Umpire's Guide to Rowing Canada Regatta Rules of Racing 2026

The Race Umpire must have all the equipment the Rules of Racing require for the safe conduct of the regatta. In particular: a red flag, a white flag, a proper megaphone, both a Yellow Card and a Red Card, and a horn or audible device. The Race Umpire must also make sure their boat carries the prescribed Transport Canada safety equipment (rule 11.16.3). Umpires must also be able to time races, and because coaching with electronic, mechanical or other technical devices is not allowed during a race, the Race Umpire should regularly check the area next to the course, and the crews, for such equipment (rule 11.16.9).

• Start procedure (rule 10.3): crews attach to their start platforms at least two minutes before the start. The Starter announces "Two minutes", checks the Race Umpire and Judge at the Start are ready, calls the roll in lane order, checks the Judge at the Start still shows crews aligned, says "Attention", raises the Start Flag, pauses clearly and variably, then drops the flag and says "Go". The Judge at the Start alone decides whether boats are correctly aligned and whether there was a false start (rule 10.2).
• False start: the Starter stops the race with an audible device and the waving red flag, and awards a Yellow Card to the crew the Judge at the Start names (rule 10.7).
• Your position (rule 11.16.4): stand upright in the boat if it is large and stable enough to do so safely. Your launch should be immediately beside the Judge at the Start or behind the crews, in the centre of the course. If the start is faulty for any reason, stop the race with an audible device and the waving red flag. As soon as the race starts, follow the competitors in the centre of the course or the lanes occupied.
• On the way to the start, inspect the course installations and satisfy yourself there are no obstacles. Report any defect to the Chief Umpire and inform affected crews (rule 11.16.2).

• Warn: if practical, raise the white flag, call the crew at fault by name and show the required change of direction by lowering the flag to that side. In principle you may not steer a crew with verbal directions unless there is an obstruction in its lane (rule 10.10.1), and the Race Umpire shall not give steering instructions to crews (rule 11.15).
• Para Rowing: when lowering the flag to one side, add the word "red" for the port side and "green" for the starboard side.
• Stop a crew: to ensure safety or prevent damage to boats and equipment, raise the white flag, name the crew and give the command "Stop" (rule 10.10.2).
• Stop the race: raise and wave the red flag and sound an audible signal (rule 10.10.5).
• Make sure crews you want to address can hear you. If you must overtake crews, avoid affecting them more than necessary with your launch's wash and advise the crews being overtaken that there may be wash (rule 11.16.5).

• A crew causes interference if its oars, sculls or boat encroach into an opponent's lane and cause a disadvantage by contact, wash or other distraction. The Race Umpire alone decides whether a crew is in its lane or interfering (rule 10.10).
• If a crew caused interference and, in your opinion, affected the finishing position of the other crew, you may exclude it. After a collision of boats or oars you may exclude the crew causing it even without a prior warning.
• You may never alter a placing.
• The first priority is to restore the disadvantaged crew's chances of winning; imposing penalties is secondary (rule 10.10.4). If its chance of winning is lost, take the most appropriate course the Rules provide, for example stop the race, impose the penalty and order a re-row, or let the race continue and announce your decision afterwards. You may not simply penalize the crew at fault while the affected crew has no chance restored.
• You must ensure no crew gains an advantage or suffers a disadvantage from opponents or outside interference, and you impose appropriate penalties on crews at fault (rule 11.15).

The Race Umpire ensures the proper conduct of the race and the safety of rowers (rule 11.15). If necessary, the Race Umpire may:

• stop the race (red flag waved and an audible signal, rule 10.10.5), impose any necessary penalties, and order the race re-rowed from the start, either immediately or later. For a later re-row, the Race Umpire and Starter decide the new start time in consultation with the Chief Umpire, and inform the crews concerned;
• let the race continue and exclude crews after it has finished;
• confine a re-row to the crews the Race Umpire designates, considering the crews' relative placings and any relevant progressions;
• decline to order a re-row if the effect of the impediment is immaterial to the order of finish or the progression of crews.

If a crew has been materially impeded, its chance of winning or progressing must be fully restored. Once the race has started, the Starter and the Judge at the Start are subordinate to the Race Umpire (rule 11.16).

