Regatta Rules & Race Information
1. The Minneapolis Sprints is a US Rowing Registered Regatta and shall be run in accordance with US Rowing’s Rules of Rowing.
2. There will be six racing lanes. Depending on entries, a seventh lane may be added in some events. If needed, this lane will be added on the shore side (east side) of buoy lane 6.
3. All boats must be at the start 5 minutes prior to the start of the race. Events will start approximately 12 minutes apart.
4. All boats must check in with dockmaster and launch with correct bow markers at least 15 minutes prior to the official start time. Clubs are expected to provide their own bow markers. Launch area is a wet dock. Proceed with caution.
5. Traffic pattern: all boats must launch facing southwest, and row down to the start on the west side of the course and buoys. The warmup area traffic pattern is counter-clockwise. Refer to the Minneapolis Sprints course map (also available at regatta headquarters on race day).
6. There will be four categories of races: Junior, Open, Master and one Novice event.
7. Junior: A Junior is a competitor who in the current calendar year does not attain the age of 19, or who is and has been continuously enrolled in secondary school as a full time student seeking a diploma. A competitor thus ceases to be a Junior after December 31 of the year of his or her 18th birthday, or of the year in which he or she completes the 12th grade of secondary school, having been a full time student, whichever is later.
8. The Novice Single event will be open to any competitor who has not previously raced a single.
9. Masters handicapping will be used per US Rowing guidelines. Masters rowers MUST provide date of birth at the time the entry is submitted in order to allow for calculation of handicaps. Master: A Master is a competitor who has attained or will attain the age of 21 during the current calendar year. A competitor’s age is determined as of December 31 of the current calendar year, rounded down to the nearest whole number. A competitor thus becomes a Master on January 1 of the year of his or her 21st birthday. A Masters crew shall be comprised exclusively of Masters rowers, but the coxswain need not be a Master.
10. Bow balls and foot stretcher tie-downs are MANDATORY. Boats without this equipment will NOT be permitted to launch.
11. No swimming is permitted in the launch area. Swim in designated areas only.
