IVF World Sprints Rules – Keaukaha Canoe Club – Hilo Hawaii Paddling Club on the Big Island

(Unofficial – please double check information with linked official documentation. Errors or omissions? Contact us!)

This is a summary taken from the Q&A and the IVF rules. It consists of the key things most paddlers might find unique to this event.

The full and official documents can be found here:

Rules: https://www.ivfiv.org/race-rules–progressions.html

Q&A: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VSyA0uxpKv672awdDP1h5X6Pcszhht1q/edit#heading=h.gjdgxs

Code of Conduct: https://www.ivfiv.org/code-of-conduct.html

Uniforms

With the exception of variations in sleeve length (eg sleeveless, short sleeve or long sleeve), competitors in the same crew must wear identical team uniform tops in competition. Underlayers may be worn by one or more of the crew and are not part of the uniform. Clothing worn below the waist need not be uniform. Headwear is optional and may be worn by only those needing or wanting to wear them.

No there can be no sponsor logos on any racing uniform.

Crews

3.g Competitors participating in the Elite V6 or V12 events will be allowed to join their club crew without limitation on the number of elite competitors per crew, with the exception of Open Club V6 and Open Club V12 crews which are limited to 3 elite competitors per Open Club V6 entry or 6 elite competitors per Open Club V12 entry.

Paddlers must stay the same 6 or 12 who swiped through at the check in desk for their first heat for an event. Crew changes can not be made for additional heats for that event. The only exception is with a medical withdrawal.

The only competitors who may be considered for a random drug test will be Elite paddlers including V6, V12 & V1 are are over 18 years of age.

Coaches are not allowed in the staging and marshalling area. Only the paddlers and area coordinators with their ID cards are allowed in.

Miscellaneous

Altering the va’a without permission from an official, this includes bringing in seat and footboard accessories (para va’a excluded), attaching electronic equipment, is not allowed and may be cause for disqualification.

A paddle shall have one blade and may be of any shape or size. It may be constructed from any material.

9.b No seat accessories (padding, etc.) may be brought into the canoe by the competitor with the exception of para va’a equipment as noted in 14.b.

Wax cannot be used as it would leave residue behind.

‘Iako settings must remain as set the same for all competitors. Do not change them.

V1’s will not have foot rests and no foot rest can be added – with the exception of Para Va’a

Straight lanes will be 15m wide

Turns lanes will be 30m wide

6 lanes for Elite V6 (straight and turn) and Elite V12

Everything else is 8 lanes:

Club 500 v6 @ v12 = 8 lanes
Club Turns = 8 lanes
Elite V1 = 8 Lanes

Paddlers can paddle in more than 1 age division. However, the race schedule will not be modified to suit individual paddler or team’s needs/requests.

Non-Race Activities

4:00pm on Thursday 15th August–OPENING CEREMONY — Countries will need to gather for the Parade at 3:30pm
7:15am Tuesday 13th August — Canoe Blessing
6:00pm Tuesday 20th August — Cultural Night — Edith Kanaka’ole Stadium
6:00pm – 10:00pm – Fearless Fess 24th August After Party organized by @SoJuicyHawaii at the @hilotownmarket — local bands, $45 tickets https://app.promotix.com/trade/select-tickets/Fearless-Fess-tickets?referrer=all-events&org_event_id=Fearless-Fess-tickets&is_recurring_event=2

Course Familiarization Schedule

Each country gets a block of time to have the course to train on.

August 13 – 15^th http://www.ivfiv.org/course-familiarisation.html

HAWAII COURSE FAMILIARIZATION TIMES:

Time slots depend on your group in Team Hawai’i. Slots for specific teams and crews has not been announced yet.

8/13 – V6 Turns, Lane 5, 6, 7, 8 11:00am to 12:50pm
8/14 – V1 only Lane 1, 2, 3 3:00pm to 5:50pm
8/14 – V6 500m Straight Course, Lanes 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 1:00pm – 2:50pm
8/14 V6 Turns Lane 5, 6, 7, 8 7:00am – 10:50am
8/15 V1 only Lane 1 & 2 7:00am to 7:50am
8/15 V6 Straight Lane 7 1:00pm to 2:50pm
8/15 V6 Straight Lane 8 11:00am to 2:50pm
8/15 V6 Turns Lane 5 7:00am to 9:50am

Race Rules

http://www.ivfiv.org/race-rules–progressions.html

http://www.ivfiv.org/uploads/1/3/7/9/137911945/race_rules_sprint__2023_reviewed_final.pdf

The course will be set up as shown on the course diagram below.

1) Straight races are demarcated by the buoy markings on each side of the lane.

2) Turn races shall turn around the flag marking the center of the lane. The width of the lane is from buoy to buoy. The canoe must remain within the buoy markings throughout the course of the race.

Paddling, including any stationary use of the paddle in the water, is only allowed while the competitor is in a sitting position on a seat in the va’a. Competitors must remain in a seated contact position in the va’a (no standing or kneeling).

Holders may be used, and may be either:

1) by mechanical means, or

2) by people to hold the stern of the va’a by way of a platform or from the water.

STARTS

Starting procedures must be as follows:

1) Immediately prior to race start time, the Starter will raise a white flag signaling va’a to come to the pre-start line.