• Do not cross the finish line until all competing boats have crossed, unless a rescue is required (rule 10.12).
• Always check that no crew is objecting (and check with a secondary Race Umpire if there is one; the primary Race Umpire decides). If the race was in order, show the white flag to the crews, then to a Judge at the Finish, and make sure the Judge acknowledges before you leave the finish area.
• If you deem the race unfair or a crew objects (a crew member raises an arm in the finish area), raise the red flag. Speak to the affected crews to understand the objection, then inform the crews and the Judges at the Finish of your decision and record the time it was conveyed. Judges at the Finish must not announce the official result meanwhile.
• You may allow the objection, not allow it, or seek further information (for example consulting other Race Umpires or the Chief Umpire) (rule 10.13).
• If you do not allow the objection, ask the objecting and affected crews whether any intend to protest, and if so notify the Chief Judge of the Finish and the Chief Umpire and keep the red flag up. If no crew intends to protest, still hold up the red flag and tell the Judges and Chief Umpire. The Chief Umpire decides whether to announce or delay the results.

• A protest must be made in writing to the Chief Umpire no later than one hour after the Race Umpire communicated the ruling on the objection (or, for disputing published results, one hour after publication). It must come with a deposit of $150.00 CAD (or equivalent acceptable to the Organizing Committee), refunded if the protest is allowed (rule 10.14).
• Who may protest: a crew that raised an objection, a crew whose objection was rejected, crews affected by an accepted objection, and a crew disputing published results (provided the matter should not have been raised as an objection).
• When you give a decision on an objection, tell the crew they have a right to protest, tell them the time, and tell them they must protest within one hour in writing to the Chief Umpire with the deposit (rule 10.13).
• Board of the Jury (rule 11.9): the Chief Umpire (or designate) as chair plus two other Jury members designated before racing starts. A member directly involved in the dispute cannot sit and is replaced by a substitute. It decides before the next round of the event and no later than two hours after the last race of the day. A final's victory ceremony is generally postponed until the decision.
• The Board may reject the protest or uphold it and give relief: reprimand, Yellow Card, exclusion, disqualification, relegation, or a re-row (rule 10.16).

Under rule 10.17 the Jury imposes appropriate penalties for any breach of the rules:

• Reprimand: by a Jury member to a rower, crew or coach for a minor violation (for example going to or from the wrong dock in the first race, an improper uniform, coaching, or unsporting behaviour).
• Yellow Card (warning): tell the person the nature of the infraction, then say "name of crew/club/coach, offense, Yellow Card", showing the paper card if you have one. A Yellow Card after a race applies to the crew's next round. Two Yellow Cards applying to the same race give an automatic Red Card and exclusion from the event. A coach's Yellow Card is valid for the regatta, and a second means a Red Card and immediate exclusion of the coach from the regatta site for the rest of the regatta.
• Red Card: excludes the crew from all rounds of the event, and may be issued without two Yellow Cards first. Announce it as "name of crew/club/coach, offense, Red Card". Crews that do not meet the requirements of their event (age, weight and so on) are excluded.
• Disqualification: removes a crew or rower from all events in the regatta. The Chief Umpire or Board of the Jury may retroactively strike out results.
• Relegation: placed last in the race, only where the rules provide for it.

• The safety of rowers must be the prime concern of the Jury at all times (rule 11.1). The Race Umpire takes every care to ensure competitor safety and tries to prevent damage to boats and equipment (rule 11.16.7).
• Someone in the water or a capsize: the Race Umpire must be sure the on-water rescue service is aware and attending, or that another Race Umpire's launch can intervene. If not, the Race Umpire takes any necessary safety measures. If only one Race Umpire's boat is following the race and no other is nearby to take over, the Race Umpire must stop the race and attend to the participant (rules 8.5 and 11.16.7).
• Adverse weather: in squalls or other deterioration, the Race Umpire decides whether the race may be started, continue or be stopped. Competitor safety is more important than any other provision of the Rules of Racing (rule 11.16.8).
• The Chief Umpire may declare the course closed if conditions are unsafe (rule 8.1).
• Race Umpires check that boat drivers in their launches attach the engine kill switch, if equipped, to their clothing (rule 8.4).

Code of conduct (rule 11.5). An Umpire:

• maintains an obliging and professional manner toward regatta organizers and participants;
• handles all infractions in a manner that is firm, consistent and fair;
• abides by all RCA Policies;
• follows the directions of the Chief Umpire and keeps the Chief Umpire apprised of developments so issues can be solved quickly;
• is accessible to participants during all phases of the regatta.

Attire (rule 11.10). Jury members should wear the prescribed RCA uniform: a navy-blue blazer, light blue dress shirt or light blue polo shirt with RCA logo, RCA tie or scarf, and khaki or dark blue or black trousers, shorts, skirt or skort. Hats and rain or cold-weather outerwear should be dark blue. The Chief Umpire decides on dress, taking weather into account. Assistant and Associate Umpires wear a light blue shirt without an RCA logo.