RULES

1. ADMINISTRATION
a). Waivers and Rosters
b). Dragon Boats and Equipment
c). Teams

2. SAFETY PROCEDURES, EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, AND GENERAL SANCTIONS
a). Application
b). Safety Procedures
c). Emergency Procedures
d). General Sanctions

3. PRACTICES
a). Location
b). Schedule

4. RACES
a). Location
b). Race Scheduling
c). Pre-race Procedure
d). Race Procedure
e). Post Race Procedure
f). Race Penalties
g). Protests and Appeals

ADMINISTRATION

1a) Waivers and Rosters

All team members must sign waivers stating that they have read and understand the conditions of the waiver and are aware of and accept all risks associated with the event, and wave all rights to take legal action against any of the sponsors, their volunteers and employees, the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival, its volunteers and employees, the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival organizing committee, its volunteers and employees, the Dryden KinsmenClub, its directors, volunteers and employees, the City of Dryden, its volunteers and employees, and any other person, partnership, corporation or association in any way associated

with the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival, for injury or death, or for loss or damage to property, howsoever caused. For participants under 18 years of age, parents or guardians must also read, understand and sign the waivers.

Team Managers must submit to the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival properly signed, dated and witnessed waivers by the deadline provided to the Team Mangers by the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival. The Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival may accept late submission of waivers at its discretion, however, waivers must be read, understood, signed and witnessed well in advance of any on-water activity.

Team Managers must submit to the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival properly completed team rosters by the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival. The Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival may accept late submission of rosters at its discretion.

1b) Dragon Boats and Equipment

The Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival shall provide Dragon Boats, drums and paddles. Personal flotation devices must first have these items approved by the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival at its discretion.

All equipment shall be returned in good condition immediately following practices and races. In the event that the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival determines negligence, replacement or repair costs shall be charged to the team responsible.

Only the drum and drumsticks provided by the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival shall be used to signal the stroke rate in addition to non-electrically assisted voice commands.

1c) Teams

A registered team member must be 18 years old prior to the first practice session. For those under 18, see paragraph 1a

A registered team member must be listed on the team roster by the Team Manager, must have read, understood, signed, dated, and have had witnessed the waiver, and must have had such waiver filed by the Team Manager with the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival.

Teams are allowed a maximum of 12 registered members, comprising of: 1 Drummer, 1 Steers-person, 10 Paddlers, 2 Spares of any of the above. One person must be registered as the Team Manager. Of the Paddlers and Spares, one shall be designated as an alternate Steers-person, and must be qualified as such by the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival.

Each team must compete with a minimum of 4 women per Dragon Boat per race. If a team is short the required 4 women, it shall race shorthanded accordingly. Each team must race with a minimum of 10 Paddlers per Dragon Boat, plus one Drummer, plus one Steers-person.

At its discretion, the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival may permit a women's team to use a male steers-person.

Each team must race with a Drummer.

Each team must race with a Steers-person who has been qualified by the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival. Prior to race day, each team must designate two team members who have been who have been qualified as Steers-persons by the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival. At its discretion, the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival may at any time replace any team's Steers-person at with another Steers-person, despite that replacement not being a registered member of that team. At its discretion, the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival may at any time direct that a team not participate further in on-water activity due to its Steers-person not being capable.

At its discretion, the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival may at any time require check crew members against their team rosters.

Team Managers shall ensure that only registered team members participate in on-water activities. Any team permitting a non-registered person to participate in any on-water activity shall be subject to disqualification and be prohibited from further on-water participation, subject to the discretion of the Dryden
At its discretion, the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival may disqualify and prohibit from further participation any team member or team if such a team member or team displays poor conduct.

Each team and each team member is required to follow these rules. The Team

Manager shall be responsible for:

- Team Conduct.
- Communication and Distribution of Information to the Team.
- Communication with the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival.
- Collection and filing of all requisite information and forms with the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival.
- Liaison with race officials.
- Attendance at the Team Managers' meeting, with location, date and time to be provided by the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival.

2. Safety Procedures, Emergency Procedures, and General Sanctions

2a) Application

Safety Procedures, Emergency Procedures, and General Sanctions apply throughout the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival, including but not limited to practices and races.

2b) Safety Procedures

The Steers-person is responsible for the Dragon Boat and the team.

The Steers-person shall communicate the safety procedure and emergency procedure to each team member before each practice session and before each race.

Dragon Boats shall give way to each other and must give way to all other persons and vessels.

