When can I warn, steer or stop a crew during a race, and what flags and commands do I use?
Rule- South Africa
- Rowing South Africa
- RowSA Rules of Racing 2020
- Regattas
- Umpires
- All ages
- 2020/21
- Officials
Steering is the crew's responsibility. The umpire must not give steering instructions except to avoid accidents or stop a crew being impeded by an opponent. In principle the umpire doesn't steer a crew unless there is an obstruction in its lane. Where the course isn't fully buoyed, the umpire judges whether a crew's course is correct.
Signals and commands (Appendix E.8):
| Situation | Signal | Command |
|---|---|---|
| Crew about to interfere or leave its lane | Raise the white flag, call the crew, lower the flag to the side it should move to | (crew's name) |
| Two crews to separate | White flag held vertically | Both crews' names, then "KEEP APART" |
| Danger from an obstacle | Steer the crews round it, or hold the white flag up | "STOP ROWING" (may add "OBSTACLE") |
| Danger from another crew's poor steering | White flag up, aimed at the offending crew | "STOP ROWING" |
| To get a crew's attention or stop it | Raise the white flag | "STOP" |
| Restart a stopped crew | White flag raised vertically, then dropped straight forward | Crew's name, then "CONTINUE ROWING" |
Launch position: once the race starts, follow in the centre of the course. Position the launch so crews can hear you, and keep your wash off them when overtaking.
Added 22 Oct 2026