VIKES FALL CLASSICS

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RACE SCHEDULE

REGISTRATION

GENERAL RULES

LAUNCHING & RACING

PARKING AND ARRIVAL

RACE UPDATES & RESULTS

SAFETY

MASTERS SOCIAL

ROW FOR UVIC

HEAD OF THE GORGE: SATURDAY			TAIL OF THE GORGE: SUNDAY
Race	Event		Race	Event
AM Flight			AM Flight
	Open Men 8+			Open Women 8+
	Open JV Men 8+			Open JV Women 8+
	Junior  Men 8+			Junior  Women 8+
	Masters Men 8+			Masters Women 8+
	Masters Mixed 8+			Masters Mixed 8+
	Open Men 4x-			Open Women 4x-
	Junior Men 4x -			Junior  Women 4x-
	Junior Men 4x+			Junior  Women 4x+
	Open Men 4+			Open Novice Men 8 +
	Masters Men 4x			Open Women 4+
	Open Novice Women 8+			Masters Women 4x-
	Masters Mixed 4x-			Open Men 2x
	Open Women 2x			Masters Men 2x
	Masters Women 2x			Masters Mixed 2x
	Open Women 1x			Open Men 1x
	Masters Women 1x			Open Novice Women 4x-
PM Flight			PM Flight
	Open Women 8+			Open Men 8+
	Open JV Women 8+			Open JV Men 8+
	Junior  Women 8+			Junior  Men 8+
	Masters Women 8+			Masters Men 8+
	Open Women 4x-			Open Men 4x-
	Junior  Women 4x-			Junior  Men 4x-
	Junior  Women 4x+			Junior  Men 4x+
	Open Novice Men 8 +			Open Men 4+
	Open Women 4+			Masters Men 4x -
	Masters Women 4x-			Open Novice Women 8+
	Open Men 2x			Masters Mixed 4x-
	Masters Men 2x			Open Women 2x
	Masters Mixed 2x			Masters Women 2x
	Open Men 1x			Open Novice Men 4x-
	Masters Men 1x			Masters Men 1x
				Masters Women 1x
				Open Women 1x

 
REGATTA SCHEDULE
Friday

5:30p.m -  8:00p.m

Trailer Parking will be accommodated in two locations as designated by site coordinators.  Craigflower-Kosapsom Park - Admirals Road and Gorge Road West  Esquimalt Gorge Park - Shoaling Waters - Sioux Place Rd.  *Bow markers available for pick up **City event permit states that no trailers may park till 5:30pm. Violation of this permit can lead to permanent cancellation of the event.  ***Trailers arriving early must wait at Elk Lake until the city clears access

7:00 PM - Coach Coxies Meeting - Join Zoom Meeting (click here)  Meeting ID: 863 6692 1043 Password: 126885 One tap mobile +17789072071,,86366921043#,,,,0#,,126885# Canada +16475580588,,86366921043#,,,,0#,,126885# Canada

Saturday-Head of the Gorge 

6:30am	Registration Opens
2021 N/A due to COVID	Coxie, Coach & Bow person meeting
approximately 10:00am	Flight 1 Estimated Start Time (dependent on tides)
approximately 1:00pm	Flight 2 Estimated Start Time (dependent on tides)

Sunday-Tail of the Gorge

7:00am	Registration Opens
2021 N/A due to COVID	Coxie, Coach & Bow person meeting
11:00am	Flight 1 Estimated Start Time (dependent on tides)
2:30pm	Flight 2 Estimated Start Time (dependent on tides)

   2021 ENTRY DEADLINES
Registration opens on September 14, 2021
All Entries must be received by midnight (PDT) October 8, 2021
There will be a regatta entry cap of 100 entries per flight with priority being given to large boats.  
 
ONLINE REGISTRATION 
All clubs and individuals apply for entries through Regatta Central.
 
