2025 Rules and Regulations
THE INTERPRETATION OF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING RULES AND REGULATIONS SHALL BE THE FINAL DECISION OF THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE AND RACE OFFICIALS.
- General
1.1 Any crew that fails to oberve the Rules and Regulations herein may be disqualified
1.2 A limited number of credentials will be issued to each crew. These are for the use of the crew and its officials only and are not to be used by other persons.
1.3 Each team must submit a completed Team Registration Form, complete with Roster and one (1) Waiver per person to the Race Committee
1.4 The Committee reserves the right to refuse entry to any crew in the race at its sole discretion.
1.5 All matters not specifically addressed in this "Rules and Regulations" will be determined, at its sole discretion, by the Race Committee.
1.6 Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated and the Race Committee may suspend teams from competition.
1.7 The Race Committee reserves the right to seek legal action against a team or crew member for damages caused by failing to follow the Rules and Regulations or negligent or wrongful acts or omissions.
1.8 The Race Committee reserves the right to waive, amend and add to any of the Rules and Regulations.
1.9 Crew members are not allowed to consume alcoholic beverages prior to conclusion of their scheduled races.
1.10 Crew members shall have available, and the Race Committee reserves the right to check photo IDs at all times during the event,
2. Safety
2.1 Crew members must be able to swim at least 50 meters wearing light clothing. It is the responsibility of the organization or individual entering a crew to make sure that all members of the crew comply with this rule.
2.2 Each crew member is solely responsible for his or her own safely during official practice sessions and during races.
2.3 Personal Flotation Devices (PFD's) will be provided to all crew members and must be worn in the proper manner at all times while in the dragon boat,
2.4 These rules concerning safety should not be construed as authority over and above requiements necessitated by regulatory agencies.
2.5 In the event of a swamped boat, all crew members must stay with the boat, report any missing persons to the steer person and wait for further instructions from a safety official.
3. Waivers
3.1 A "Registered Crew Member" is any person who is listed on race roster (also referred to herein as "crew member").
3.2 All Registered Crew Members must sign a waiver/release/assumption/indemnity in a form required by the Race Committee ("Waiver") stating that they have read the conditions of the waiver and are aware of the risks associated with Dragon Boat racing, and accept and thus waive any right or course of action they may have against the Race Committee, sponsors, supporters or any organizations connected with the event for injury or death to person(s) or loss/damage to personal property. Crew members who are under the age of eighteen (18) years must have the Waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian prior to participating in any dragon boat activities. Minimum paddler's age is 16 in the Mixed and BCS Divisions with age exception for drummers.
3.3 All crew members must sign and return a waiver to the Race Committee prior to any practice sessions, and for race activities.
3.4 The Race Committee may require signing more than one Waiver.
4. The Crew and Crew Composition
4.1 Each boat may carry up to 20 paddlers for the Dragon Boat races. A minimum of 8 paddlers must be women in the Premier Mixed, Senior Mixed and Youth Mixed divisions. BCS DIvision must be all female with the exception of the steerperson. Each boat must also carry one drummer. Age and gender rules of the drummer must comply with the team's division.
4.2 At the time of entry each organization entering a crew shall have the required minimum of 14 paddlers (minimum of 8 must be women) plus one drummer.
4.3 The Race Committee specifically reserves the right to waive or amend Rule 4.1 or 4.2.
4.4 Each paddler, racing in the particular racing class (e.g. Premier Mixed) shall only be registered under the name of one team and may not compete for any other team in that racing class. In no case shall any crew members paddle for more than one team.
4.5 Each crew is entirely responsible for its own conduct and for complying with the race rules.
4.6 Each crew must wear uniform, distinctive singlets or shorts while under the control of race officials.
4.7 A crew's roster can include up to 25 paddlers (5 of them being alternates), 1 drummer and 1 steerperson. If the Race Committee provides a crew with a steersperson, that crew may not fill that space on the roster with an addiitional paddler. Max 25 paddlers.
5. Marshalling, Embarking and Proceeding to Start
5.1 A crew must assemble in the Crew Marshalling Area and be ready to board 30 minutes before the time of its race.
5.2 A crew must follow the directions of the Race Officials from the time it is called to the Crew Marshalling Area.
5.3 A crew must board the dragon boat in accordance to instructions given by Race Officials.
5.4 A crew is not permitted to choose which boat to use and must use the boat assigned by Race Offficials.
5.5 Each boat is assigned to a lane in which it is to race. A crew must race in the assigned lane.
5.6 After a crew has boarded, it must leave the dock area and immediately proceed to the starting area by using the designated traveling lane.
6. Starting Procedure
6.1 A crew in the starting area must obey the instructions of the Starter, Judges and other Race Officials under the control of the starter.
6.2 A crew shall not cross the race course to its assigned starting position until after the preceding race has been started and it is clear that a false start has not occurred.
6.3 A crew must take up its correct position in the starting area in the lane assigned to it. It is the responsibility of the team and not the Judge, to maintain its correct position before the start.