2) As soon as the va’a are lined up on the pre-start line, the Aligner will communicate to the Starter the OK to raise a red flag signaling the va’a to line up evenly on the start line.

3) As soon as the va’a are lined up evenly, the Aligner must communicate quietly to the Starter by radio to start the race.

4) Instantaneously upon radio communication, the Starter will simultaneously lower the red flag and raise a green flag signaling the start of the race. An air horn or other sound device may simultaneously be set off, but the green flag is the official start.

5) If the Aligner is unable to line up the va’a evenly and their positioning makes it difficult to do so, they may order the white flag to be raised and begin the process again.

6) At the start of a race, no va’a shall have an illegal advantage. All va’a that are lined up illegally will be provided a warning by the raising of the black flag indicating an infraction exists and will be given the opportunity to line up correctly. If, after reasonable time, any va’a persists in lining up so that an illegal advantage is gained, the Aligner may start the race. The black flag remaining raised at the start indicates that an infraction will be called.

7) If the Aligner, after communicating to the Starter to start the race, sees an unfair situation not previously noticed, a rerun must be immediately called.

Interruption

a. The Race Director, the Head Course Judge or the Aligner may authorize the interruption of a race if an unforeseen problem occurs. A red flag will be used to halt the race.

b. In case of an overturn, any outside help will result in a disqualification of the competitor. The course officials may, at their discretion, authorize or provide outside help.

Turns

a. Turns are to be made counter-clockwise, with the ama nearest to and rounding the flag.

b. During a turn, the canoe shall not run over the flag in such a way that the flag is between the ama and the hull. If this occurs, the competitor shall be disqualified.

Finish

a. The finish line is crossed when the bow of the va’a passes the finish flags, or as noted in 18.b below.

b. When finish line systems are used whereby the camera may be blocked by the finish line flags, an imaginary line one meter in front of the finish flags will be the official finish line.

c. Any va’a finishing without its entire crew will result in the crew being disqualified.

d. Any va’a outside its assigned lane during the course of the race, including the finish will result in a crew disqualification.

e. Electronic photo finish system for the recording of finish times and place is the preferred system for a sprint regatta. Va’a and lane markings should be identifiable via the pictures captured. A manual backup system for verification of the order of finish must be provided. A secondary video should be provided in the event the main system is not operating properly at any time.

f. For timing of events, the photo finish system may be equipped with timing options. A secondary manual timing system shall be required. An acceptable timing unit shall be used. A single recording timer ensures the start time is fixed for all competitors and the finish time is recorded in chronological order on the tape.

g. Va’a should continue through the pre-start area before turning off the course.

Disqualification

a. The following provisions as stated in these rules are cause for automatic disqualification:

1) Competing while not a member of a Member Federation, affiliated or otherwise, of the IVF. (Section 3a)

2) Competing for more than one crew in an event will disqualify both crews from the competition. (Section 3b)

3) A competitor who is a citizen of or resides in an IVF Member Federation area competing in a team from another Member Federation area. (Section 3c)

4) Not meeting the age requirements. (Section 5)

5) Using prohibited drugs. (Section 6)

6) Paddling in a non-seated position. (Section 14a)

7) Starting incorrectly. (Section 15)

8) Not rounding the flags in a counter-clockwise direction. (Section 17a)

9) When making a turn around a flag resulting in the flag passing between the ama and hull. (Section 17b)

10) Finishing without the entire crew in the va’a. (Section 18c)

11) Going outside of one’s lane. (Section 18d, 12.a.2.)

12) Unsporting conduct. (Section 25b)

13) Para competitors will be disqualified if they do not meet all the requirements contained in the separate “Para Va’a Rules and Classification System” document.

14) Having more than 3 Elite competitors in an Open Club V6 or more than 6 Elite in an Open Club V12 (Event 1).

15) Not wearing appropriate uniform in a Elite team, Elite V1 or Club crew as defined in 19 d. and f.

16) Altering the va’a without permission of an official, this includes bringing in seat and foot board accessories (Section 9.) (para va’a excluded)

17) Competitor being assisted by outside help in the event of the va’a overturning. (Section 16)

b. Besides the reasons set out for disqualification in other parts of these rules, any competitor who attempts to win an event by means other than those which are honest, does not respect the race rules, or who displays unsporting conduct, shall be disqualified for the entire duration of the championships.

c. All disqualifications are to be pronounced by the Race Director and shall be immediately confirmed in writing with reasons given. The Area Coordinator of any disqualified competitor shall then be notified, given a copy of the disqualification form and acknowledge receipt thereof on a copy indicating the precise time, which is the start of the protest time. The disqualification shall then be publicly announced and posted. The disqualification will be posted without Area Coordinator acknowledgment and receipt after 10 minutes has passed since being called.

Sample 2022 Races:

500m is straight – no turns
1000m turns on the 250m for 3 turns
1500m turns on the 250m for 5 turns

V12 500m https://youtu.be/R7XUXxJYMA0?t=2588

V6 1000m https://youtu.be/K6OtAkN76N4?t=105

V6 1500m (Open Men Final) – https://youtu.be/OiuZ0zUSdpg