Each team member shall wear a personal flotation device during all on-water activities, including all practices and races.

Each team member shall be capable of swimming 50 metres while wearing a personal flotation device. The Team Manager shall ensure that all team members are capable of complying with this rule.

Each team member is responsible for his or her own safety at all times while engaging in activities related to practicing and racing in Dragon Boats.

Individuals or teams deemed unsafe by the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival or its designate shall not be permitted to continue on-water activities, including all practices or races.

2c) Emergency Procedures

In the event of a Dragon Boat swamping or capsizing, the following shall apply.

The Steers-person shall retain charge of the team until rescue personnel arrive.

The Steers-person shall immediately determine if any persons are trapped in the Dragon Boat, and act accordingly.

Each team member must ensure that the team members immediately in front, behind, and beside, are not trapped in the Dragon Boat.

Each team member must follow directions given by the Steers-person, until such time as rescue personnel arrive, after which each team member must follow directions given by rescue personnel.

The crew must hold onto the Dragon Boat. Individuals must not swim to shore unless instructed by rescue personnel.

Upon ensuring that no persons are in distress, the rescue personnel shall direct the team to swim the Dragon Boat to shore, with or without towing assistance by the rescue personnel.

2d) General Sanctions

At its complete discretion, the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival may dismiss at any time, including but not limited to any practices or races, any person or team from further practices or races for:

- Violating safety principals or procedures;
- Participating or attempting to participate in on water activities while inebriated or while carrying alcohol;
- Violating rules;
- Demonstrating poor conduct or behavior;
- Willfully, recklessly, or negligently damaging or losing equipment;
- Disobeying reasonable requests or instructions made by officials or their designates.

When equipment is damaged or lost through the willfully, reckless, or negligent actions of a person or team, then that person or team shall be responsible for financially reimbursing the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival.

3 PRACTICES

3a) Location

Practices will take place on Wabigoon River. Teams shall assemble at Skene Landing.

3b) Schedule

As part of the registration fee, each team shall be granted two practice sessions during the evenings of the two weeks immediately preceding the race. Additional sessions may be available, as scheduling and staffing may permit.

All practices shall be blocked in thirty minute periods. Teams shall assemble twenty minutes prior to their scheduled practice start time.

All practices shall be coordinated by the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival or such persons or organizations as it may designate, and team members and teams shall follow the directions given by the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival or such persons or organizations as it may designate.

By the completion of its final practice, each team's manager shall either inform the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival of which two members on its roster have been qualified as Steers-persons by the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival, or shall make arrangements with the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival for the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival to provide a Steers-person for the race.

4 RACES

4a) Location

Races will take place on the Wabigoon River. Teams shall assemble at Skene Landing.. Lane one shall be the lane furthest from the starter's platform, and lane four shall be the lane closest to the starter.

4b) Race Scheduling

The starting order for all races will be determined prior to race day by the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival, and be issued to Team Managers. The starting order will also be posted at the marshaling area.

Each race will start as soon as possible following the race preceding it, with races to be held approximately every fifteen minutes. Although the order of races shall remain constant, the start times shall be approximate. Each team must be prepared to race significantly before it's estimated race time. Team Managers are responsible for monitoring the progression of the races and ensuring that their team is ready to race when called upon, regardless of the estimated start time. In its discretion, the Dryden Dragon Boat Race Festival shall not wait for teams which are not ready to start prior to their estimated race times.

4c) Pre-race Procedure

Teams shall report to the marshaling area at least 30 minutes prior to the estimated start time of their race. Team Managers are responsible for reporting in at the entrance to the marshaling area, and may accompany their teams onto the docks.

Teams shall board the Dragon Boat designated to them and will proceed to the start area on instructions from the Chief Marshall.

No more than two spare paddles may be boarded.

When proceeding to the start area, teams shall paddle beside the east shoreline up past the starter's platform, without entering into the racing lanes regardless of whether the racing lanes are in use or not, so that collisions can be avoided and so that congestion from turning Dragon Boats in the start area can be avoided.

Once past the starter's platform, the teams shall then make broad turns to the left

so that they line up in the start area well back from the start line facing down their lanes. Unless otherwise directed, teams shall not venture into area above the start area.

In the event of maneuvering difficulty caused by wind, the referee may direct teams to assemble in the bay above the start area, and then direct the teams to approach the start area as a group.

4d) Race Procedure

The Referee shall have control of the race prior to the start. Only Steers-persons may communicate with the Referee, and such communication shall be kept to an absolute minimum.

