1999 Manitoba

Dragon Boat Festival

Race Information

Race Details Rules and Regulations Race Format
Trophies

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Race Details

Dragon Boat Tid Bit - LINGO

Freeboard - The distance between the waterline and the upper edge of the side of the boat. A loss of freeboard is the most common reason for a dragon boat to sink.

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Rules and Regulations

These rules are presently being revised and updated, please check back for the changes. July 26/99

OFFICIAL

RULES & REGULATIONS

All Rules and Regulations are based on the International Dragon Boat Federation Members Handbook (2nd Edition, 1/1/1997) AND Local rules and regulations developed by Facility Marketing Group Inc.’s Organizing Committee.

A. Implementation: Unless specifically instructed by the Chief Race Official, the following rules and definitions will be applied to Races (Festivals) that are Managed or Produced by Facility Marketing Group Inc. All teams must read and understand the Rules and Regulations. Clarifications may be requested (by Team Manager) prior to Race Heats. Clarifications must be addressed to the Chief Race Official in writing.

B. Definitions:
Crew = Any person in a dragon boat.

Paddler = Any person who’s sole responsibility is to paddle.

Steerperson = Steerer or helmsperson at stern of dragon boat controlling dragon boat direction, and commands the boat.

Drummer = Crew person who’s sole responsibility is to sit in bow drum seat and beat drum.

Competition = Made up of 1 or more races.

Race Plan = Make up of the competition and schedule.

Race = Each team having completed one heat as designed in the Festival Race Plan, constitutes one complete race.

Heat = Any number of boats (normally three) competing at once, under timed conditions.

Lane = Alley marked by buoys for racing purposes. When no buoys are present, lanes will be approximately the width of one Dragon Boat length.

Race roster = Registration form listing all Crew names and addresses.

Waiver form = Insurance waiver form that all Crew member must individually sign.

Chief Race Official = First line of appeal, in charge of all race officials and on water activities. Sets race course.

Event Coordinator = Second line of appeal, in charge of all off water activities, liaison with Chief Race Official. Also acts as Safety Officer and Race Director.

Team Coordinator = Acts as Head Team Marshal. Responsible for Marshalling area, Collection of waiver forms and roster forms.

Head Dock Marshal = In charge of Docking area. Responsibilities include reception and embarkation of all dragon boats to the docking area. Safe entrance and exit of Crew members to boats and docks.

Festival Chairman = Final Line of Appeal.

Team Manager = Responsible for crew discipline and technical administration off water including crew insurance waivers. May or may not be a crew member. Administers appeals.

Team Captain = Responsible for conduct and safety of the crew while on the water. May or may not be a crew member. (In the absence of Team Captain in the vessel, the steerperson is designated team Captain)

Practice Coordinator = Sets practice times for Teams, Coaches teams, makes available all equipment and accessories for practice sessions. Reports to Team Coordinator and Event Coordinator. In Charge of all practices and proper behaviour of all teams at practices. Accepts insurance waiver forms at first practice session for all crews.

Organizing Committee = Made up of the Event Coordinator, Team Coordinator, Practice Coordinator, Festival Chairman.

Race Committee = Made up of the Event Coordinator, Chief Race Official, Festival Chairman.

 

C. Fundamental Rules:

Safety : The first priority of all competitors is the safety of their crew and all other crews involved. Assistance must be rendered in need.

Fair Play: CONDUCT OF CREWS: "Any Dragon Boat Crew or competitor who attempts to win a race by other than honourable means, or who deliberately breaks the Racing Rules, or who disregards the honourable nature of the rules shall face disqualification from the competition." (Reference: I.D.B.F. Competition and Rules of Racing, R4.2)

 

D. Supplied Material:

1. The Manager/Captain of each Team will receive a Race Package. (including one copy of the Official Race Rules and Regulations, and one copy of the Safety Protocol.) It is the responsibility of the Manager/Captain to go over the Race Package with his/her Team, and to be sure every Team member understands this information clearly.

2. The Steerperson of each Team will receive a Steerperson’s Training Manual. It is the responsibility of the Steerperson to read and become familiar with this manual.

3. Three on-water Dragon Boat practice sessions, of which one is with a coach. (subject to weather conditions). Steerperson must attend all three practices.

