Championship (4th) Leg

2023 Philippine Dragon Boat Regatta

MANILA BAYWALK DOLOMITE BEACH, ROXAS BLVD., ERMITA, MANILA
December 3, 2023

RACING RULES AND REGULATIONS

EVENTS
Two hundred meters (200m) straight course
• Premier Mixed Standard Boat
• Premier Open Small Boat
• Premier Women’s Small Boat
• Senior Mixed Small Boat (Exhibition Game)
• U24 Open Small Boat (Exhibition Game)

RACE OFFICIALS
IDBF-certified race officials from the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation assisted by PDBF
volunteer corps

CONDUCT OF CREWS
All crews must follow the directions of the race officials at all times during the duration
of the races.

All competitors must comply in an honorable way with the rules. Drummers must be
seated for the entire duration of the race. The race officials and the organizing committee
have the discretion to disqualify or sanction any team that does not follow the rules and
instructions of the race officials.

Crews cannot receive outside help during a race.

Violent behavior, verbal abuse, and disrespect toward race officials, race organizers,
competitors, spectators, and media are bases for disqualification from the competition.
Each participating crew will be entirely responsible for its conduct and compliance with
the race rules.

SAFETY
For safety, each crew member must be able to swim at least 100 meters and shall be solely
responsible for his /her own safety during practice and racing.

Members of the organizing committee, race officials, hosts, and other individuals
connected directly or indirectly with the races will not be liable for any incident such as
death, injury, damage, or loss incurred during the race.

A personal life jacket/flotation device MUST BE worn by any racing crew member.
Rescue/umpire boats shall be on the water for each race.

The organizing committee, race officials and all event partners will not be responsible for
any failure of equipment during the race. Each crew is advised to carefully check the boat,
steering paddle, seats, drum, and drummer seat. Maximum of two spare paddles will be
allowed to be brought by a team during the race.

In the event a dragon boat capsizes or gets swamped, each pair of paddlers should
account for each other (buddy). The boat captain must immediately ensure that all crew
members are accounted for by calling out their names and noting the response.
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EQUIPMENT
All boats and steering oars will be provided by the organizing committee. The allocation
of the boats to the teams shall be at the sole discretion of the organizing committee. Two
sets of four boats per set will be used for this race. The organizing committee will not be
responsible for any failure of equipment during a race, and each crew is advised to
carefully check the boat and steering paddle allocated to them before racing.

• Four (4) standard Champion boats

• Four (4) standard Rui boats

Participants must use paddles that are IDBF-compliant (202a) or at least has the same
specifications. No IDBF-compliant paddles will be provided by the organizers.

Crews may not make any modification or put additional equipment on the race boat. In
particular:

• Any sitting pad or device for the paddlers must be foldable and made of soft
material, not beyond 2cm x 50cm x 30cm.
• A plastic water bailer may be brought inside the boat. Additional pumps or
devices for removing water from the boat are prohibited.
• Electronic devices, mechanical devices, loudspeakers, and telecommunication
devices that can disrupt sound signals during the races are prohibited in the boat.
Go Pro and similar cameras are allowed. Use of whistle is not allowed.
• In the event the starter cannot clearly be heard on the boat and subject to
availability, one (1) communication radio with lace may be provided per boat
which must be worn by the drummer. The organizer will try to provide a separate
speaker and microphone dedicated to the starter to aid the calls using a
megaphone.

CREW COMPOSITION
For standard boat events, maximum of 20 paddlers, four reserve, one drummer and one
helm must be included in the line up. Minimum of nine pairs and maximum of 10 pairs,
excluding the drummer and helm, shall be allowed to load the boat. For small boat events,
minimum of four and maximum of five pairs are required to load plus one pair of
reserves, one drummer and one helm shall be allowed.

This notwithstanding, the organizers and race officials at their discretion, may allow
lower number of paddlers if the water and weather conditions become dangerous. In case
number of paddlers is reduced to nine pairs or four pairs, strict observation of the 50%
male and 50% female may be implemented

Additionally, a coach or captain may be included. If playing, coach or captain must be

included in the crew list as paddler, drummer or helm.

