NORTH AMERICAN CURRAGH ASSOCIATION
RACING RULES AND REGULATIONS 

Updated 04/04/05
Rule updates from the 2005 NACA Meeting will be updated shortly...

A.  Eligibility

1.   A $100 annual fee is required from all clubs in order to participate in NACA regattas.  This fee may be paid at any time prior to a sanctioned regatta.  Clubs that have paid this fee and compete in at least one event that season are termed to be in “good standing”.

2.    A club must be in good standing for two consecutive years in order to host a sanctioned NACA regatta.  New requests to host a regatta must be made at the Annual Meeting and pass by a 2/3 majority of voting member clubs present.  Any regatta not sanctioned at the Annual Meeting is deemed an exhibition event and no NACA Cup points distributed.

3.    Clubs that currently host a sanctioned NACA regatta may continue to do so without a vote of approval as long as they remain in good standing.

4.     A club must be in good standing for one entire racing season in order to be a voting NACA Member Club at the Annual Meeting.

5.    Rowers, once listed on a NACA club roster during the season, may not be listed on another club’s roster that same season without unanimous consent of all member clubs present.

6.   All NACA clubs in good standing are eligible to compete for trophies, NACA points, NACA Cup points, and the cup for the individual regatta as outlined in these rules and regulations.

7.     Although clubs may enter more than one boat per race, only one boat is eligible for NACA points.  This boat must be designated before any race.  All other boats may compete for trophies only.

8.    A non-NACA club could be admitted to a regatta without the $100 entrance fee only with the unanimous approval of all voting member clubs present.   Boats from a non-NACA club would be eligible to race for trophies only.

B.  Format

1.  The number and types of races are to be determined by the home club.  A list of these races must be forwarded to all NACA clubs at least 4 weeks before the scheduled race date.

2.  The race schedule should include the following:

      a.  6 - 10 individual races.

      b.  Adequate positions for both men and women competitors.

3.  Preliminary heats may be used for any number of races if dictated by lack of boats or starting positions.

4.  Non-Naca point races (e.g. senior or junior races) may be included provided all point races can be completed.

5.  All competing boats should meet NACA specifications (available separately).  Non-conforming boats may race only if approved unanimously by coaches meeting.  Checks for curragh compliance should occur during the coaches meeting before the regatta.

6.  Starting positions must be assigned randomly.

7.  A chase boat must be provided.  The chase boat should ensure a clear course and safety of (without interfering with) the competitors.  The home club is ultimately responsible for the behavior of the chase boat.

8.  Any and all permits or approvals needed for competition by governing bodies are the responsibility of the home club.  These must be obtained prior to the regatta.

C.  Coaches Meeting

1.  A coaches meeting must be held before the first race of any regatta.

2.  The coach is defined as the club member representing a club on that given day.

3.  The purpose of the coaches meeting is to:

       a.  Submit club rosters.

       b.  Define the course(s) to all coaches.

       c.  Inform clubs of any changes in scheduling.

d.        Designation of the race official.

e.        Confirm curragh compliance with NACA specifications.

f.         Discuss any concerns of the day.

4.  Any topics not explicitly covered in these rules can be agreed upon during the coaches meeting by  unanimous consent of all clubs present.

5.  Additional coaches meetings can be held during the regatta to discuss course changes, safety conditions, violations, or other concerns.

D.  Course

1.       The racecourse is designed at the discretion of the home team.  Clubs must ensure the course is adequate and safe.

2.  Race starts must be made either from a starting line (with or without tethers) or a beach start.

Starting lines must visible to all competitors and the race official.  The actual line may be a rope, wall, bulkhead, etc.   Estimating starting lines visually (i.e. “eyeballing”) is not permitted.

3.  The course may differ from race to race.

4.  A course may be altered at any time prior to a race by consent of the home club and a majority of visiting coaches.

5.  During the coaches meeting, clubs should provide diagrams of any courses to be used during the regatta.  Any questions or grievances about courses should be discussed at this time. 

E.  Scoring

1.       All NACA point races will award points in the following manner:

1st place ...................5 points

2nd place...................3 points

3rd place...................1 point

2.       Order of finish must be determined by direct competition.  Timed results are invalid for determining order of finish.

3.       NACA points may only be awarded in finals (i.e. competing boats eliminated during heats are ineligible to score NACA points in that event).

