**  This is a Belize Canoe Association Sanctioned  Race  **

BCAnoe – Race Rules

January 01, 2013

(modified for this race – 2019)

  • Disclaimer

In consideration of being permitted to participate in this event and to compete for prizes and awards, each participant and team sponsor hereby agrees that neither the team sponsors,  the event sponsors/promoters or organizers nor any person or entity connected with Event Organizer is responsible to them for any injury to themselves or damage to their property as a result of their participation in this event and that they specifically waive any such claims and fully release and hold harmless said persons from any such liability or claims.  The Event Organizer will not be responsible for any delays, expenses or inconveniences which may be caused directly or indirectly by any events including acts of God, government, machinery, or equipment.  In addition, all participants hereby understand the risk involved in canoe and kayak racing and shall adhere to safe precautions and agree to abide by all the rules and regulations set forth in this document.

 

  • Waiver

Before being permitted to participate in this event, each participant must fill out, sign and submit the waiver document to the race organizer.  Minors require a parent or legal guardian to sign the document. Failure to submit a signed form will result in the participant not being about to start.

 

  • Registration
    • Open to any person.
    • Deadline is the Friday the week before the race, completed registration forms must be submitted and the registration fee paid. Teams that have registered and wish to cancel will get a refund of 50% of the registration if this cancellation is made by 5pm on the Wednesday before the race.  After that time registration is forfeited.
    • There will be NO LATE REGISTRATION.

 

  • Before the Race
    • No Team will be allowed on the starting line unless officially registered and have received the all clear from the Race Official. Teams are required to check in with the Race Official in advanced of the event.
    • All participants MUST have submitted their signed waiver form to the Race Official.
    • Canoes and kayaks MUST be registered with a BCAnoe racing number which shall be attached to the front of the canoe/kayak. Those teams violating this rule will not be allowed to race. Racing number will be available with your registration package.
    • Prior to a race, no contestant nor his/her support crew will touch or move any other contestant’s craft or equipment without permission.

 

  • Start of Race
    • Teams must check-in with the officials before the race on race morning to record their participation.
    • Each team member MUST WEAR a Coast Guard approved, inspected and serviceable, LIFE PRESERVER or Personal Flotation Device P. F. D. and have an Auditory Device (plastic whistle without the ball) that is attached to his/her life preserver or P.F.D. at all times while on the water. The whistle is only to be blown during and in case of an emergency. Those teams violating this rule will immediately be disqualified.
    • Teams must be on the river at least 5 minutes before the start time.
    • The start shall be on time and shall be given without reference to any absentees.
    • There shall be a 5 minute notice and a countdown notice at 2mins, 1min and finally 30 seconds, there shall be no countdown beyond 30seconds, the next word shall be “SET” followed, at any given time after, by the sounding of the starting gun or air horn to commence the race.
    • If a team commences paddling after the word “SET” and before the shot or sound of the horn, this is a false start and shall be called within 15 seconds of the starts by two quick blasts of the starting gun or air horn. A failure to return to the starting line after a false start is a disqualification. The team that attempts a false or unfair start will be warned. A second warning will result in the imposition of 2 minutes time penalty, third warning will result a disqualification.

 

  • Team Composition / Division
    • Teams may consist 2 members ONLY, in all canoe categories and double kayaks.  1 member for solo kayaks and SUP.  No substitution of original team members will be allowed at any time during the entire course of the race for teams comprising of multiple members.
    • The race will be divided into Eight (8) Canoe Categories. Teams may register and compete in one (1) Category only.  All teams from all canoe categories compete to be the overall Canoe Class Champion Winner.  Similarly, the kayak and SUP classes compete for the overall Kayak Class Champion and SUP Class respectively. Only the Canoe Class is categorized, below are the categories:
  1. Men’s Combined Ages 20 – 39: Both team members must be male with total combined age being between 20 and 39 years inclusive.
  2. Men’s Combined Ages 40 – 69: Both team members must be male with total combined age being between 40 and 69 inclusive.
  3. Men’s Combined Ages 70 – 99: Both team members must be male with total combined age being between 70 and 99 inclusive.
  4. Men’s Combined Ages 100+: Both team members must be male with total combined age being 100 years or greater.
  5. Co-ed Combined Ages 20 – 49: Team members shall have 1 male and 1 female member with total combined age being between 20 and 49 years or inclusive.
  6. Co-ed Combined Ages 50+:  Team members shall have 1 male and 1 female member with total combined age being 50 years or greater.
  7. Women’s Combined Ages 20 – 49: All team members must be female with total combined age being between 20 and 49 years inclusive.
  8. Women’s Combined Ages 50+: All team members must be female with total combined age being 50 years or greater.