For the Senior A and U24 events, proof of age may be required to be pre-submitted on
the deadline indicated in the Information Bulletin. Bring proof of age on race day as the
Race Secretariat or Marshalling / Athlete’s Control may ask for it upon submission of
race forms / checking, respectively. Checkers at the marshalling may likewise refer the
crew back to the Secretariat if there appears to be a discrepancy between the player
loading the boat and the one listed on the crew gallery / list.

Since this is a regatta race, which is the basis for the national ranking for PDBF clubs, all
persons in the crew list, except the steersmen, must be listed members of the club or team
where they are lined up. For transferees from one club to another, the database of PDBF
athletes will be used as primary basis in determining team membership. In case of further
question on team membership, a clearance from the originating team may be required.
Such clearance must specifically state that the person concerned is cleared of liabilities
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from the originating team and is eligible to become a member of the club where he is
lined up. PDBF Membership Rules will likewise apply.

No gender restriction with respect to the open category for all crew members. Women
paddlers can participate in the open crew. Men cannot participate in a women’s category,
except as a steersperson. No gender restriction with respect to the drummer and helm.
For the Women Small Boat, all paddlers including reserve must be biologically female.
Drummer must be female. No gender restriction with respect to helm.

For the mixed category, apart from the minimum number of paddlers (nine pairs), the
crew must be composed of a maximum of fifty percent (50%) of one gender. For clarity,
acceptable crew combinations in Mixed Standard are as follows:

STANDARD BOAT SMALL BOAT

(Except if reduced to 9 pairs) (Except if reduced to 4 pairs)

MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE

10 10 5 5
10 9 5 4
10 8 5 3
9 10 4 5
8 10 3 5
9 9 4 4

The team manager cannot load/participate/join inside the boat during the race. The main
function of a team manager is to manage and supervise the team OFF the boat. The team
manager must accompany the crews to the assembly area for roll calls and other
administrative matters. The team manager will be responsible for liaising with race
officials up to the awarding/closing of the competition. Only the team manager, captain
or coach will be allowed entry to the boat loading area. Reserve players are not allowed
to accompany the team members loading the boat. They may, however, assist team
members during loading and unloading.

If a drummer in the line-up of a crew is absent or for any reason, cannot play, only a
paddler in the line-up can replace the absent member. A paddler reassigned as drummer
is not allowed to paddle in succeeding races.

Except for the change of drummer, any change in the crew list may be done before the
start of the first race of the day. A maximum of four (4) persons per standard boat crew
and maximum of two (2) persons for small boat crew may be allowed to be changed.
After the first race has begun, no further change in the crew list will be allowed, except
the replacement of a drummer by another person included in the approved crew list. To
replace a crew member, report any requested crew change to the secretariat within the
period allowed.

All crew members must wear their respective team uniform or at least the same shirt
color during the races.

A steersperson can be allowed to steer for another team as long as it will not cause delay
in the races and the steersperson is registered with another team. If not registered in any
team, steersmen must be approved by the race organizers. Steerspersons are not allowed
to paddle, pry, or make any motion to help propel the dragon boat that they are steering
during the race. The paddling style is sitting only (fully seated). Standing
/kneeling/squatting are not allowed. The organizer reserves the right to disallow a
steersperson from participating in the race, even if designated by the team, if the
organizers believe that the steersman is not competent to handle the steering and ensure
safety of the team.

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MARSHALLING
All crews must assemble at the crew assembly area 20 minutes before the time of their
race.

Crew identity checks will be carried out by race officials in the crew assembly area, with
reference to the PDBF ID, crew list and gallery. We will use the PDBF ID for the identity
check. Once the crew has been checked, no member of the competing crew will be
allowed to leave the loading tents. Any task that needs to be carried out must be
undertaken by the team manager, non-competing crew or support crew.

All crews must embark according to the boat marshals’ instructions. All crews must use
the boat and lane allocated by the organizing committee. None of the crews will be
permitted to choose which boat to use and must race in the lane allocated to their boat.