6.4 When the Starter is satisfied that the crews are correctly aligned, the Starter will alert all crews by raising the horn and give the verbal warning "All Boats Hold" then "Attention Please". After a 1-3 second pause, a horn will then be sounded to signify the start of the race.
6.5 It is the responsibility of each team captain to make sure that each crew member is familiar with the starting procedure. The starting signal is the horn.
6.6 In the event that the Starter considers that any crew has started before the horn is sounded, a second horn may be sounded to signify a false start and all crews must stop and return immediately to the start. The race may be restarted. The Starter may issue a warning to any crew that causes a false start.
6.7 Any crew that fails to return after a false start or that causes two false starts may be disqualified.
7. Race Conduct
7.1 The proper course for each boat is a straight line from its position to a corresponding point on the finish line. Each boat must remain in the middle of its allocated lane and may not interfere with other boats.
7.2 In the event of a boat failing to keep its proper course and thereby interfering with the course of another boat which is on its proper course, or in the event of a collision between two or more boats, the Race Official may, after consultation with other Race Officials, disqualify the offending boat or boats, impose a penalty on the offending boat or order one or more boats to re-race the race, or both, where, in the Race Official's opinion, the result of the race has been materially affected.
7.3 If, in the opinion of the Race Officials, a boat has been swamped or capsized deliberately by the crew, the Race Committee reserves the right to disqualify and refuse such crew's continued participation in this year's races. A financial penalty may also be imposed on the team.
7.4 If, in the opinion of the Race Official, after consultation with other Race Officials, a boat is damaged deliberately by the crew, the Race Committee reserves the right to impose a financial penalty on the organization entering the crew which will cover the repair costs to the boat.
TEAM CERTIFICATION
The undersigned acknowledges that he/she has read and understands the foregoing Rules and Regulations and will distrubute them to each Registered Crew Member with instructions to read and understand the Rules and Regulations prior to any training or race activities.
2025 Waiver
PHOTOGRAPHIC AND RESULTS RELEASE and WAIVER AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS: I AGREE THAT ANY AND ALL REPRESENTATIONS MADE AND RELEASES, WAIVERS, COVENANTS, CONSENTS AND PERMISSIONS GIVEN BY ME HEREUNDER ARE GIVEN ON BEHALF OF ME AND ANY AND ALL OF MY MINOR CHILDREN OR PERSONS OVER WHOM I HAVE GUARDIANSHIP PARTICIPATING IN OR ATTENDING THE EVENT.
I give my consent and permission to Luminina d/b/a The Hope Chest, its affiliates and races, their sponsors and corporate sponsors, their successors, licensees, and assigns the irrevocable right to use, for any purpose whatsoever and without compensation, (i) any photographs, videotapes, audiotapes, or other recordings of me that are made during the course of this event (the “Event”); and (ii) the results of my participation in this Event (e.g., race time, name, participant number).
I understand that (i) my consent to these provisions is given in consideration for being permitted to participate in this Event; (ii) I may be removed from this competition if I do not follow all the rules of this Event; and (iii) I am a voluntary participant in this Event. I am in good physical condition and am solely responsible for my personal health, safety and personal property. I know that this Event is a potentially hazardous activity and I hereby voluntarily assume full and complete responsibility for, and the risk of, any injury or accident THAT may occur during my participation in this Event (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, MY FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES associated with the event) or while ON THE EVENT PREMISES (COLLECTIVELY, “MY PARTICIPATION”). TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, I, FOR MYSELF, MY NEXT OF KIN, MY HEIRS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND EXECUTORS (COLLECTIVELY, “RELEASORS”), HEREBY RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS AND COVENANT NOT TO FILE SUIT AGAINST (I) LUMININA D/B/A THE HOPE CHEST AND ALL OTHER LUMININA AFFILIATES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, VOLUNTEERS, AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES; (II) ANY EVENT SPONSORS; AND (III) ALL OTHER PERSONS OR ENTITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS EVENT (COLLECTIVELY, THE “RELEASEES”) FOR ANY INJURY OR DAMAGES I MIGHT SUFFER IN CONNECTION WITH MY PARTICIPATION. THIS RELEASE APPLIES TO ANY AND ALL LOSS, LIABILITY, OR CLAIMS I OR MY RELEASORS MAY HAVE ARISING OUT OF MY PARTICIPATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PERSONAL INJURY OR DAMAGE SUFFERED BY ME OR OTHERS, WHETHER SUCH LOSSES, LIABILITIES, OR CLAIMS BE CAUSED BY FALLS, CONTACT WITH AND/OR THE ACTIONS OF OTHER PARTICIPANTS, CONTACT WITH FIXED OR NON-FIXED OBJECTS, CONTACT WITH ANIMALS, CONDITIONS OF THE EVENT PREMISES, NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASEES, RISKS NOT KNOWN TO ME OR NOT REASONABLY FORESEEABLE AT THIS TIME, OR OTHERWISE. I UNDERSTAND THAT I AM SOLELY RESPONSIBLE AND LIABLE FOR ALL ASPECTS OF MY FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH MY PARTICIPATION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE SAFE AND LAWFUL CONDUCT OF ANY FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES.