In the Referee's discretion, without waiting for stragglers or waiting for teams which have ventured into the bay above the start area, the referee shall ask the teams to "Please approach the start line." All teams shall immediately do so, lining up in the middle of their designated lanes, facing straight down the course, not crossing the start line, and holding in position approximately one-half Dragon Boat length from the starting line.

If, in the referee's opinion, a Steers-person is not capable, the referee shall direct that that team withdraw from the race.

Once satisfied, the Referee will transfer control of the race to the Starter with the command: "Mr./Mdme. Starter, the race is yours."

The Starter shall assume control of the race with the reply: "Thank you, Mr./Mdme. Referee."

The starter will ask each crew to bring their Dragon Boat up to, but not over the start line.

The starter will instruct each team as to how to position itself, and may occasionally be assisted by the referee.

Once all teams are in the middle of their lanes, facing straight down the course, not moving forward, and not having crossed the start line, the Starter shall call: "Attention please!" and within two seconds sound the start horn.

Upon hearing the starting horn, each team shall proceed to the finish directly along the middle of its racing lane, without crossing out of its racing lane, without encroaching on the side of its racing lane, and without riding the wake of another Dragon Boat.

A false start shall be indicated by the Starter sounding the start horn a second time. The Referee shall assist the starter in communicating a false start by sounding the megaphone siren. Steers-persons and Drummers are responsible for noticing if a false start has been called.

After a fair start, the Referee shall resume control of the race.

The Referee shall follow the Dragon Boats down the course, and if necessary and where possible, direct Steers-persons to maintain the middle of their lanes.

If a Dragon Boat appears to be losing directional control, is crossing out of its lane, is encroaching on the side of its lane, or is riding the wake of another Dragon Boat, the Referee, in the Referee's discretion, may either stop that Dragon Boat, or any or all other Dragon Boats, so as to avoid possible collisions.

If progress of a Dragon Boat is affected by another Dragon Boat, the referee shall either halt the race and issue a restart, or offer the offended team the opportunity to run the course again in a later heat.

If, for any reason, circumstances arise such that the Referee, in the Referee's discretion, determines that a race should be halted, then the Referee shall halt the race and issue a restart

If a Dragon Boat is not steering straight down the course, its crew shall immediately hold the Dragon Boat (jamb their paddles into the water and stop the Dragon Boat) so as to prevent the Dragon Boat from crossing out of its lane or spinning out.

Restarts make take place immediately, or may be held later in the day, at the discretion of the Referee.

At the finish, the Referee will signal a clean race with a white flag, and a penalty with a red flag. Penalties shall be reported by the Referee to the Chief Official.

4e) Post-race Procedure

Upon crossing the finish line, all teams shall turn left and proceed along the shoreline back to the docks, being very careful to not turn broadside into Dragon Boats still finishing.

Paddlers with access to bailing buckets shall bail continuously from the finish until back at the dock. Paddlers shall not splash or otherwise deliberately bring water into the Dragon Boat. Upon arrival at the dock, each Dragon Boat must be substantially free of water and be ready for the next race.

Once reaching the lifeguard pavilion, teams shall approach the docks at a dead slow pace so as to avoid collision damage.

4f) Race Penalties

Teams missing the start of their race shall be disqualified from that race. Neither the Marshall, the Referee, nor the Starter are obliged to wait for tardy teams.

Any Dragon Boat false starting will be penalized 5 seconds. Any Dragon Boat false starting for the second time in the same race will be penalized an additional 10 seconds.

Any Dragon Boat affecting the progress of another Dragon Boat will be penalized 20 seconds.

Any Dragon Boat crossing out of its lane but not affecting the progress of another Dragon Boat will be penalized 5 seconds.

Any Dragon Boat not obeying instructions from the Referee shall be disqualified at the discretion of the Referee. The onus is on the team, particularly the Drummer and Steers-person, to keep alert to such instructions, particularly while progressing down the course.

General sanctions continue to apply in addition to race penalties.

4g) Protests

Any protest must be lodged by the Team Manager with the Chief Official within fifteen minutes of the conclusion of the protested race. The cost of lodging a protest is $100, payable in cash at the time of the lodging of the protest.

The Chief Official shall summon the Race Committee. The Race Committee shall render a decision on a majority basis.

There is no appeal of the Race Committee's decision.

If the application is successful, the $100 protest fee shall be returned to the Team Manager, and the Referee shall be admonished with reference to flogging by the Chief Official.

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