ENTRY ACCEPTANCE

• Coaches of international crews may communicate with the LOC chair to ensure entries for passport and international travel reasons. 
• The total number of entries in the event is limited by the ability to effectively launch and marshal an entire flight within a window that allows for reasonable racing.  
• Single scullers are guaranteed an entry the following year on the basis of finishing within 5% of the winning time in their event division. Single scullers are guaranteed entry acceptance into the single category of choice, provided all conditions of eligibility, deadlines, fees, etc. are met.  All other single entries will be subjected to regatta capacity.
• Guaranteed entries for double sculls will follow the same procedure as the single sculls.  The finishing percentages for the double sculls apply only in the condition that the entry application names the same two individuals who competed the prior year.
• Events larger than the double have a guaranteed entry for the crews that finish in the top half of the event that they competed in the previous year, provided that all conditions of eligibility, deadlines, fees, etc., are met

DRAW
A  Draw will be posted online at Regatta Central the Monday of the week of the event. This draw is subject to changes until one day out from the regatta to ensure that the umpires have the most current information regarding entries and scratches. 
 

Event	Entrance Fee
1X	$45.00
2X	$75.00
4X/4x+	$100.00
4+	$100.00
8+	$160.00

• Rowing BC per seat/per day fee of $3.50 applicable on top of entry fees
• Rowing Canada Aviron per seat per day fee of $3.75 applicable on top of entry fees
• All entries will have the 5% GST surcharge added
• All entry fees are due to complete an entry

SCRATCH FEES
Scratches must be done online with Regatta Central.
Should a club scratch a crew, the entry will automatically be handed to the next crew on the waiting list and thus cannot be retrieved for the crew that scratched.  
Entry Fees will not be refunded if scratched after the entry deadline.
Scratch fees are $35.00 per scratch after the scratch deadline. 
 
LATE ENTRIES
Late entries will be accepted if the schedule has room to allow for this. Fees for late entries are double the standard entry fee. Applications for late entries must be done online at Regatta Central and will not be accepted till payment is made. 
 
CREW LINE UPS
All crews must submit crew lineups through Regatta Central.  Entries can be adjusted on Regatta Data. . 
Substitutes for races can be submitted online on Regatta Data until crews pass control commission as long as the crew remains eligible.
CLASSIFICATIONS
ELIGIBILITY
All organizations and participants must be members in good standing with their respective governing bodies.

REGATTA PACKAGES AND ONLINE LIABILITY WAIVER
COURSE MAPS
Head of the Gorge Course Map (click here)
Tail of the Gorge Course Map (click here)
Head of the Gorge Trestle Bridge Low Tide Hazard (click here)

BOW NUMBERS
SEEDING    
COACH / COXIE MEETING LAUNCHING 

• All crews will wet launch from the Esquimalt Gorge Park or Craigflower Park.
• The safety meeting will occur via zoom on Friday night - all other communications will occur via the West Coast Regattas Whatsapp (click here). 
• When crews delay launching, they create a bottle neck that makes the start late so crews need to begin launching in a timeline which allows them to get to the start line in time (25minute row up without the narrows)
• Coaches with novice crews are responsible for launching them early and as their first priority as these crews take the longest to get through the narrows and need to be clear early or will be excluded from the event. 
• Singles should also launch early as it takes them longer to get to the start line than the bigger boats. 
• All crews have 1 minute on the beach and must have oar and shoe carriers with them.  
• All crews will come under the command of the Beach Marshall once they have made it through control commission. 
• The Beach Marshall must close the beach 55 minutes before start of racing to ensure all crews make it to the start line on time. 
• Boats walking down to launch must arrive with the bow facing in the direction of the start line of that particular race (bow facing Johnson Street Bridge  for the Head, bow facing Admirals Road for the Tail). All crews will walk down with oarlocks undone and waterside assistants nearby to hand oars down immediately. 
• All crews ought to plan to have waterproof layers to put on while they wait for the rest of the field to come through the narrows.
• There will be no hot seating at the launch area.  Boats from the first flight must clear off the racecourse before boats from the second flight may launch.
• The beach at Gorge Point Park has two clam shell beds close by which leave shards of shell underfoot. It is advised to have people near by to bring shoes to you for foot protection.  
• Please be vigilant for floating obstacles at all times and notify race officials of any flotsam or jetsam you encounter.
• All races will start on time or as close to start-time as tidal conditions will safely allow.
• *Due to the nature of a tidal waterway – LOC Chairs reserve the right to delay launch and start based on appropriate water depth/lagging tides.