After a crew has embarked, the boat must leave the loading immediately and proceed to
the starting area.

All crews proceeding to the starting area must keep clear of the race course and must not
interfere with any race that is in progress. Crews are advised not to paddle when there is
an ongoing race. Boats proceeding to the starting area must keep away from the race
course until all the boats that are taking part in the preceding race have passed.

STARTING PROCEDURE
All crews must be positioned in the allocated lane at least three (3) minutes before the
start of each race. This may be adjusted by the race officials accordingly. The umpire will
catch the boats that are already fully boarded, and will be guided toward the finish line.
Teams are advised not to stay too far away from the starting line.

All crews in the starting area must follow the instructions of the aligner/starter. The
dragon boats must be positioned in the starting line with the foremost part of the
competing boats (which may or may not include the dragon head) aligned.

Boat holders will be positioned at the starting line. The drummer may call its crew assist
the boat holder in complying with the alignment instructions. In case the water becomes
too rough for the pontoons to hold, races may be running starts. For the purpose of this
regatta, running starts is defined as dead or zero movement to very slow movement
forward, primarily due to water or wind condition, and not due to intentional effort on
the part of the paddlers to “jump start” the motion of the boat to gain advantage. Boats
may move forward while still being aligned. In this scenario, the aligner may start the
race when all boats are relatively lined up, or if in the opinion of the starter, they are
under the best possible conditions for a fair start.1

In case of running starts, teams are advised to make a slow approach at least 20 meters
before the starting line, as may be instructed by the starter. It is easier to align through a
slow approach than paddling back. Once the starter/aligner sees that the boats are more
or less aligned, he will alert the crews to hold their position by saying “All boats
hold/stop.” All movement of paddles in the water must stop or paddles must be used
to stop the boat’s movement. At this point, a red flag will be raised signaling that the race
is about to start.

Starter’s Commands. When the starter / aligner is satisfied that all the boats are correctly
aligned, the starter/ aligner shall alert the crews by saying ‘Are you ready.’ If the crew is
NOT READY then the drummer must immediately raise a hand above head height to
indicate the situation to the starter. The drummer is forbidden to take such action prior
to this instruction, especially in crews under starters orders, when moving to the start
line. Mere discomfort or imperfect racing condition is not a ground to raise a hand.

1
Lifted from Dragon Boat BC (Canada) 2018 Official Rules and Regulations
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When the starter announces the start, the red flag will be lowered and a white flag will
be hoisted by the starter and/or umpire. The starting commands are (1) “Standby,” (2)
“Are you ready?” with the crew in “Paddles Up” or “Ready” position. Then, “Attention,”
and then the starting AIR HORN or “GO” will be called. After the AIR HORN or
command “GO,” the white flag will be lowered quickly. The time interval between
“Attention” and the starting gun will not exceed five (5) seconds.

False Start. If any of the crew pulls a paddle in the water or starts paddling after the word
“ARE YOU READY” and before the command/signal for “GO,” is called, the crew has
committed a false start. The aligner/starter shall indicate a false start by raising a RED
FLAG again. The starter shall immediately recall the crews by shouting “STOP, STOP,
STOP.” The Course Umpire will also assist in this task. A warning will be given to the
crew that committed the false start. Any crew that fails to return to the start line
immediately after a False Start may also be excluded from the race or alternatively
awarded a five (5) seconds ‘Time Penalty’ at the Starter’s discretion.

Once all the crews have returned to the start, the Starter will identify the crew or crew
responsible for the False Start and warn them of the offense. If a second false start is
committed by any crew within the same race, the crew who commits the second false
start will be disqualified from that race outright, except during the finals heat. In case of
a false start in the finals heat, the team disqualified will automatically be the last finisher
for that specific heat.

It is the drummer’s task to watch the aligner and the umpire and to instruct the crew to
STOP when a false start has been called.

