What is the starting procedure, including the Quick Start?

Normal start (By-Law to Rule 76):

1. Crews attach to their start pontoons at least two minutes before the start time. The Starter announces "Two Minutes", which puts crews formally under Starter's orders and means they must be ready to race within two minutes.
2. Where an Alignment Control Mechanism is used, the Starter announces "Raising Start System" once all crews are attached.
3. The Starter checks the Umpire and the Judge at the Start are ready, and the boats are aligned, then makes a roll-call of the crews in lane order. From then on each crew is responsible for being straight and ready by the end of the roll-call.
4. The Starter finishes the roll-call without regard to any crew saying it is not ready, checks the Judge at the Start still shows correct alignment, and says "Attention".
5. The Starter shows the red flag (or changes the traffic lights to red).
6. After a clear pause, which is variable from race to race, the Starter drops the red flag quickly to one side and says "GO!", or presses the button that turns the light green, sounds the signal, starts timing and releases any alignment mechanism.

Quick Start: for adverse weather or another valid reason, after "Two Minutes" the Starter tells the crews a Quick Start will be used instead of the roll-call, then says "All Crews", pauses, and says "Attention", and continues as above.

Other points:

• The first 100 metres of the course is the start zone. Crews may enter it if the Starter permits, but not the racing lanes until the previous race's crews have left the zone and the Starter has given the crew a lane (Rule 75).
• The Starter may start the race without reference to absentees and may award a Yellow Card to a crew arriving late.
• If the procedure is interrupted, the Starter may begin again from the roll-call.