Racing Rules

The Bermuda Pilot Gig Club (BPGC) has approved the following rules for competitive and social racing.

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Racing Rules of the BPGC 2024

Prior to the Races
  1. All crews must carry VHF radios which must be switched on and working throughout the entire duration of the race.
  2. All coxswains must be 18 years of age or over.
  3. It is fundamental that a safety boat is in place for a race to commence, which may also serve as the umpire boat.
  4. A race must not take place without the presence of an umpire.
  5. A shore radio contact MUST be manned and maintain communication with the

    umpire/safety boat AT ALL TIMES.

  6. All umpire boats must have standard safety kits, as required by Bermuda maritime

    regulations.

  7. All gigs must have an attached bow rope. This should allow for the safe towing of

    the gig if the need arises. (It should be roughly from bow to coxswain seat in length and 10/12mm thick). Advice: no gig should be towed by the ring, needs to be around two thwarts and then fastened.

  8. All racing coxswains must attend the Coxswain meeting. The meeting must include:
    • a)  VHF Channel being used for the event
    • b)  Safety procedures
    • c)  Any hazards or areas of concern
    • d)  First Aid procedures and emergency equipment
    • e)  Emergency response procedures (sea and shore)
    • f)  Course layout
    • g)  Event timetable, running order, progression and format details
    • h)  Race Official boat(s), and their position
Crew Information

A crew consists of six (6) rowers and one (1) coxswain. The criteria for the make-up of a crew for an event MUST be published on Teamtalk before the event/race, and mentioned at the coxes’ meeting before the regatta starts.

Due to the small size of our club, circumstances may arise that require crew substitutions in a race crew at an event. These are limited to 2 substitutions per crew, provided the substitution is made in compliance with the event regulations. Any additional substitutions must be approved by the Racing committee present at the regatta. These substitutions may not be from another competing boat. Substitutions should not give any unfair advantage, and each crew must remain within the categories or divisions they are racing in (e.g. Mixed, vet, supervet).

There is no restriction on cox exchanges.

If an event is deemed a competitive event (e.g. BPGC Club championship) by the event organizers, any crew substitutions should be notified to the Race Committee as soon as possible prior to the start of the race. The substitution will be approved by the Race committee to maintain fairness.

Umpires
  1. A crew may be disqualified for failing to obey the umpire's instructions.
  2. A crew may be disqualified for any unsporting-like behavior (see Code of Conduct).
  3. Any umpire has the right to order a gig to withdraw from a race at any time.
    • This right should be exercised in the event of poor seamanship or for safety reasons.
  4. The decision of the umpires on the day will be FINAL.
  5. The action of any coxswain deemed unnecessary/unsafe/unsporting will be reported to the Racing committee for disciplinary action if appropriate.
  6. One nominated person from a crew is to speak to race stewards regarding any racing incident. Race Committee representative will speak to this one member of the crew regarding race incidents/umpire’s decisions only.

Umpires Code of Conduct

  1. A common-sense approach should be applied at all times, with umpires acting in a professional manner and in accordance with the club’s code of conduct.
  2. Umpires should actively seek to encourage the race to continue and any decisions to stand so as to consider the interests of both the competitors and ultimately the sport.

With this in mind, the following should be considered:

  • i. Whether the nominated person of the crew concerned has indicated the possible racing incident/infringement to the umpire.

From this it should be considered:

  • i. Whether the infringement affected the final outcome
  • ii. Whether the infringement created a dangerous or costly situation

Umpires must be informed of all of the details (including their opinion sanction) and the severity of all incidents. The Umpire will subsequently inform the Race Committee Representative of the situation. The Race Committee Representative will then consider the sanction (demoting their racing placement, a time penalty, a verbal warning to the coxswain etc.). See Disqualification, Sanctions, and Penalties.

Safety

  1. Safe handling of the boat is of the utmost importance at all times. Coxswains should always endeavour to avoid collisions. They should anticipate situations, take avoiding action, and even instruct their crew to stop rowing/hold water if necessary.
  2. In the event of an accident, it is the duty of the umpires and any competitors to abandon the race and provide all possible assistance.
  3. In the event of some unforeseen circumstance, umpires have the right to order the abandonment of the race. All gigs must then follow the umpire’s instructions.
  4. In the event of an obstruction, all crews/coxswains must act in a safe manner to allow the passage of all gigs.
  5. The coxswain is strictly not permitted to aid the momentum of the stroke paddle at any time during the race unless there is a safety issue.

