What do novice and composite crews mean, and who can enter a regatta?

Who can enter: to take part in an RCA sanctioned regatta, every rower and coxswain must be a registered member in good standing of an RCA rowing club (which is itself in good standing with its provincial or territorial association), and must compete for that club or for their province or territory. A rower may compete for their club and/or university and/or province and/or school at the same regatta where the regatta allows it, but not for two different clubs at the same regatta.

Novice: novice competitors are those in their first year of racing, unless the Regatta Package defines it differently.

Composite: where the Organizing Committee allows it in the Regatta Package, a composite crew has members from more than one club.

Source: RCA Rules of Racing, January 2026, sections 2.1 and 2.3.