4. Minimum of three dragon boat races in a two day event. One day events will have two races per team. (subject to weather conditions)

5. All equipment including: boats, paddles, PFD's, and accessories for practices and races.

6. Prior to event day, Team Managers will receive a Race Plan.

 

E . Team Details:

1. A full team roster (crew) for racing is 22 members (20 paddlers, 1 drummer & 1 steersperson).

* The race roster may have a maximum of 25 crew members. (Additional crew members may be added to the roster with the approval of the Event Coordinator).

* Each team must have a manager responsible for all administration (the manager may or may not be a crew member). The Manager is responsible for each crew member’s conduct. The Manager is also responsible for the Team roster form, and must ensure that all crew members have signed the Insurance Waiver form provided to all Teams. The Manager may or may not be the Team Captain. Event information packages will be faxed to the Team Manager.

2. A mixed crew must have 8 female paddlers and 8 male paddlers in the boat during a race.

3. A person can only be registered as a crew member for one team.

4. Minimum crew paddling complement for a race is 16, plus one steerperson.

5. All crew members must wear supplied PFD (Personal Floatation Device) while on the water, which must be done up and worn properly. (Races and practices). Personally (crew supplied) owned CSA approved PFD’s may be allowed with the approval of the Head Dock Marshal or the Event Coordinator.

6. Paddles used in all Dragon Boat Races MUST be the paddles supplied by the race organizer. Personal paddles may be used if they conform to the existing supply of paddles supplied by the race organizer (must have written consent of Event Coordinator.)

7. No alteration of the Organizer’s equipment will be tolerated. In the event that a team alters Organizer’s equipment, the TEAM’S race time will be disqualified. Restitution to the Organizer for the repair of altered or broken equipment will be required.

8. No mechanical aids are allowed in the dragon boat. (I.D.B.F. 13.2) "In the interest of crew safety, no additional fixtures or fittings, such as straps to fasten a paddler into the boat or onto a seat are permitted."

9. All crew members must be aware of the Official Race Rules and Regulations, and Safety Protocol.

10. Races or heats will not be held for late teams.

 

F. Classifications:

Mixed Recreational - tend to be, first, second year mixed teams.

Mixed Competitive - tend to be, second, year competitive teams.

Female Competitive - tend to be second, third year competitive teams or teams who have only female participants

Male Competitive - tend to be second, third year competitive teams or teams who have only male participants

 

G. Training Details:

1. Each team receives 3 training sessions (first session with coaching provided). Additional sessions can purchased for a fee of $50.00 including coaching. (time allowing).

2. Steerspersons must be competent with a range of important steering manoeuvres. The Practice Coordinator will ensure that each team’s steerperson has a reasonable ability to helm the Dragon Boat. Steerperson may be replaced at the sole discretion of race officials.

*Event Coordinator reserves the right to replace Steerpersons for safety reasons during practices or event races.

3. Each crew member must attend a minimum of 2 practice sessions.

* Special arrangements can be made for out of town teams to practice.

* Practices that are cancelled due to bad weather will be rescheduled (time allowing).

4. Team managers must submit the rosters & all crew member insurance waivers at their teams first practice. A team member without signed waiver will not be allowed in the boat. No Team will be allowed to enter the boat unless signed waivers are handed in by Team Manager.

 

H. Race Details:

1. The minimum race crew is 16 paddlers, plus 1 drummer, and 1 steersperson.

2. Crews exceeding 22 members on board will be disqualified.

3. Only crew members on the roster are allowed in the dragon boats.

4. Races are 500 meters in length, unless otherwise stipulated.

5. A team cannot finish a race unless all crew members who started the race are present in the boat.

6. Teams will be assigned lanes, by number, and must line up and stay within these lanes during the start and race.

 

I. Starting:

1. Boats must listen to Chief Race Official (Starter), and follow instructions clearly, when lining up for start.

2. Starters instructions will include procedures for boats to ‘hold’, ‘back up’, and ‘one minute to start’ (not actually 60 seconds), while boats are lining up for the start.

3. Once the Chief Race Official feels boats are lined up evenly (at his/her sole discretion) in the designated starting area, the warning signal of "Attention Please!" will cue all paddlers, of every competing boat to prepare for Start.

4. Chief Race Official will sound signal at any time after warning signal, seeing all boats in Starting Area.

5. Drummers may not drum during Start procedures. Drummers must stop drumming if a False Start is called by the Starter.

6. UNFAIR STARTS - When a crew ‘jumps the start’, (which for the purpose of the Rules of Racing means that a crew has anticipated the Starters word of Command, or Sound Signal), and a ‘False Start’ cannot be called, but in the opinion of the Starter a material advantage has been gained by the crew or crews, the Starter may award a ‘Time Penalty’ to crew or crews in question.