Racing

  1. The start line must be clearly marked at each end with transit lines to allow for clear sighting for both coxswains and the starter. All racing gigs should be in a straight line in accordance with the markers. The starter will judge the line using the gig bow or cox’s seat, as determined by the umpire. * See starting procedure below
  2. A leading gig should follow a straight course and must not “zigzag” with the intention of impeding a following gig.
  3. An overtaking gig, whether taking the port or starboard route, must keep clear of the gig being overtaken.
  4. All gigs shall pass the umpire boat on the gigs port side unless informed differently at the Cox's meeting.
  5. All gigs must complete races by following the course as instructed.

Starting Procedure

  • Controlled starts that make them fair and take no longer than 5 minutes
  • The starter will call crews into some kind of order 3 lengths behind the line then the flag is raised (or umpire radio call), that is when crews can come up into line.
  • From the time the flag is raised (or umpire radio call), there is up to 5 minutes for the race to start.
  • If a line is achieved during the 5 minutes, the flag will drop (or the umpire will radio start).
  • The ideal is that the crews come up from 3 lengths down together and then the starts will take no time at all. Anyone pushing the line and not taking the instructions from the starter will receive a warning.
  • When a line is achieved the call will be 'attention', no boat is expected to move forward after this call (to stop any running starts) any bow that presents itself between the starter 'attention' and 'go' may be disqualified.

On the Race Course

Turning the Mark

  1. The umpires calling point will be approx. 6 lengths from the turn. The positioning of the umpire boat is critical, this needs to be discussed and clarified with the skippers/club, prior to the first race of the day. At this point, the umpires will decide who has the advantage by assessing whether the bow of the port side gig has reached the coxswains seat creating an overlap. They will then inform the crews using a loud hailer or VHF radio.
  2. No crew should slow their gig on or approaching the mark as far as reasonably practicable once the call has been made, so not to create an obstruction to following gigs. If the boat given the rights to the mark leaves a gap, a following gig can go into that gap - so long as they do not impede the gig with the rights. No impeding on the stroke side or ahead of the number 5 oar is to take place.
  3. The gig that is given the advantage has the right to the mark and the following gigs must avoid it whatever the situation. Each following gig will be given instructions from the umpires, via VHF radio.
  4. Priority around the mark is defined as the duration of time between the point of instruction from the Umpire and the point at which the rudder passes the buoy when the gig is on its proper course to the next mark.
  5. No crew should slow their gig when approaching the mark as such to impede crews behind. It is the responsibility of all coxswains to avoid collision. Coxswains should still abide by the zigzag ruling.
  6. Each gig, which has been given priority, has the right to take the mark and must steer a proper course into it. A proper course is defined as the coxswain making a clear attempt to turn the buoy at the earliest opportunity.
  7. An inside gig with priority will not push an outside crew off course in order to gain an advantage at the mark.
  8. Gigs with priority will not unreasonably slow their boat or alter their course.
  9. Despite priority around the mark, coxswains should attempt to avoid impeding other crews at all times.

Finish Line

Crews will cross the designated finish line.

Disqualification, Sanctions and Penalties

For infringement of any of the above rules, the Race Committee/umpire may disqualify, sanction, or penalize a crew.

Disqualifications which result in automatic withdrawal from a competition may be issued for, but not limited to:

  • T-boning (a gigs bow makes contact with another gigs beam and with force) or allowing collision with another gig.
  • Foul and abusive language.
  • Not following the BPGC Code of Conduct.
  • Not completing the course.
  • Not following the rules in a manner that dramatically alters the outcome of the race. (i.e., Obstructing a buoy turn that is seemed intentional and dangerous).

Sanctions and penalties may be issued and are not limited to:

  • Verbal warning or caution: in minor cases or first-time infractions, a crew may receive a warning from the race officials.
  • Time penalty: a time penalty is added to the team’s overall race time. This penalty can be a specific amount of time (e.g. 10 or 30 seconds) based on the severity of the obstruction.
  • Position adjustment: The offending team may have their race position adjusted, resulting in a drop in their final placing.