What do I need to know about the start, the roll-call and false starts?
Rule- Australia
- Rowing Australia
- Rules of Racing
- Coxswains
- 2026
- Rowers
- Be attached early: crews must be attached to their start pontoons at least two minutes before the designated start time. The Starter then announces "Two Minutes", which means the crew is formally under Starter's orders and must be ready to race within two minutes.
- Start zone: the first 100 m of the course. A crew may enter if the Starter permits, but not the racing lanes until all crews from the preceding race have left the zone and the Starter has given the crew a lane.
- Roll-call: the Starter calls each crew in lane order. Once it begins, each crew must make sure its boat is straight and ready to race by the end. The Starter carries on regardless of any crew indicating it is not ready or not straight.
- Quick Start: in adverse weather or for another valid reason, the Starter may say "All Crews" instead of a roll-call.
- Signals: "Attention", then the red flag (or red light), then after a clear pause of varying length, the flag drops with "GO!" (or the light turns green with an audible signal).
- False start: if the boat crosses the start line after the red flag or red light is shown and before the start command, with rowers beginning to row, the crew gets a Yellow Card. Only the crew the Judge at the Start decides caused it is sanctioned.
- Two Yellow Cards: two Yellow Cards applying to the same race (including two false starts) mean a Red Card and exclusion from the event.
- Late arrival: the Starter may start the race without reference to absentees, and may give a Yellow Card to a crew arriving late.
- Objection: a crew given a Yellow Card at the start may object to the Umpire or Starter at the time.
Added 24 Oct 2026