1. Minimum Standards Original by: Wayne van Oosterhout, December 1996
Amended by: Sam Fischer, February 2008
Full Document with Minimum Standards can be found here on the Rowing BC website

2. Aligner Use Linear distances when aligning it (seat, deck, boat, etc.)
Calm, clear and consistent vocabulary:
Move toward bow: “Touch it up (+ a linear distance) e.g. one deck”
Move toward stern: “Back it down (+ a linear distance) e.g. one seat”
Let a boat drift: “Let it run”
Have a boat stop: “Hold water”
Move bow sideways: “Spike it on (+ one side) e.g. port side”
No verbal harassment of crews/athletes
Linear distances be used to identify the required movement of a shell to the bow or to the stern when aligning it (1 seat, 2 seats, ½ a deck, a deck, ½ a boat, etc.);
2. Both voice tone and projection be constant for all shells regardless of their lane;
3. Vocabulary be constant:
a. To request a move toward the bow: i. “Touch it up (+ a linear distance) e.g. one deck”
b. To request a move toward the stern: i. “Back it down (+ a linear distance) e.g. one seat”
c. To request a shell to drift: i. “Let it run”
d. To request a shell to stop: i. “Hold water”
e. To move the bow of a boat sideways – i.e. align a boat in a cross wind: i. “Spike it on (+ one side) e.g. port side”
6. A person serving as an aligner not verbally harass a competitor or team of competitors;

3. Aligner continued Upon alignment raise the white flag
The flag remains raised
Starter commences start
Keeps white flag up for 20 seconds after the start.
4. Upon alignment there is no further discussion – The white flag is raised and the Starter commences the start procedure;
5. The flag remains raised unless the alignment falters;
6. A person serving as an aligner not verbally harass a competitor or team of competitors;
7. Aligner keeps white flag up for 20 seconds after the start.

4. Starter Calm , clear, and consistent voice.
Inform crews of their racing lanes.
Announce the 5, 4, 3, and 2 minute time intervals
Poll competitors or announce “Quick Start”
“Attention”
Raise Flag
Simultaneously drop the flag and say “Go”
Appear calm and in control at all times
No verbal harassment of crews/athletes
Starter announces the 5, 4, 3, and 2 minute time intervals;
2. Polls competitors by club name with a constant interval between each poll, then –
“Attention” – Raise Flag – simultaneously drop the flag and say “Go”;

5. Race Umpire Warning a crew (course correction) Stopping a crew
Raise white flag to the vertical
Call crew by name (and lane where needed)
Point the flag in the direction of required travel
Stopping a crew
Give command “Stop”
To call for a course correction -
a. Identify the club by name;
b. Raise white flag to the vertical;
c. Point the flag in the direction of required travel;
2. A club name and lane may be called if there is more than one boat from any one club in
the same race;
3. At the conclusion of a race the primary on water umpire pass to the stern of the shells to
determine personal health of the athletes and to determine if there is a objection;
4. Only after this surveillance does an on water umpire signal via a white flag that the race
was fair and that there is no objection being lodged;
5. The finish tower confirm the status of the race by a return flag signal;

6. Race Umpire continued Give times in: At the finish check for:
Health of the athletes
Objections
Fair race:
White flag
Finish acknowledges with white flag
Give times in:
Minutes, seconds, and (point) tenths and hundredths
To call for a course correction -
a. Identify the club by name;
b. Raise white flag to the vertical;
c. Point the flag in the direction of required travel;
2. A club name and lane may be called if there is more than one boat from any one club in
the same race;
3. At the conclusion of a race the primary on water umpire pass to the stern of the shells to
determine personal health of the athletes and to determine if there is a objection;
4. Only after this surveillance does an on water umpire signal via a white flag that the race
was fair and that there is no objection being lodged;
5. The finish tower confirm the status of the race by a return flag signal;

7. Race Umpire continued Return to the start: To turn off the course:
Single file
Middle lane
To turn off the course:
de-throttle
when the boats sterns wash is at the transom
turn 90 degrees and exit the course (without further wash)
6. Times are given to the Judges stand only upon the successful completion of a race
deemed to be fair by all competitors therein;
7. Times are given in the format: # of minutes: #of seconds (point) tenth and hundredth
e.g. a time of 6:49.32 would be given as 6 Minutes forty-nine point three two
8. The return to the start area be in single file up the middle lane of the course;
9. To turn off the course, de-throttle and when the boats sterns wash is at the transom, then
turn 90 degrees and exit the course (without further wash).

8. Race Umpire & Boat Driver
Race Umpires introduce themselves
Determine boat drivers’ experience with operating a boat
Review hand signals
Check boat operating/safety basics
2 paddles
Check Gas
‘Sufficient’ life jackets
Use of the engine cut-off switch
On water umpires introduce themselves and:
a. Determine the drivers’ race and experience in the operating of a boat;
b. Review hand signals;
(boat driver certification includes water skiing hand signals)
c. Ensure boat operating and safety basics
i. Gas tank with gas
ii. ‘Sufficient’ life jackets
iii. 2 paddles
iv. Use of the engine cut-off switch

9. Race Umpire & Boat Driver continued
Review with boat driver:
Sitting or standing
Travel Pattern
Wake control
Turn off the course
Doing a large Omega
Tutor where necessary
Boat drivers are volunteers too.
d. Advise the driver whether you sit or stand while following a race;
e. Review the travel pattern to the start area;
f. Review the procedure by which to turn off the course;
g. Determine the drivers’ knowledge about wake action and if necessary, explain the
action of the boat and its effect upon the shell that may be off the stern of the
motor boat;
h. Determine the drivers understanding and ability to do a large Omega if required
(i.e. passing racers to get to lead crews without washing the slower crews);
i. Tutor where necessary;
j. Express gratitude and positive reinforcement.

10. Finish Umpire Drop finish flag: winning boat only
Engage horn: every boat crossing finish
Check for Race Umpire’s flag
Acknowledge with same flag
Confirm time to Race Umpire and sign finish sheet
Finish flag drops only once to signal the crossing of the winning boat;
2. An audible device will be used to signal the crossing of each additional boat;
3. The flag person on the finish line acknowledges the flag communication by the on water
umpire.

11. All Follow Radio protocols (by Sam Fisher, Feb. 2007)
Check channel is clear
Know what you’re going to say
Hold the radio 1 or 2 inches in front of you.
Speak clear and normally
identify the user first and then identify yourself.
make your message clear and concise.
Keep it as brief as possible
Full Radio Protocols can be found here on the Rowing BC website
Use radios to communicate in a manner consistent with radio protocols written by Sam
Fisher and dated February, 2007
Listen first to make sure the channel is clear before you transmit!
• Know what you’re going to say before starting the communication.
• (Where possible) hold the radio (or microphone) about 1 or 2 inches in front of you.
Speak normally, although this may be difficult in a noisy environment.
• When trying to contact another user, identify the user first and then identify yourself.
• When the user answers your call, make your message clear and concise. Pronounce words
clearly. Don’t slur sounds or run words together. Speak at a moderate rate and keep the
pitch of your voice constant.
• Keep it relatively brief as other users may be waiting to use the channel.