Getting Ready for Go

1
Getting Ready for Go!

• First race of the season, first race of the
  regatta, first race in 9 or so months !!!!

2
Referee on the Water (ROTW)

• ..so, youre in a launch..
• ..so, how good is your driver?....
• ..and then, the race is getting ready to
  start..
• What do you know?
• What are you doing?
• Why?

3
Launch Team Driver and Referee

• Key topics to review with your driver at the
  beginning of your relationship
• Hand Signals - how do you communicate
• Launch position at Start - venue specific
• Race Position - how to change during the race
• Return to Start procedures venue specific

4
ROTW - What do you know?

• What race is it?
• Whats at stake? What is the progression?
• Whos in what lane?
• Who are in your lanes? The rest of the field
• Do you see another referee?
• How proficient is your driver?
• Do you have a good feel for the entire
  competitive situation?
• What might go wrong? Where is the risk?

5

• ROTW At The Start
• Preparing for the race

• Be with the crews in the start area a few minutes
  early
• Monitor the traffic pattern around and on the
  course
• Help position the crews into the platform or
  stakeboats, if needed and ONLY if
  requested by Starter
• Be patient!
• Use proper instructions and tone of voice
• Identify each crew in the race
• Double-check the progression for the upcoming
  race
• Watch the crews, listen to coxswain commands,
  observe the crews response
• Check your equipment (watch, megaphone, flags,
  lanyard)
• Check for the other referee

6
ROTW At The StartTwo minutes to go

• Stand up in the launch
• Stopwatch, flags, megaphone, launch, and driver
  all ready
• Watch crews and hands (bow seat and/or cox)

7
ROTW - What are you doing?

• Why are you standing up?
• Informs the Starter and other officials that
  youre taking the race
• Is your watch clear?
• Are your flags and megaphone handy?
• Is the red flag accessible but relatively hidden?
• Do the crews need help?
• Are you holding on? (see Launch team..driver)

Thought a picture might work here, but cannot
find a good one. If you cannot either then just
expand out the words
8
ROTW At The StartAttention, Go! -- The first 100
meters

• The clock is running
• Hand up at start or crew did not start?
• Watching the Judge-at-Start False start (Red
  Flag sound)
• Collisions or major interference
• Rower in the water or overturned boat?

9
Breakage(rules 2-311 and 2-407(d))

• If a boat stops rowing within 100 meters of the
  start, STOP THE RACE, STOP THE RACE, STOP THE
  RACE!
• First 100 meters (AKA the breakage zone) are
• Marked with flags at the side of the course or
• Change in buoy colors or
• Defined as the first 20 seconds of the race
• Approach the boat to determine if they have
  breakage
• What does not constitute breakage?
• Failure of the Cox-box or other rowing aids
• Breakage due to crabs or jumped slides
• Equipment failure due to poor maintenance

10
Breakage(rules 2-311, 2-406, 2-405)

• Check boat for broken equipment
• Cautiously approach the shell, may even need to
  use the paddle in the launch, and if necessary,
  try to calm the rowers
• Determine the actual equipment issue and time to
  affect repairs
• Inform Starter ASAP, if outside assistance is
  required
• The affected crew may restart with no penalty if
  there was legitimate breakage
• The crew may be penalized (e.g. warning) if they
  stopped with no breakage
• Inform the Starter ASAP of your findings and
  decision WRT penalties

11
Why are we doing this - Primary Duties of the
Referee (rules 2-403, 2-404)

• Maintain the safety and fairness of the race
• Safety always
• Fairness maintain and protect equal chances
  for all crews in the race
• May need to Flag or Warn crews to
• Prevent interference
• Prevent a crew from gaining an unfair advantage
• Prevent an accident
• Do not steer the crews !!
• Proper steering is part of the skill of racing
• Mentally document a factual record of the race

12
Getting Ready for Go!

• Any Questions????