How is a race started, and when can a rolling start be used?

The race is started by the umpire dropping a red flag, once the crews are ready and the aligner has said they are aligned. It is each crew's job to keep its boat straight in its lane.

Standard start (Appendix E.3 and E.4)

1. The umpire checks that the aligner and the finish judge are ready, sits behind the crews in the centre of the course, and holds the red flag out at an angle that the crews and finish judge can see (not yet above the head).
2. The aligner aligns the crews and raises the white flag: "HOLD IT ALL CREWS".
3. The umpire does a final check that the crews are straight, calls "ATTENTION" and raises the red flag above their head.
4. After a pause of 1 to 5 seconds, the umpire drops the red flag quickly to the side and calls "GO", and makes sure the start is passed by radio to the finish judge.

Rolling start (E.5)

• May be used in windy or rough conditions. The decision must be told to the crews and the President of the Jury.
• Crews line up in their lanes about 100 m above the start line. The umpire holds the red flag at waist height and tells them to stay level as they row down.
• The aligner keeps them level and, as they near the line, raises the white flag and calls "PREPARE TO RACE".
• The umpire calls "ATTENTION" with the red flag raised, then immediately "GO" while dropping it.

The same starting procedure must be used for every race in an event.