4.       The order of finish, pending rulings on violations, will be determined by the race official and cannot be disputed.

5.       The highest point total at the end of the day is awarded the cup for that regatta.  All regatta cups are traveling cups and must be returned for the next year’s regatta.

6.       Only NACA clubs in good standing are eligible to score NACA points.  Other competitors may race   for trophies only.

7.       If a non-NACA boat finishes in the top three positions, it is awarded the corresponding trophy for that race.  The NACA points are awarded to the next highest finishing NACA boat.

8.       Only one boat from each NACA club may compete for points in any individual race.  Other boats from that club may race for trophies only.  They will be treated as non-NACA boats in all respects.  The boat racing for points must be designated before the race.

9.       A boat must have at least 50% membership from the NACA club it is representing.  Boats with 50/50 distributions must designate the club they are racing for before the race.

10.    If the regatta ends in a tie in points for first place, the tie will be broken by a race-off.  The type of race and course will be determined by the home club.  There are no NACA points awarded in the race-off.

11.    At the end of each regatta, NACA Cup Points will be awarded to clubs in the following fashion:

1st place in the regatta:               10 NACA Cup Points

2nd place                                    7 

3rd place                                     5

4th place                                     3

5th place and lower                       1

12.    In the event of a tie in NACA Cup Points at the end of the year, the club that ranked better in the opposing club’s regatta will be awarded the NACA Cup.

13.    In the rare event of a three or more way tie in NACA Cup Points, add the overall position (1st = 1, 2nd = 2, etc.) for each club at the opposing clubs’ regattas.  The team with the lowest total wins the NACA Cup.

14.    In the event the first tiebreaker does not break the tie, the club with the best ranking in their own cup will win the NACA Cup.

15.    The NACA Cup Points totals must be submitted to NACA for use in determining the overall season champion.  The NACA points from the regatta should also be submitted to aid in record keeping.

F.  Violations

1.  The following infractions are designated as NACA rules violations:

      a.  Any intentional interference with another boat.

      b.  Use of more than 50% non-Roster individuals when racing for points (see rule E9).

      c.  Use of boats not meeting NACA specifications and not permitted entry by coaches meeting.

      d.  Missing a designated turn.

      e.  Committing two false starts in a race.

2.  Any of the violations listed above will result in the offending boat being disqualified from that particular race.  Any points are forfeited and awarded as in rule E7.

3.  Any additional boats from a club that commit a violation will result in the disqualification of all boats from that club for that race.  NACA points and trophies will be awarded as in rule E7.

4.  Any claims of interference must be forwarded by the team coach and ruled on by coaches meeting.  A 2/3 majority of member clubs present must rule that a violation occurred.

5.  False starts will be recorded by the race official.

6.  The race official may call for a restart if contact during the start of the race causes significant disruption to the outcome of the race.  The call for a restart should be reserved for multiple boat tangles that occur within close proximity yards of the starting line (approximately 50 yards).  Normal incidental contact is not grounds for a restart.

7.  Failure to comply with a ruling on a violation may result, with unanimous consent of other coaches, in disqualification from the regatta.  All NACA points earned thus far in the regatta will be lost.  These points are lost and not awarded.

8.  Incidental contact during a race should not be considered a violation.

G.  Safety

1.  Home clubs must provide a safe racecourse and environment for NACA events.

2.  A chase boat must be provided.  The behavior of the chase boat is the responsibility of the home club.

3.  Member clubs are responsible for providing life jackets in accordance with US Coast Guard Regulations (1 life jacket per person).

4.  The home club may rule a day unsafe for competition at any time during the regatta.  They can rule for a delay, postponement, or cancellation.  Any financial losses incurred by the home club will be reviewed by NACA for reimbursement.

5.  If at least half of the scheduled races are completed, the regatta will be ruled as completed with NACA Cup Points distributed normally.  If less than half of the scheduled races are concluded, the regatta will be considered canceled and no points awarded.

H. Miscellaneous

1.  Any and all situations not covered by these rules will be settled by a coaches meeting on site.  The situation should be documented for review at the next annual meeting.

2.  Any changes to the NACA Racing Rules and Regulations must occur at the annual meeting and pass by 2/3 majority of voting members in attendance.