 (Other paddle crafts once becoming numerous will have their own categories)

 

  • Craft Type, Length, Construction and Restrictions
    • Only open CANOES with a maximum length of TWENTY (20) FEET will be allowed to compete. Canoes may be constructed of any material and by any method, sections and longitudinal lines of the hull shall not be concave (only horizontally and vertically).  For safety considerations the material and/or permanently added flotation shall provide at least 25 pounds of buoyancy with the canoe swamped.
    • Any craft specifications as previously used in Belize up to 2012, in addition, any craft recognized by the International Canoe Federation (ICF) for C1 and C2 canoes and K1, K2 and K4 kayaks.  Surfski single and double, Sit on top or sit in kayaks singe and double, and SUP shall be allowed.
    • The following restrictions shall apply to all canoes:
  • Rudders: Steering rudders or any guiding apparatus directing the course of the craft WILL NOT be permitted.
  • Keels: A keel, if any, must be straight and shall extend over the entire length of the craft and not project more than ONE (1) inch below the hull.
  • Decking: A maximum of TWENTY-FOUR (24) inches of cowl or decking of any kind or material WILL be permitted at each end of the canoe. The center of the canoe between both paddlers may also be covered.

 

  • Bailers & Spray Skirts
    • Any Non-Mechanical bailers (i.e. scoop or sponges) or any type of person-powered manually operated bilge pump or permanently installed siphon may be used. Electrical or battery-powered bailers are NOT allowed.
    • Permanent or temporary spray skirts or other devises used to deflect or prevent water from entering the canoe can be used.

 

  • Propulsion
    • Propulsion will be by manual, human muscle powered, single blade or double blade paddles. Paddles may be made of any material and the blades may be of any shape, width or angle. These must not be attached to the craft in any way. Motors, sails or any other mechanically powered propulsion devices of any nature or kind ARE NOT allowed.
    • All CANOES shall use SINGLE blade paddles only. All KAYAKS shall use DOUBLE blade paddles only.

 

  • Protest
    • Verbal: Any team with a dispute can verbally voice their discontent to the Race Official before the start of the award ceremony. If a solution is not resolved, the team may indicate their intent to submit a formal written protest.
    • Written: The WRITTEN protest accompanied with $20 (non-refundable fee) must be submitted to the Competition Manager within 48 hours after the race. Protest received after this time will not be accepted. Decisions regarding all protests are within the sole parameter of the BCAnoe’s Protest Committee.

 

  • Appeals
    • Any competitor/team has the right to appeal against any decision handed down from the Protest Committee. After receiving that decision, a verbal intent to appeal must be made within 24 hours to the Executive Body. The appeal in WRITING shall be accompanied with $50 fee (refundable if the appeal is upheld) to the Belize Canoe Association no later than 4 days after.  Appeals received after this time will not be accepted.  The ruling of the BCAnoe’s Appeals Board is considered Final.

 

  • Approaching the Officials
    • Each team will designate one person who will be responsible for the actions of his team and communications with the Race Officials.  This person will only be recognized by the race officials if he or she is wearing the designate badge.

 

  • During the Race
    • Each team is completely responsible for their own safety, food, drinks, equipment, and any other necessities.
    • Intentional littering will result in disqualification of any team found guilty of this act.
    • Once the race has officially started, modifications or changes of any kind to the original design, shape or construction of a team’s canoe/kayak are NOT allowed. Necessary repairs in the event of damage to the craft during a race can be made. Replacement of craft is not permitted!
    • All teams must remain in the water within the natural banks of the river. Canoes/kayaks may be carried or dragged through shallow waters or around total river flow obstructions or any obstruction that exceeds personal safety considerations. When portaging around an obstruction, a team is required to re-enter the river at the nearest safe entry point immediately after the obstruction.
    • If the race route is marked, all teams must navigate along the marked path. Teams will be disqualified if they deviate from the marked route.
    • All teammates are to remain together while engaged in the actual race. In the event that a team member or members are forced to leave the canoe/kayak and discontinue the race for medical or other reasons, he or she does so at their own risk and can disembark from the canoe/kayak only where (a) their support crew or (b) a race official is waiting. The team then therefore forfeit the race and is out of the competition.
    • Teams WILL NOT be allowed to receive any physical assistance of any kind or nature from ANYONE during the course of the race, except (a) if a team has capsized, that team may receive assistance with emptying their craft and regaining their paddling position, but not be progressed in any way. (b) In emergency life-threatening situations or (c) authorized assistance received from Race Officials.
    • Teams WILL be allowed to receive assistance from their ground support crews during the course of the race, as long as it does not impede other competitors, but may not be progressed in any way. Such assistance is limited to water, nutritional liquids, food, clothing, replacement of faulty equipment, first aid services and repairs.

 

  • Wave/Wash Riding
    • No competitor may wash/wave ride a competitor of another class.

