COMPETITION ROWING

The Boats

Boats or shells were traditionally made from wood, but are now mostly fabricated from carbon fibre and plastic (eg. kevlar). They are 59.7 - 62.2cm wide while lengths are shown in the diagrams below. A small fin is fitted at the bottom for stability. A rudder is attached to the fin or the stern (except on sculling boats). A white ball is attached to the bow (safety measure, photo-finish). A washboard prevents waves from splashing water aboard. Seats are fitted with wheels which slide on runners or tracks.

Boat Classes

There are eight boat classes, of which five are for sweep-oared rowing in which the rower uses one oar with both hands, and three are for sculling in which two oars are used, one in each hand. Some classes carry a cox who either sits in the stern or lies in the bow to steer the boat.

Sweep Boats
	2-	Pair 2 rowers Average length: Minimum weight:	10.4 m 27 kg	(34 ft) (59 lbs)
	2+	Coxed pair 2 rowers with cox Average length: Minimum weight:	10.4 m 32 kg	(34 ft) (70 lbs)
	4-	Four 4 rowers Average length: Minimum weight:	13.4 m 50 kg	(44 ft) (112 lbs)
	8+	Eight 8 rowers with cox Average length: Minimum weight:	19.9 m 96 kg	(62 ft) (221 lbs)
Scull Boats
	1x	Single 1 rower Average length: Minimum weight:	8.2 m 14 kg	(27 ft) (30.8 lbs)
	2x	Double scull 2 rowers Average length: Minimum weight:	10.4 m 27 kg	(34 ft) (59 lbs)
	4x	Quadruple scull 4 rowers Average length: Minimum weight:	13.4 m 52 kg	(44 ft) (114 lbs)

The Oars

Oars are hollow to reduce weight, attached to the boat by adjustable outriggers. The size and shape of oars is unrestricted, the average length of a sweep oar being 3.81m (12 feet 6 inches) and of a scull being 2.98 m (9 feet 9 inches).

The Regatta

Competition format

Note: The rounds to which rowers advance after each race depends on FISA’s progression system defined according to the numbers of boats entered in each event.

Race distance

Standard 2,000 m

Lanes

There are normally eight buoyed lanes, of which six are used at one time for racing. Each has a width of 13.5m. The best crews in semifinals and finals normally compete in middle lanes 3 and 4.
The lane position of crews in the heats is determined by a draw before the beginning of racing. A Seeding Panel determines the top crews in advance, so that when the final draw is made, these do not compete against each other in the same heat. Seeded crews usually race in middle lanes 3 and 4.
 

Tie-Break Rules and Procedures

If there is a dead-heat between crews in a heat, repechages or semifinal and if only one of the crews goes on to the next round, there must be a re-row between the crews involved. If there is a dead-heat between crews in a final and the tied placing is for a medal position, additional medals will be awarded.

Crew changes

Up to half of the rowers in all crews entered may be substituted. The member federations must communicate the changes in writing to FISA’s Control Commission at least one hour before the first heat of the event. A crew which has already raced in the heat of its event may not make changes in the crew, except in the case of a serious illness or accident. A single sculler who entered and falls ill or is injured in an accident may be replaced before his/her heat. No substitution may be made once he/she has completed his/her heat.

Penalties / Disqualification Rules

The Board of the Jury may impose the following penalties on rowers, coxswains or persons accompanying them: reprimand, yellow card (applying to the next round in which the crew is concerned), exclusion (from all the rounds of the event in question), disqualification (from all events in the regatta) or any other appropriate measure in order to assure the fairness of the competition.

Exclusion

A crew arriving after the start time or causing two false starts will be excluded. Crews interfering with opponents will be excluded by the umpire.

Note: The complete Rules of Racing are available in FISA’s Rule Book. To consult or download them, please click here.