specific mandated penalties consistent with Rule 2-408(d) the Referee may impose any of the penalties described in Rule 2-602(“types of penalties”.

3-105 Bowballs

Every boat shall have a supple or plastic ball, of a white or fluorescent color, mounted on its bow unless equivalent provision for visibility and protection against puncture injury is included in the boat’s basic construction. The bowball shall be at least 4 centimeters in diameter.

3-106 Electronic Devices

A boat may be equipped with an internal loudspeaker system, and electronic devices that provide statistical information about the progress of the race or performance of the crew (such as elapsed time or stroke rate). During a race, no boat shall have on board any electronic devices that are capable of sending or receiving information from any source external to the boat, regardless of whether it is actually used. The possession within the boat of any radio device is specifically prohibited.

3-109 Footgear Release

Where the feet of the competitor are held in place by footgear affixed to the structure of the boat, the design of such footgear shall provide for the quick release of the competitor’s feet in case of emergency, without the use of hands. Any pull strings shall not allow the heel to raise more than three inches (7.5 cm) above the foot board to which it is anchored.

3-110 Boat Construction for Coxswains

AA boat in which the body of the coxswain is enclosed or partially enclosed within the hull of the boat shall conform to the following requirements:
(a) The opening through which the coxswain enters and exits shall be at least 2.30 feet (70 cm.) long when measured along the longitudinal axis of the boat. For a length of at least 1.64 feet (50 cm.), the opening shall be as wide as the inner hull of the boat itself.
(b) The inner surface within which the coxswain’s body rests shall be smooth and free of any obstacles, devices, or other structures that would hinder quick exit.

2011 Aberdeen Dad Vail USRA Rules (PDF)

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