 

  • Portage
    • Competitors may only portage at points designated by the race organizers.
    • The portage limits start and end locations shall be identified and marked by diagonally divided flag with one half in red and the other in yellow.
    • All competitors (and their designated helpers where approved) shall disembark in the defined area, carry their craft around the portage and embark in the defined area.
    • Any water after the end of the disembarkation area and before the start of the embarkation area is out of bounds.
    • Competitors shall not received any physical assistance with their craft getting in and out of the water.
    • A competitor suffering from a lower-body handicap may, by prior agreement from the Race Official, receive assistance at a portage, provided no advantage is received as a result of such assistance and provided the competitor leaves or is lifted from his or her canoe/kayak before the helpers carry the craft.
    • For the Highway Run portage on day one, teams can receive replenishment of their supplies during the portage, and their support crew can run along side them while being serviced.
    • San Estevan Portage, since this is short and space is limited, ONLY one service personnel will be allowed to replenish the team, the person must do this quickly and leave the designated portage area.

 

  • Sea Paddling
    • Traverse the sea to the best of your knowledge making your way towards Tony’s Inn. If you are uncomfortable with the open water, stay close to the shore line.
    • An Orange Buoy will be placed by Tony’s Inn Pier, teams are to navigate between the pier and the buoy.
    • If the sea is overwhelming, competitors can swim with their canoe or walk in the shallow area of sea, as long as they keep moving forward to the finish line.

 

  • Overtaking / Collision
    • Commonly accepted rules of sportsmanship will prevail. When a team is overtaking another team, it is the duty of the overtaking team to keep clear of the team being overtaken at all times. When a canoe or kayak is racing in a group of competitors it is the duty of all the competitors in the group to keep clear of other competitors at all times. This rule applies to any maneuvering within the group. (THE LEAD CANOE/KAYAK HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY)
    • Good Sportsmanship is expected at all times. Any competitor who is considered by a race official to have been responsible for a collision, or who damages the canoe, kayak or paddle of another competitor or unnecessarily or intentionally deviates from their course and any un-sportsman-like conduct warrants immediate disqualification.

 

  • Illegal Substance
    • Under no circumstances shall any illegal drugs be taken. If there is cause to believe that such a drug has been taken by a racer, it will be the right of the Belize Anti-Doping Agency to have such laboratory test done that will prove or disprove the presence of any illegal drug in the racer’s body. If the test confirms the presence of illegal drugs, the racer shall be imposed to penalties for infractions as stated in the International Canoe Federation’s (ICF) Regulations.
    • Any participant in a race who has a physical ailment for which it is necessary to ingest or inhale a stimulant type medication to control said ailment must bring this fact with supporting evidence to the attention of the Race Official before any race shall begin.
    • Alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs are not allowed during a race at any time.

 

  • Anti-Doping
    • Prohibited List: The World’s Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) current list of Prohibited Substances and Methods. This list is revised and published yearly by WADA, for more information, visit their website at wada-ama.org. You can also find a link of the list from the BCAnoe’s website.

 

  • Finish Line
    • The finish line is reached when the participant(s) carry their craft on shore and the paddler(s) passed under the finish sign/banner together. This is for day 2.
    • For the ICF K1, the finish is at the Pueblo Nuevo Ferry, 2 red buoys will identify the location.
    • In the event of very rough sea conditions or small craft warning from the authorities, the finish line will be at the Pueblo Nuevo Ferry.

 

  • Award Ceremony
    • All participants must present themselves to receive their awards, a failure to do so results in that team forfeiting their awards .

 

  • Code of Conduct
    • All team members, coaches, ground crew members, sponsors, representatives, and fans must exercise the highest degree of sportsmanlike conduct and professionalism (including respect for self, the sport, other teams, the officials and property) at all times throughout the race. Teams will be penalized or disqualified if any of the above groups abuse this rule. All Race Officials and Race Medical Personnel must be shown respect and their directions followed at all times.

 

  • Clean Up
    • All teams, fans, supporters, are responsible to keep the areas we use clean and in proper order.

 

  • Reservation
    • The Event using the BCAnoe rules in general, they may reserve the right to change or amend these Rules and Regulations as set out by ICF and to meet any unforeseen safety or other conditions or considerations that may threaten the safe and uninterrupted completion of the race. The Event Organizer also reserved the right modified sections of the rules to suit this event’s specifications.

 

DISQUALIFICATIONS TERMS:

  1. Any team that has been disqualified whilst on the water will be asked to leave the competition immediately.
  2. Any paddler (team) disqualified will not be awarded any prizes nor points for that race.
  3. Any paddler disqualified in a specific year is not eligible for the BCAnoe Awards.
  4. Any paddler disqualified a second time, will not be allowed to participate in the next 5 races, this carries over to the next season.
  5. Any paddler disqualified a third time will immediately have his/her membership revoked and banned for life from the Association.
  6. Any paddler that has been disqualified will not be recommended to represent Belize internationally.
  7. Disqualifications are throughout a paddler’s life time and will be recorded on his/her permanent record.

 

PROTEST TERMS:

Any team(s) that is eligible for a prize and is in a protest dispute, prizes will be awarded to the deserving team after the decision is made by the Protest Committee, considering that there isn’t an appeal made against that decision.  If any disqualified, see disqualifications terms.

 

APPEAL TEAMS:

Any team(s) that has made an appeal shall expect further delay on the prizes to be awarded (if any) and disqualifications if warranted.  The ruling of the Appeals Board is final.