Hurley Regatta Race Rules and Safety Requirements

By entering or taking part in a race, all participants agree to follow these rules and any additional safety instructions given by the Hurley Regatta Committee, Race Officials, Safety Team or Race Marshals.

The safety of participants, officials, spectators and other river users must take priority at all times.

General Race Rules

1. Race starting stations will be located along the riverbank.

2. Competitors must report to the correct starting station and use the boat or craft allocated to them, as directed by the Race Marshals.

3. Competitors must arrive at the starting area in sufficient time to receive instructions and prepare for their race. Late competitors may not be permitted to take part.

4. All participants must listen to and follow the instructions of the Race Committee, Race Officials, Safety Team and Race Marshals.

5. A race may only begin when instructed by the appointed Race Official. Any team starting before the official signal may be required to restart or may be disqualified.

6. Teams must remain within the designated racecourse and must not deliberately obstruct, collide with or endanger another craft, participant, official, spectator or river user.

7. Competitors must behave responsibly and demonstrate good sportsmanship throughout the event.

8. Teams must finish with all crew members on board their craft unless a crew member has entered the water because of an incident or safety concern.

9. If a participant enters the water, the remaining crew must follow the instructions of the Safety Team and Race Marshals. The safety of the participant must take priority over completing the race.

10. All boats, craft, paddles, buoyancy aids, helmets and other equipment supplied by the Regatta must be returned promptly to the designated collection point after each race.

11. Competitors must not deliberately damage, misuse or alter any boat, craft or safety equipment provided by the Regatta.

12. The Race Committee may refuse entry, prevent a participant from starting, stop a race, require a participant to leave the water or disqualify a team where it considers this necessary for safety, fairness or the proper running of the event.

Control of Craft, Alcohol and Drugs

1. Every participant must remain capable of safely controlling themselves and their craft while on or near the water.

2. Anyone steering, paddling, propelling or otherwise controlling a boat, raft or other craft must remain alert, responsible and in proper control at all times.

3. Participants must not take part while impaired by alcohol, illegal drugs, misused medication or any other substance that may affect their judgement, coordination, reaction time or ability to swim or control a craft safely.

4. Participants must not consume alcohol or take any impairing substance immediately before or during a race.

5. Anyone taking prescription or non-prescription medication that may cause drowsiness, dizziness, impaired coordination or reduced alertness must consider whether they are fit to participate and must not take part if their ability may be affected.

6. The Race Committee, Race Officials, Safety Team and Race Marshals may refuse participation or remove a person from the water where they reasonably believe that the person is impaired, behaving unsafely or unable to remain in proper control.

7. The decision of the Race Committee or appointed Safety Officer on matters of fitness to participate and immediate water safety will be final.

Footwear and Clothing

1. Hard, heavy or unsuitable footwear must not be worn while competing. This includes footwear that could injure another participant, become hazardous in the water or make it difficult to swim.

2. Competitors should wear secure, lightweight footwear suitable for use in and around water.

3. Loose clothing, jewellery or other items that could become caught in a boat, raft, paddle or other equipment should not be worn.

Buoyancy Aids

1. Competitors who own a suitable buoyancy aid are encouraged to bring it with them.

2. Hurley Regatta will provide buoyancy aids for participants who do not have their own, subject to availability and suitable sizing.

3. All buoyancy aids must comply with ISO 12402-5, Level 50, or an equivalent recognised national standard. They must be in good condition and suitable for the participant and activity.

4. Where a buoyancy aid is required for a particular race, it must be correctly fitted and worn throughout the race and while entering or leaving the water.

5. Race Marshals may require any participant to wear a buoyancy aid where they consider it necessary for safety, regardless of whether the rules for that particular race would otherwise require one.

6. A participant who refuses to wear required safety equipment will not be permitted to take part.

Swimming Ability

1. All entrants must have a moderate level of swimming ability.

2. Participants must be able to swim at least 50 metres and tread water comfortably for up to five minutes while awaiting assistance.

3. Most races require buoyancy aids to be worn. Requirements may vary depending on the type of race, craft and conditions on the day.

4. Anyone who is uncertain about their swimming ability must wear a buoyancy aid and inform a Race Marshal before entering the water.

5. Participants must not enter a race if they have a medical condition, injury or other limitation that would make participation unsafe. Where there is any doubt, the participant should seek appropriate medical advice before taking part.

Raft Race

1. Approved safety helmets must be worn by every participant taking part in the raft race.

2. Hurley Regatta will provide helmets meeting the CE EN 1385 watersports safety standard, or an equivalent recognised standard, for participants who do not have their own suitable helmet.

3. Helmets must be correctly fitted, securely fastened and worn throughout the race.

4. Rafts may be inspected before entering the water. The Race Committee or Safety Team may refuse any raft that appears unstable, poorly constructed, excessively heavy, contains sharp or dangerous parts, or otherwise presents an unacceptable risk.

5. Rafts must not contain exposed nails, screws, sharp edges, glass, unprotected metalwork or other materials likely to cause injury.

6. Rafts must not be deliberately used to ram, strike, obstruct or overturn another raft.

7. Participants must not use paddles, poles or any part of the raft to deliberately strike another participant.

Equipment Failure and “Bad Luck”

1. Any failure of a boat, raft, paddle or other equipment after the official start will normally be treated as “bad luck” and will not automatically result in a restart.

2. A restart may be permitted where the Race Committee determines that the problem was caused by an error in the starting procedure, unsafe equipment supplied by the Regatta or another exceptional circumstance.

3. The decision of the Race Committee regarding restarts, results and disqualifications will be final.

4. Competitors are expected to accept race outcomes in the spirit of good sportsmanship, whether they win or lose.

Weather, River Conditions and Race Schedule

1. The Race Committee reserves the right to alter the programme, race format, course, starting arrangements or schedule at short notice.

2. Races may be delayed, shortened, relocated, amended or cancelled because of weather, river conditions, safety concerns, equipment availability, emergency service requirements or circumstances beyond the Committee’s control.

3. The Race Committee may introduce additional safety requirements on the day, including compulsory buoyancy aids, helmets, reduced crew numbers or changes to the racecourse.

4. Participants must leave the water immediately if instructed to do so by a Race Official, Safety Team member or Race Marshal.

5. No participant has an automatic right to take part where the Race Committee considers that conditions, equipment, behaviour or individual fitness make participation unsafe.

Acceptance of the Rules

1. Entry into a race confirms that each participant has read, understood and agreed to follow these rules.

2. Parents or responsible adults entering a child or young person into a race must ensure that the participant understands the relevant rules and is capable of taking part safely.

3. Failure to comply with these rules or with an instruction from a Race Official, Safety Team member or Race Marshal may result in refusal of entry, removal from the water or disqualification.