Liberty Challenge Race Rules

| June 8, 2014 | 0 Comments

The following rules are intended to supplement the ECORA race rules, however where conflict exists, the following will govern as pertains to the Hawaiian Airlines Liberty Challenge.

Classifications/Divisions

A competitor’s age for a racing year is determined by their age as at 31st of December on the previous year.

Age Divisions

Division Paddler’s Age

  • Keiki: 17 yrs and under
  • Open: 18 yrs and above
  • Masters: 40 yrs and above

Race Requirements

  • In all canoes, a competitor will sit on a seat. Kneeling is not permitted.
  • Moving off the seat in a canoe, while turning a buoy or marker, is permitted.
  • There will be no more competitors in a canoe than the number of seats in that canoe.
  • A canoe must finish an event with all seats in a canoe occupied by registered team members, i.e. OC6 canoes must finish with 6 paddlers.
  • A canoe will follow the instructions as provided by the Race Director and safety boats from time to time.

Race Starts

  • The start line is an imaginary east/west line between two buoys set north of Pier 26 and adjacent to Laight Street.
  • Canoes must be within the staging area no later than five minutes before the start.
  • Canoes are allowed to leave the staging area and line up for the start after the 2 minute warning.
  • Canoes must be north of the start line at the time of the race start.
  • Starting signals will be given regardless of absentees, overturned canoes or broken paddles.

Passing Right-of-Way

  • Where two canoes are not overlapped (meaning the stern of the leading boat is completely clear of the bow of the following boat) the leading boat has right of way and the following boat must avoid contact.
  • Where two canoes are overlapped, both boats must offer reasonable clearance for the other and neither canoe may turn into the path of the other boat.
  • There should be no deliberate ramming of canoes by either the lead or passing canoe.

Turns

  • Canoes must travel in a clockwise direction around all buoys.
  • Canoes must clear the buoy without the canoe touching the mark.
  • Where canoes are clear of one another and no overlap exists, the leading canoe has right-of-way and the following canoe must make all efforts to keep clear and avoid collision.
  • Where an overlap between boats occurs within 90 feet of the buoy, the canoe with the inside line to the mark has right of way and the outside canoe must provide room at the mark for the inside boat to turn safely.
  • If the overlap is broken and both boats clear each other inside of 90 feet, the overlap rule requiring room at the mark will continue to apply.
  • Where there is genuine uncertainty between racers and officials regarding the existence of an overlap at the 90 foot zone, the presumption will be that an overlap did exist.
  • Any intentional collision in or around the turn could be cause for disqualification or time penalty.

Obstructions (Pierheads, etc.)

  • Where canoes are clear of one another and no overlap exists, the leading canoe has right-of-way and the following canoe must make all efforts to keep clear and avoid collision.
  • Where an overlap between boats occurs within 90 feet of the obstruction, the canoe with the inside line to the obstruction has right of way and the outside canoe must provide room for the inside boat to pass the obstruction safely.
  • If the overlap is broken and both boats clear each other inside of 90 feet, the overlap rule requiring room at the mark will continue to apply.
  • Where there is genuine uncertainty between racers and officials regarding the existence of an overlap at the 90 foot zone, the presumption will be that an overlap did exist.
  • Any intentional collision in or around the turn could be cause for disqualification or time penalty.

Capsized (Hulied) Canoes

  • Competing boats must keep a safe distance from all hulied canoes and related paddlers in the water.
  • Any competing canoe that does not keep a safe distance away when passing a hulied canoe may be disqualified.

Cutoff Time

  • All teams must reach the Hyatt Regency pier in Jersey City before two (2) hours after the race start.
  • Any team reaching the Hyatt Regency Jersey City at two (2) hours or thereafter will be automatically disqualified and must return directly to Pier 26 without completing the remaining portion of the race course.

Finish

  • The finish line is an imaginary line between 2 fixed or anchored markers.
  • The finish of a race is when the bow of the canoe passes the finish line between the finish buoys/flags

Disqualifications

  • A team or competitor must be notified as soon as possible after the commencement or completion of the event of any disqualification.
  • Only the Race Director or Assistant Race Director may disqualify a team after consultation with the appropriate officials. The disqualified team will be given the reason(s) for disqualification at the time of notification by the Race Director /Assistant Race Director

Protest

  • Protests must be lodged with the Race Director no later than 15 minutes after the completion of the heat in which the incident took place. The Race director will issue a protest form and designated time frame for the form to be completed.
  • A protest fee of $50.00 will be delivered to the Race Director with the protest form, within the designated time frame. If the protest is upheld the fee will be refunded in full. If the protest is dismissed, the fee will be forfeited.
  • On receipt of a protest the Race Director will immediately notify all parties involved in the protest.
  • The Race Director will deliver the protest to the Protest Committee for deliberation.
  • The Protest Committee will hear, investigate, and rule on all protests and any other matter brought before it by the Race Director.
  • Any ruling made by the Protest Committee will be final

Course Modification/Cancellation of Event

  • In the event of the issuing of a severe weather warning, terror threat, or public safety concern by applicable authorities, the race course may be altered or shortened, and individual heats or the entire regatta may be cancelled.

Canoe Safety Equipment

  • All canoes must carry six (6) USCG approved PFDs.
  • A minimum of two (2) buckets or similar pieces of equipment to be used to bail out a canoe.
  • Spray skirts are encouraged but not required, unless expressly stated by the Race Director.
  • If a decision is made that spray skirts are to be fitted before racing all teams must fit covers or will not be permitted to compete.

Environmental Requirements

  • Crews may not dispose of any waste, including food wrappers or water bottles, in the harbor or adjacent waterways.
  • Crews are responsible for removing all waste from the canoe after the race and disposing of it properly.
  • Any crew seen littering during the race may have time added to their overall race results or be subject to disqualification.

Protest Committee

  • A quorum of a Protest Committee will be not less than 3 persons who will not be members of any club involved in the protest (Race Director excluded)

Suggested Equipment on Safety Boats

  • A suitable tow rope of 25 meters minimum length.
  • Communication equipment capable of transmitting to and receiving messages from the Race Director or Local Authorities.
  • All equipment required by local Marine Safety Authorities.
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