Competitors' Instructions
Safety
The primary duty of every race official is to care for the safety of competitors and spectators.
We will have three safety launches operating throughout the day, one at the Start, one at the finish and one at 500m.
Central Medical Services will be available at the finish and can also be contacted by any Race official.
Control Commission may perform the normal safety checks.
Please check your own boat prior to going afloat; quick release foot stretchers, bow ball, hatch covers/flotation and importantly, coxswains’ life jackets… as a minimum.
Umpires have been asked to strictly enforce the Circulation Pattern shown below.
Circulation Pattern
There will be no practice session on the Saturday evening due to Nottingham City Regatta’s racing schedule and there is no practice session on the Sunday morning.
The racing circulation pattern below applies from 30 minutes BEFORE the first race, until after the last race has finished. Failure to comply with these rules may lead to the removal of a crew or club from the Regatta.
Weighing in (coxswains)
Weight Certificates can be obtained from the boat house (the end next to the Waterman’s office). Make sure to leave plenty of time before your scheduled race time to weigh in, collect your lane number and paddle to the start.
The minimum weights for coxes are:
45 kg – J15 and younger crews.
55 kg – all other crews
Collection of bow numbers
Bow numbers can be collected from the cabin in the boating area no more than 45 minutes and no less than 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time of your race.
Please be afloat at least 20 minutes prior to your race time.
Access to the Start is via Lane 7 only.
The Start
You must follow marshals'/umpires' instructions at all times.
The order of races will be in line with the published programme.
All races will be started from the Intermediate Start Tower at the 1000 m mark.
The start process will be in accordance with the Rules of Racing: all races will be started with a red flag.
You should be attached to the start pontoon and ready to race two minutes before your official race time (regatta time will be displayed on a large digital clock, situated beside the aligner's hut at the Start).
Please note: the start pontoon mooring cable runs across lane 7, beside the intermediate Start; this will be marked by a yellow buoy. Please take care when approaching the Start in lane 7.
The Finish
All races will end at the Finish Tower - a buzzer will sound as you cross the line.
All races will be timed as far as possible.
Warming up, cooling down & medal presentations
Do not warm up in Lane 7.
Assuming your crew has time before the start of your race, you may warm up by continuing in Lane 7 to the 1500 m marker, turning into your allocated racing lane and warming up as you proceed back towards the Start. You must be attached and ready to race two minutes before your race time.
Please ‘form up’ into your race as you approach the Start - follow marshals'/umpires' instructions.
Crews who have finished their race and wish to cool down should do so in the first 500 m of Lane 7. At the 500 m marker they must stop and, after checking that the course is clear, turn into Lane 5 and paddle briskly to the finish.
The winner of each final will be presented with a medal. After the finish, the winning crew should turn quickly and proceed in Lane 0 to the presentation pontoon. Please do not proceed if there's a succeeding race within the final 250 m of the course, but in any case be sure to follow marshals'/umpires' instructions.
Once the presentation is complete your crew will be held on the pontoon until there's a gap in racing, at which time you should push off, turn, and proceed to the boating area using Lanes 1 or 2. Do not cool down in Lane 0.