 

J. Right of Way Rules:

1. A boat changing lanes during a heat may not pass in front of any team on the course.

2. Any contact between boats will result in penalty or disqualification.

3. All boats must attempt to avoid contact at all times on the water.

4. A boat which is not competing must keep clear of all boats which are competing.

 

K. Finishing:

1. Finish line will be between the last buoys of marked lanes. When lane markers are not present, finish line will be finishing official on land.

2. For the Finish line officials to stop the clock, the Dragon Boat’s bow (Dragon’s nose) must cross the finish line.

3. Teams returning to docks must stay in return lane and return as quickly as safely possible.

 

L . Other Grounds for Disqualification and Penalty:

1. Any Team determined to have broken a rule, as defined in the Official Rules and Regulations or any Team not complying with the Safety Protocol, will receive a time penalty or disqualification, depending on the seriousness of incident.

2. Mixed Teams with less than 8 female or 8 male paddlers in a Race crew will be disqualified or assessed a penalty of 30 secs for breaking the rules and 2 sec. for each paddler that is missing.

3. Crew members that are ‘inebriated’ will be disqualified from racing. The Organizing Committee has the sole discretion to deny any racer from entering a boat who they feel has been drinking or using banned substances.

4. Discipline - (As per I.D.B.F. Competition Regulations & Rules of Racing, Part 2,R3.1.3)‘The Chief Race Official shall be responsible for implementing the Disciplinary Code and additionally may disqualify any crew or competitor who behaves improperly or shows contempt by bad conduct or speech towards the Race Officials or any other persons, including on-lookers.’

 

M. Disqualifications and Time Penalties:

1. Any boat deemed disqualified (DSQ) by either the Organizing Committee or the rules, will receive a time of the slowest time for the day - PLUS five seconds

2. Disqualifying times will not be considered qualifying times.

3. Time Penalties which are assessed to Teams can range anywhere from 1 - 5 seconds.

 

N. Appeals:

Must be made by the Captain or Manager only, no later than 15 minutes after their heat is finished. Protests are made to the Chief Race Official. Protests should be made in writing, however a verbal protest made be made first, followed in a timely fashion by a written appeal. When an appeal is made, the Chief Race Official must immediately notify any affected parties. Subsequently the Chief Race Official will convene the Race Committee as soon as feasible to rule on the appeal. First Line of appeal is as follows: Chief Race Official makes his/her ruling. This ruling is reported to the appealing team. Second line of appeal is as follows: The appealing team having not agreed with the Chief Race Official appeals to the Event Coordinator. The Event Coordinator makes a ruling which supersedes or affirms the Chief Race Official. Third Line of appeal: should the appealing party still be unsatisfied, the third and final line of appeal is to the Festival Chairman. The Festival Chairman makes his/her decision (based on previous appeal decisions) which is binding and final.

 

O. Results and Awards:

1. Results from heats and appeals will be posted on the Official Notice Board, which will be located at either the Dragon’s Lair and/or Marshalling.

2. Trophies will be awarded only to Teams which have qualifying times in all heats of the competition.

3. Awards structure and time and place of Awards Ceremonies will be discussed at Logistics Meeting.

 

P. Logistics Meeting:

Any questions, concerns, or changes to these Rules and Regulations will be addressed at the Logistics Meeting which is held during the final week before Race Day. All details regarding the event will be outlined at this meeting. All Team Managers must be present at this meeting.

 

***NOTE: Adjustments to race course, times, and race schedule may occur due to a number of circumstances including weather, daylight, safety, etc. These adjustments are a part of the event and are at the sole discretion of the Race Officials and are final, without appeal.

 

km’99

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Race Format

The "2000 - Year of the Dragon - Manitoba Dragon Boat Festival" race course is unconfirmed to date. The course will be 500 metres metres long.

There will be 4 dragon boats racing in each heat. Each heat will last between 2 minutes to 2 minutes and 50 seconds.

The course is 500 metres long.
The race start line will be announced.
The race finish line will be 500 metres downstream.

To ensure maximum team safety additional Steerperson Training is required for all steerspeople. The Dragon Boats are heavy and long. Special training is given to maximize the efforts given by all teams.

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Trophies

Each year, the Dragon Boat race teams compete to win one of the many prestigious Manitoba Dragon Boat Race Trophies. These trophies highlight many different aspects of the Dragon Boat Races. A listing of all of the trophies and their current holders is available:

Dragon Boat Trophies

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