START ORDER AND COMMANDS 

• Each crew is responsible for being on time for their event and in proper queue order according to bow number. Because of the size and the nature of each this regatta, it is impossible to wait for latecomers. 
• Where possible, latecomers to the start will be moved to the very back of their respective event, if latecomers fail to be present for their respective event they will row at the end of the flight with an appropriate time gap from last race.
• A boat that starts out of sequence against orders of the starter may be excluded..
• If a crew has equipment failure or loses their bow marker prior to start, he/she/they should notify the marshals/officials as soon as possible. Race organizers will help resolve equipment issues where possible. Crews with issues that cannot be resolved will be held in a safe marshaling area until such time as it is safe to proceed with safety boat support to the finish line. 
• Crews will then find themselves under the direction of the marshal who will advance crews towards the start line with appropriate intervals.
• Close any gap that occurs between you and the crew ahead of you, until arriving even with the Marshal who will release you toward the Start Line at 15-30 second intervals i.e, “Crew # 11, name of crew… On the paddle”.  Be attentive and ready to react to this instruction.  
• Crews should cross the Start Line with a consistent gap both ahead and behind.  The Starter will call “Go” when the crew crosses the start line and your race clock begins.

 RACING 

• Incidents of unsportsmanlike conduct by a competitor or crew, including the use of personally abusive language shall be reported to the Jury by the witnessing official. The jury may impose penalties ranging from reprimand to time penalties up to 60 seconds or exclusion. 
• When a passing crew closes to within one length of open water on the boat being overtaken, it is the responsibility of the slower boat to yield the line chosen by the passer in a timely manner. The yield should be completed by the time the overtaking boat has closed to within ½ boat length. A crew failing to yield to a passer when there is adequate room and time to yield can/will incur interference penalties for failure to yield.  
• A passing crew has the right to choose the side of their choice if and when a safe pass can be accomplished. The passer must allow sufficient room for both their boat and the boat overtaken to stay safely within the race course.
• If a pass is attempted, the passer shall not press the right to overtake to the point of severe collision. The actual severe collision incident may be caused by either a passer or passee.
• A severe collision is defined as one that causes damage to a boat, personal injury, the boat being overtaken is forced either off the race course or into a bridge, or a rower is struck by the oars/blades of another boat.
• If a crew causes a severe collision, that crew may be assessed a 60 second penalty and may be subject to further sanctions.  After crossing the finish line, boats should immediately paddle to clear the finish line and await the finish of the race before returning to the launch area.
• If one or more rowers are lost from a boat during the race, the affected crew should first ensure the safety or rescue of the rowers. If the rower(s) is (are) safe, the crew may continue to the finish line.

CAUTIONS: HEAD OF THE GORGE
The Gorge Waterway is a tidal, saltwater, navigable waterway. Crews must adhere to maritime rules of right of way should a situation warrant it.

• Crews may be limited in their attempts to make it through the narrows on the way to the start line based on their skill levels. Coaches should take responsibility for the level of skill required to get through the narrows.
• For safety reasons, novice crews ought only row quads and eights in this event.  Novice crews are recommended to launch before experienced crews allowing them ample time to get through the narrows with reduced stress for ALL regatta participants.  Should novice crews not make it through the narrows before the narrows are officially closed, the local organizing committee (LOC) can choose to exclude them for safety reasons.  
• As crews approach the Tillicum Narrows they go under the direction of the official under the bridge. The official has a tremendous amount of experience in helping crews through the narrows and crews must respond to their directions efficiently to ensure the safe navigation of tidal waterways.
• Coxswains must refrain from “helping” the official on the narrows by giving commands while the crew is under the official’s direction. Athletes must remember their port and starboard side and respond immediately to the calls of the official. 
• The nature of the Head of the Gorge race requires that all boats clear the narrows and are marshaled in a common area before the race may commence. This places one hundred boats into a common marshal/warmup pattern.
• Immediately after passing under the Bay St Bridge, crews should turn to port in order to join the clockwise warm-up flow in the Victoria-side of the widest portion of the Upper Harbour.  The warmup flow pattern is marked by two large buoys. 
• Boats are forbidden from taking hard strokes past the Johnson Street Bridge. The Inner Harbour has commercial air and boat traffic- crossing past the Johnson Street bridge must be done with great caution and only to turn into the queue to line up to race.
• Crews are strongly recommended to practice quick turns in order to keep the start line moving. 

Once crews leave the marshaling area they go under the direction of the pre marshaling umpires who will work to put crews in numerical order.