Jumping the Start. When a crew ‘jumps the start’, which for the purpose of the Rules of
Racing, means that a crew has anticipated the Starters word of Command GO to the
extent that a ‘False Start’ cannot be called but in the opinion of the Starter a material
advantage has been gained by the crew or crews, concerned over the others, the Starter
may award ‘Time Penalties’ of from two (2) up to a maximum of five (5) seconds against
the crew or crews in question. (Lifted verbatim from R.13 of 2020 IDBF Rules of Racing)

Damage to boats at the start. While at the start area and before being called forward to
the starting line, a crew that indicates to the aligner that it has suffered damage to its boat
or equipment, the starter may delay the race for a maximum of five (5) minutes to allow
the crew time to remedy/repair the same.

Equipment failure off the start. In the event of a crew experiencing equipment failure, for
example a broken drummers seat or steering oar (but not a paddle), off the start and up
to 50 meters after it, the race will be restarted, provided the crew concerned stops
immediately and both the paddlers and the drummer raise their arms fully in the air. In
this case, the starter will carry out the same procedures as for a false start. In addition,
the course umpire’s boat will proceed quickly down the course and stop any crews that
may not have heard the recall signal.

The course umpire may interrupt a correctly started race if unforeseen circumstances
occur. Examples of these circumstances include adverse conditions in one or more racing
lanes resulting in boats being inadvertently swamped, or a collision between two boats
caused by the water conditions, or the breakage of a steering oar, that materially affect
the whole race. This shall be done in the same manner as for a false start (even if the
competing boats are more than 50 meters from the start line). In such circumstances, the
Chief Official may order a rerun of the race.

It is the responsibility of the team manager or the captain to explain clearly to their crew
members about this starting procedure.

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RACE CONDUCT
Drummers must be seated for the entire duration of the race. For the first 50 meters,
drumming is optional. Beyond the 50-meter mark, active drumming is required.

R7, Part 2 of the IDBF Rules of Racing, Edition 8.0 and IDBF Bye Law 3.4, states that “the
object of Dragon Boat Racing is to race crews over a defined course in the shortest possible
time. Crews who in the opinion of the Chief Official do not race their defined course in
the shortest (fastest) possible time, will face disciplinary action and may be disqualified
from the Competition Class in question or from any other Competition class.”

To this end, teams are prohibited from intentionally finishing second, third or fourth to
maneuver the teams’ lane assignment in the succeeding round. Any team that
intentionally finishes second to fourth place in a particular race shall be given an official
warning to disqualification as may be deemed appropriate by the chief official, upon
recommendation of other race officials concerned.

The proper course for each boat is a straight line in the middle of the racing lane, from its
starting position to a corresponding point at the finish line. Each boat must race in its
designated lane, which is distinguished by lane markers. Crews that leave their racing
lane may be awarded a time penalty of three (3) seconds.

For each race, umpire boats will follow the racing boats to monitor. Any boat that fails to
remain on its course will be warned by the umpire. Crews that ignore the umpire’s
warning or do not finish in their own lane risk disqualification or a time penalty of three
(3) seconds.

In the event of a collision between two (2) or more boats, the umpire must report the
circumstances to the chief official who may disqualify the offending boat(s) or, if the
result of the race has been materially affected, order one or more boats to re-race before
the next round of the competition. When in the opinion of the chief official one or more
of the crews involved could have avoided the collision by taking corrective action, for
example, to stop paddling, but did not do so, then the crew or crews concerned will be
disqualified from the competition class concerned and may face disqualification from the
whole competition.

During the race, if any accident affects the progress of the race, the chief/course umpire
has the right to stop the race by waving a RED FLAG. The organizing committee has the
right to decide whether or not a restart of the race will be conducted. The crew at fault
will be disqualified.

Distress signal. If a crew is in distress, for example, a crew member lost overboard then
the drummer or helm shall alert the rescue boats and umpires by waving vigorously,
above the head height, the red flags carried in the boat for this purpose. If no flags are in
the boat then the arms shall be placed in the outstretched position (horizontal to the sides
of the body) and then raised to the vertical position crossing above the head and returning
to the horizontal position, repeated until the rescue boats respond. A distress signal given
by a crew without just cause will result in action being taken against the crew under the
Disciplinary Code.

