By Win Rumsey, USRowing Referee Southwest Region

This article is intended to deal not with a physiologic issue, but rather the rules of rowing governing the rights and protections afforded a crew in their assigned water during a race. The USRowing Rules of Rowing addresses this matter in Part D-2-401* when it advises that, “Each crew shall be assigned a lane, which shall constitute that crew’s own water for the duration of the race. A crew that rows in its own water is entitled to protection by the Referee. A crew that leaves its own water does so at its own risk and peril.” Safety and fairness will always be the primary concern of the following referee. All of this seems like pretty straightforward stuff, but since lane violations account for a significant number of protests, it seems appropriate to discuss this subject in a little more detail.

Crews should be aware that they have left their protected water if “…any part of their boat or equipment leaves the crew’s assigned lane.” (Part D-2-404*(a)) If only your blades cross the lane markers, you are out of your lane. The following referee will direct the crew to return to its own lane “only to prevent interference, or otherwise ensure safety, or to ensure fairness to other crews.” (Part D-2-402) If interference, safety or fairness is not at issue, the following referee should not direct a crew to return to its assigned water. Some crews seem to believe that the shortest distance between two points is not a straight line and elect to follow a great circle route to the finish. So long as this route does not pose a hazard or give them an unfair advantage over another crew, they are free to do so.

A crew that interferes with another crew is subject to penalty. Actual contact between boats is not necessary. Interference can be assumed if the crew rowing in its assigned water must alter its course to avoid contact with the crew entering their lane. Likewise, interference can be caused by the wake of a boat rowing out of its lane. (Part D-2-404*) Crews rowing in their assigned lanes, which have been interfered with, are entitled to protest. Crews who have been interfered with who are not in their lane at the time the interference occurred have no grounds for protest. (Part D- 2-604*)

The issue of right of way in head races is less well defined by the Rules of Rowing. It is generally true that an overtaking boat has the right of way and the overtaken boat must give way. (Crews: If you think a boat is gaining on you, you ARE being overtaken and you should start maneuvering to give way…How often have we heard, “We thought they might be gaining on us but thought we could pull away so we didn’t alter course?”) Article VIII, 8-106 in essence states that the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) is responsible for establishing and publishing the “rules of the road” for the race. It is essential that the LOC and Chief Referee make these rules explicitly clear before the race and that the crews understand them. Crews should never hesitate to ask as many questions as necessary to assure they completely understand the protocol for passing, which might be unique to the particular race.

Tying it all up, please read the Rules of Rowing (at least thirty times before the first race of the season!), stay in your lane and have fun!

Row Hard!!!