• From the warmup pattern, an Umpire will act as a gateway to ensure that only the next-required event/category proceeds. For example, the umpire will call :“Open Women 4x- … Move forward”, often urging crews by bow number to keep on-time. Please know your bow number.
• The next Umpire will ensure that crews proceed in bow number sequence continuously toward the starboard turn on the Inner Harbour side of the Johnson St bridge.  For example, “Crew 12 (UVIC) … please keep moving, single file”.
• Crews will do a quick turn around the safety boat above the Johnson Street Bridge. Crews are advised to practice quick turns so that they keep the flow of hulls to the start line continuous and efficient.
• Crews will then find themselves under the direction of the marshal who will advance crews towards the start line with appropriate intervals.
• The Head of the Gorge has an “Out of Bounds” inside of the Marine Navigational Buoys located across from the Gorge Narrows Rowing Club.
• Any crew cutting that corner places their boat and crew at risk and may be penalized.
• The Head of the Gorge has a no passing zone in preparation for the Tillicum Narrows. This no passing zone is for the safety of all competitors.  A crew passing as they approach the no passing zone will be called down by the umpires if they have not fully passed before the passing crew enters the buoys that mark the no passing zone.  
• Failure to listen to the umpire and falling in behind the crew ahead can result in penalties which could include disqualification. 

 
CAUTIONS: TAIL OF THE GORGE

• Setting up to exit the Craigflower bridge is key to successfully racing this event.   
• The center two spans of the Craigflower bridge are the only designated safe passages.
• The line of racing as demarcated by the buoy line sets all crews up for ideal exit to set up for the next turn.
• The outer spans are off limits and using them places your crews and others in peril.  

• The water outside of the approved warmup/marshaling areas gets quite shallow as it is the head of a tidal inlet.
• As this is a saltwater, tidal, navigable waterway, there will be shallow areas that are marked as out of bounds. As with all cautions for regattas, entering into these areas creates a serious risk of losing a skeg or damaging a hull. Moving outside of the approved (read buoyed) warmup/marshaling area is done at a crew’s own risk.
• At VERY low tide, the Tail of the Gorge has two submerged rocks that are marked by buoys.  You ignore these markings at your own peril. Your understanding that marker buoys indicate both course directions and hazards is key to your successful navigation of this regatta.

• Crews are strongly recommended to adhere to the line of racing as detailed by the regatta as it will set a crew up for the safest and most efficient line
• The Tail of the Gorge finishes just before the beach at Esquimalt Gorge Park.
• Crews that cross the finish line must row clear of the finish line and then towards the Tillicum narrows before they turn around and row back safely along the shore line to the launch area.

• For the 2021 finish, bring layers of clothes that allow you to sit in rain and be warm while we wait for the entire flight to finish and allow for the row back to Craigflower-Kosapsom Park 

INFRACTIONS AND PENALTIES TRAILER REGISTRATION

• All crews intending to bring a trailer must notify the regatta organizers via email. If a crew is sharing a trailer, that information must also be provided to assist the LOC in deciding where your trailer goes. Due to the limited space, for parking and rigging, priority trailer parking will be given to those trailers that are fully loaded.
• Trailers will be parked at Esquimalt Gorge Park (Sioux Pl, Victoria, BC V9A 6L7) or Craigflower Park at the intersection of Gorge Road and Admirals Road. 
• Trailers will have access to parking from 5:30pm onward Friday. If trailers arrive before this time they will need to park at the Elk Lake rowing facility and wait until access to parking is granted.  Respecting this request will ensure the ongoing ability to host this event as we require permits to host and violation of the permits places the regatta at risk of having no launch site. 

• Boat storage will be provided at Esquimalt Gorge Park for Saturday and Sunday. Trailers should remain loaded until Saturday morning.  Competitors will keep the beach launch area clear for launch but may place small hulls above the marking tape.
• All tents must be fully collapsed with corners released to prevent wind and rain damage in event of a storm. This protects the tents and surrounding equipment from unnecessary damage.
• Security will be provided to increase security of hulls overnight for both Friday and Saturday nights. Neither the regatta nor the University of Victoria assumes responsibility for any of the equipment. 

Real time results issued on www.regattadata.com
Follow Twitter @vikesrow for race updates, the start and unofficial results
West Coast Regattas Whatsapp.   will update all athletes and coaches on any regatta changes or challenges. 
Final Results will be posted by end of day. 
 