After each race, all crews must return immediately to the disembarking area and return
all equipment to the boat marshals. Fines may be imposed on the offender or a crew that
intentionally damages a boat or equipment. The organizing committee reserves the right
to require the offenders to pay the cost of the repairs.

If the course umpire discovers that a crew has deliberately swamped or capsized a boat,
the organizing committee reserves the right to impose a minimum penalty of PHP10,000
(ten thousand pesos) and disqualify the crew in the race.

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Should any crew or member use violence against or threaten any of the race officials or
other competitors, the person/crew will be sanctioned according to the gravity of the
offense.

FINISHES
The finish line is defined by finish poles placed on the opposite side of the race course. A
boat has finished when the foremost part of the boat crosses the line. All crew members
must remain in the boat until it has completely crossed the finish line.

The ranking of each race and its respective timing will be determined by the chief judge
or finish judge.

Immediately after finishing, each crew must return immediately to the disembarking area
and disembark. When more than one boat crosses the finish line at the same time and
none can be determined the winner by the naked eye, the finding in the photo finish
camera shall be used for declaring the winner.

In case of a dead heat in a non-finals race, both teams with the same finish time will
advance to the next round, provided there are enough racing lanes in the succeeding
round of races. Otherwise, teams in a dead heat may be required to re-race. If for any
reason, a re-race is not possible such as, but not limited to the water and weather
conditions not permitting another race, the basis of the winner will be the finish time
of the teams in their previous races. In case a dead heat happens in a finals race, both
teams will be awarded the same rank and no re-race shall be required.

In the very unlikely event that the races are not finished, rankings will be determined on
the basis of the time obtained by the participants in the last round completed by all teams,
i.e. eliminations or semis.

DISPUTES/PROTEST/DISQUALIFICATIONS AND APPEALS

In the event of a crew wishing to make a protest following a race concerning the conduct
of another crew or results of a race, the registered team manager or team captain must
lodge the protest with the competition committee through the race secretariat.

Two types of protests will be entertained: (1) protest on race result and (2) protest on race
conduct. Protest on race result will be entertained within fifteen (15) minutes from the
posting of the results of the disputed race. Protest on conduct will be entertained within
fifteen (15) minutes from the end of the race or action being protested. Thereafter, no
protest shall be entertained for whatever reason at all.

A protest is lodged formally upon the submission of a fully accomplished protest form
available at the race secretariat, and payment of protest fee of two thousand pesos
(P2,000.00) per protest. If a protest succeeds, the protest fee will be returned to the
protesting team. Otherwise, the amount will be forfeited in favor of the organizer.

The chief official must immediately notify the other party involved in the protest and
call a meeting of the competition committee to discuss the protest.

During the process of a protest, only the team manager/captain of the protesting team
will be entertained, and all the members of the crew in question must follow the
directions of the race officials. Otherwise, the related crew will be disqualified even if the
protest is accepted by the judges.

After reaching its decisions, the chief official must inform all parties involved of its
decision and the reason for such.

In the unlikely event that the parties to a protest are not satisfied with the ruling of the
competition committee, either or both of the teams involved in a protest may escalate an
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APPEAL to the organizing committee with the competition committee who are serving,
acting similar to a jury. An appeal will be entertained within twenty (20) minutes from
the time the Chief Official issues a decision on the protest. An appeal fee of five thousand
pesos (P5,000) shall be paid to entertain an appeal. The organizing committee and
competition committee will jointly resolve the appeal within thirty (30) minutes from
submission of the appeal in writing (use protest form). After the deliberation, a written
resolution of the appeal will be handed over to the parties concerned within ten (10)
minutes. Decision on appeal shall be FINAL.

SUPPLEMENTARY RULES
In case any matter is not covered by these Rules of Racing, the IDBF Rules of Racing and
Competition Regulations will apply suppletorily.
*Patterned and guided by IDBF Competition Regulations and Racing Rules

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