London 2 Paris ROWING RACE 2008 Rules

Issue 1 (14 March 2007)
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Aims

  1. These rules are designed to
    • ensure the maximum safety of all those involved in the Race
    • provide fair and level conditions for all teams
    • cope with variations in experience and ability
    • be adaptable to extreme weather conditions.
  2. Safety is paramount.

Start Line/Finish Line/Stages

  1. The Start line is Westminster Bridge, on the river Thames in London and the Finish line is at the Pont d'lena on the river Seine in Paris.

  2. The Race is run in stages.
Stage 1 Westminster Bridge to Port of Dover (As a straight Race)
Stage 2 Dover to Le Havre (As a straight Race)
Stage 3 Le Havre to Ampreville (As a straight Race)
Stage 4 Ampreville to Paris (As a series of Pursuit Races (slowest first, fastest last) from lock to lock)


  1. The precise position of the start and finish line (between which crews are timed) will, where possible, be identified by the organiser's vessel or the land based timing team.
  2. All distances quoted in miles should be interpreted as Nautical Miles and NMPD means nautical miles per day.
  3. All Times are BST (British summer Time).

Equipment

  1. Only the standard equipment as supplied by the Organisers will be permitted in the Race. Extra equipment may be carried but only with permission of the Organisers.
  2. Specifically banned are aids to propulsion
  3. A checklist will be issued prior to the start of the race and equipment will be checked against it at the beginning and end of the race and at any point at the discretion of the organisers.
  4. Rowing Boats used will be the Watermans' cutters adapted to cope with sea conditions to comply with MCA standards.
  5. The organisers will supply the oars.
  6. All boats MUST display the necessary warning lights from dusk to dawn or at such times as specified by the organisers.
  7. Crews may be required to carry and use video cameras as supplied by the organisers on certain stages of the Race.
  8. All crew members will wear a life jacket during change-overs. The wearing of life jackets whilst rowing is optional (unless ordered by the organisers) but the crew must have them available at all times in the cutter.
  9. The organisers will carry a limited number of spares for the cutters including oars.

Crews

  1. Each crew is composed of 10 people of which a minimum of 5 must be in the cutter from Ampreville to Paris.
  2. Rowers are permitted to alternate within the crew throughout the race as follows:-
    • from London to Ampreville via support Boats
    • From Ampreville to Paris via land support at designated points.
  3. Crews have to be available for medical inspection at any time. The medical officers have the authority to remove a member or whole crew from the race, if they feel their medical condition so warrants.
  4. Once the crew starts no substitutions are allowed to the race crew on penalty of disqualification unless under exceptional circumstances an appeal to the organisers (Race Committee) is granted.

The Race

  1. All cutters must be rowed.
  2. All crews are required to communicate with their support vessel and, if required, the Race Committee vessel at regular and sometimes specified intervals. The cutters will communicate with their support vessel from Westminster to Ampreville. From Ampreville the Race Committee will communicate directly with the cutters and their land support team.
  3. Crews are required to stop at each designated finish point (stage or otherwise) and then will be held at this position for a predetermined period until the restart. Time will be taken from a GPS receiver where possible or from the Race Committee's control watch, synchronised to BST.
  4. All crews start the first 3 stages as a straight race. From Ampreville the race is run as a pursuit race with the slowest crew going off first.
  5. Organisers will arrange for timers to be at the start and finish point of each stage of the race. In exceptional circumstances if this is not possible then the crew must record their own time of arrival and exact coordinates. This should be written down as well as a record being taken as a photograph of the GPS position and watch showing time.
  6. Crews will change cutters after each of the first 3 Stages, according to instructions from the organisers.

Start

  1. The planned start date is 2nd May 2008.
  2. All crews start the Race at the same time from the start line at Westminster. The start line will be kept open for half an hour after official start time to allow for any stragglers. The Organisers will define the Start line at Westminster and for each stage.
  3. The Race starts on a prearranged signal such as the blowing of a foghorn.
  4. The start line will be on the upstream side of Westminster Bridge, London.

Finish

  1. The finish line will be the downstream side of Pont d'lena, Paris. The Organisers will define the Finish line at Pont d'lena and for each stage.

Outside Assistance

  1. If a crew receives outside assistance other than from their previously specified support team they will be disqualified from the Race but at the organiser's discretion they may be allowed to complete the course.

Safety

  1. Crews must carry the specified safety equipment at all times.
  2. From Dover to Ampreville, the skipper of the individual support vessel assigned to each cutter, is responsible for the safety of his vessel and the cutter and his instructions must be followed at all times.
  3. Crews are required to present their "land support" plans for approval by the organisers not less than one month prior to Race Start. Crews risk not being permitted to start if these plans are not of sufficient quality to satisfy a risk assessment.

Points /Scoring System

  1. Points will be awarded for each stage with the first 3 stages carrying extra points.
  2. There will be a winning crew for each stage and also an overall winner i.e. the crew with the cumulative highest points score.
  3. Race positions will be posted on the web site at the completion of each stage.

Organisers

  1. These rules are subject to change at the sole discretion of the organisers, taking into consideration weather and safety which will be the primary consideration.
  2. Although every competitor is responsible for his or her participation in the Race including whether to start or continue in the event, the organisers reserve the right, after consultation to stop a competitor from starting or continuing the race.
  3. The organisers' decision on all matters is final.

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