MEDALS
All first place crews will be awarded medals. A category must have three entries to be considered an event.
The LOC will strive to have results posted within an hour of the end of each flight. Notification of final results will be posted via Whatsapp .
The results tent will be staffed for 1 hour after the last race of the day each day for medal pickup. Medals will not be carried forward to the next year for awarding. 

• Crews are responsible and accountable for directing their own course at all times.
• As per RCA Rules of Racing -safety boats and umpires will only direct a crew during racing when a crew is in imminent peril. A crew is strongly advised to listen to the safety boats in these instances.
• Safety crews will attempt to help in situations where equipment failure has occurred or bow markers are lost. 
• Safety crews do not have the authority of umpires and crews with issues must ensure they speak with an umpire should they have an issue that impacts their ability to race.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE
All Non Uvic Athletes See St. John's Ambulance at the launch site for Minor Injuries and Emergencies. 
All UVic Athletes See UVic first responders in the Uvic Athletics Team Tent on the launch site. 

Substantial Emergency
Dial 911.
Extraction points include but are not limited to:

• SMUS/Gorge Narrows Rowing Club
• Tillicum Narrows
• Esquimalt Gorge Park
• Craigflower-Kosapsom Park
• Trans-Canada Highway. 

Regatta First Aid Plan 

Events must be sanctioned by Rowing BC and must adhere to the Safety Rules outlined in the RCA Rules

of Racing Part 8, attached) and in the approved sanction document.

1. Chief Umpire

Responsibilities:

• uphold the RCA Rules of Racing
• work with the LOC to ensure safe, fair and enjoyable racing
• CU is equipped with a VHF radio for communicating with Safety Officer, Regatta Chair and Umpires

2. First Aid

• Located in Therapy Tent on Gorge Narrows Apron 
• First Aid attendant: minimum certification: Basic First Aid and First Responder
• On site at least 30 minutes before the start of the first scheduled race, until 30 minutes after the last race occurs each day.
• First Aid protocols are outlined in UVIC Emergency Response plan for regattas
• First Aid attendant is equipped with a VHF radio for communicating with the Safety Officer

3. Safety Officer

• Onsite when regatta course is open for training or racing
• Equipped with VHF radio for communicating with First Aid, umpires and Regatta Chair Responsibilities:
• Monitor safety and flow pattern on the water. Notify Regatta Chair of any issues, adjust warmup course, location of marshals and safety boat drivers as necessary.
• Respond to any Safety issues that arise during the regatta; co-ordinate response with Chief Umpire.

4. Safety and Umpire boats

• The number of safety and umpire boats for the regatta is listed in the RCA sanction document.
• Minimum of 9 safety boats on the water during racing and at least 1 safety boat on the water during training.
• Safety and umpire boats are equipped with: 12 PFDs, Safety kit (15m buoyant heaving line, first aid kit, flashlight, whistle), paddle, bailer (or pump).
• All boats carry portable VHF marine radios, for communicating with the Safety Officer and Chief Umpire.

Nearest Clinic 

Coastal Roots Health Center 
9am-6pm 
2988 Jutland Road 
Victoria BC
V8T 5K2

Burnside Family Clinic
101 Burnside Rd W. Victoria, 
BC V9A1B7 

Nearest Pharmacy 
Pharmasave Admirals Walk, Admirals Walk Shopping Center
100-1497 Admirals Road, Victoria, BC V9A 2P8
 

Instructions for 911 Call Person:

1. Call 911

2. Inform the operator about the current situation (ie. number of people injured, suspected injuries and care being given)

3. Request an Ambulance

4. Give all location information

5. Inform them that they will be met at the described entrance

6. Return UVic Medical to inform them that EMS has been activated.

Traci Vanderbijl – lead medical/therapist UVic

250-588-1902

Nearest Hospital:

Victoria General Hospital,

1 Hospital Way, Victoria BC V8Z 6R5 (11.7 km away, 13 minutes) 

• Follow Patricia Bay Hwy/BC-17 to McKenzie Ave. Take exit 7 from Patricia Bay Hwy/BC-17
• Merge onto McKenzie Ave
• Continue on Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 N to View Royal. Take exit 8 from Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 N
• Take Watkiss Way to Hospital Way

 

Interested in supporting Vikes Rowing and becoming a sponsor for this event? Connect with Marissa Bentley, Sponsorship Coordinator at stuasponsor@uvic.ca.