What happens at a regatta in bad weather or unsafe water conditions?

Question

Accepted Answer

At Rowing Australia events, when unfair or unrowable conditions are present or predicted, the Fairness Committee can change how racing is run. Its options include:

using the lanes that offer the most equal conditions
recommending that the organising committee change the timetable
suspending racing when weather is, or is about to become, unfair, unrowable or unsafe, and recommending alternative times
re-seeding lanes from the previous round, or running time trials
starting earlier, resuming later when conditions improve, or omitting a round (for example semi-finals) if bad conditions have stopped racing for a long time

Separately, any member of the Jury can stop a crew going on the water if they consider it a danger to itself or other crews. If there is a dispute, the President of the Jury decides. In adverse weather, coxswains may race in extra clothing in their club or school colours for health reasons.

Source: Rowing Australia Rules of Racing (2025 Edition, updated January 2026), Rules 52.9, 63.8 and 72.