Narragansett

4. Bow Markers: Each competitor is responsible for supplying his/her own bow marker(s). Please purchase your bow markers in advance of the regatta date. Please make certain that your marker is properly secured to the bow to withstand wind and rain. Crews appearing at the starting line without bow markers may be assessed a warning.

5. Equipment check: Before launching check your wing nuts, rigger bolts, collar bolts, footstretchers, etc., anything that may be problematic.

6. Launch Times: Usually you will launch at least 30 minutes before your scheduled race time. Do not delay launching beyond this point. We will stick to the racing schedule.

7. Oar and scull storage: If possible, have someone bring your sculls and/or oars to the dock as you bring your shell.

8. Launching: Await any oncoming race. Then cross the racecourse to the far side of the channel. Row up the river, aiming slightly to the east of the large radio tower in Pawtucket. Keep your eyes peeled for the red and green channel buoys. They are very strong and repel carbon fiber with ease.

9. Warm-ups: We will stick to the schedule. Crews must be within hailing distance of the start no later than 4 minutes prior to the published starting time. Crews are not to go 60 strokes north or south of their starting line. Where you warm up will depend upon the race schedule. In general, please keep off the course so as not to impede any races coming down the course.

10. Approaching the Starting Line: You will find large numerals on the Providence shore, which mark the 2000, 1500, 1000, and 500-meter marks. Three minutes before your race, you should begin rowing toward your starting line. In general, keep your shell north of the line. Wait for the starter/referee to bring you up to the line. The Lanes are numbered 1 through 7, starting from the Providence/NBC shore and heading east. Make certain that you keep 20 feet of distance between the tips of your blades and those of the next shell.

a. Pointing the Boat: Coxswains may need to point their boats to the right or to the left of the targets on the bridge. This will depend upon the wind direction and the force of the wind. Please use stroke to back and bow to row, or vice versa, to point your boat. Simply having one side row will pull you toward the other boat(s).

b. Hand Signals: If coxswains are making adjustments, the person rowing at bow or two should have his/her hand up. If a crew is not ready, the bow person's arm should go up--FULLY EXTENDED--and the crew should be taking corrective action. This is especially important for bow-coxed boats.

11. The Starting Command: This will be the starting procedure for all conditions. There will be no polling of the scullers or crews. Once the Starter/Referee feels the boats are as even as possible and hands are down, he/she will announce "Attention! Go!" There will be a pause between "Attention!" and "Go!" There should be NO movement in the boats until the Starter/Referee says, "Go!" Since we do not have stakeboats, there will be no Countdown Starts.

12. Equipment Breakage: It should be understood that crews and scullers are responsible for a complete check of equipment prior to leaving for the start. In the event of equipment breakage or any major mishap within the first 30 seconds of the race, the coxswain should stop rowing and raise his hand immediately. The Referee will determine the severity of the breakage and the appropriate action -- restart, postponement, etc. A crew that falsely claims breakage or causes any major mishap within the first 30 seconds, may or may not be assessed of a Warning or a Disqualification, depending upon the Starter/Referee's assessment and decision.

13. Steering and Navigating the Course: The Seekonk River Course is a tidal estuary. As such, we will usually have an incoming tide for the early races, slack tide for the middle races, and an outgoing tide for the latter events. Stay within your lane relative to the other boats. If certain boats are veering dramatically off course, the Referee will alert them. If this is you, please be ready to respond accordingly. As you cross the different 500-meter marks, you will find markers on the shore as well as a bright orange mooring buoy on the Providence side of the course.

14. Approaching the last 40 strokes: Once past the boathouse, do not follow the shoreline. Aim for your bridge target. If you don't know where that is, aim for the middle of the center arch of the bridge. Do not row to the right. Rowing parallel to the shore will give you a longer distance to the finish line. As you approach the finish line, keep rowing until you see the finish line flag off your stern. Do not stop early.

15. Returning to the dock: Row clockwise. Approach the dock cautiously. Scullers and crews launching have priority. Wait for the dockmaster to call you in. Land your shell, have someone assist you, if possible, so that you can take your shell and your sculls/oars as quickly off the dock as possible.

16. Protests: In the event of a Protest, it must be made on the water at the end of the race and then presented in writing to the Committee of Management or the Regatta Director within 30 minutes of the completion of the race in question.

17. Bare Feet: Bare feet will not be allowed on the dock. All rowers or support personnel must have some type of non-skid footwear if they want to go on the dock. Crews will be turned away if they approach the dock with bare feet.