OVERVIEW
The 1st World Outgames Dragon Boat Regatta will be held at the Olympic Basin on Île Notre-Dame.

DATES
• Wednesday, 2 August 2006

SANCTION
This competition is organized by 22Dragons, in collaboration with Dragon Boat Canada

AFFILIATION
Information available soon.

ORGANISING COMMITTEE

• Mr. Benoit De Guire, Sports Coordinator
• M. Matthew Smith, 22Dragons Co-Director
• M. Matthew Robert, 22Dragons Co-Director
• Mr. Sylvain Laberge, Bateau-Dragon Kraken Directo

RULES
The rules and regulations of the Dragon Boat Canada will be used. Unless specifically instructed by the Chief Race Official, the following rules and definitions will be applied to Races (Regattas) that are managed or produced by the 1st World Outgames Montréal 2006 Organizing Committee. All teams must read and understand the Rules and Regulations and Safety Protocol. Clarifications may be requested (by Team Manager) prior to Race Heats. Clarifications must be addressed to the Chief Race Official in writing.

Safety: The first priority of all competitors is the safety of their crew and all other crews involved. Assistance must be rendered as needed.

Fair Play: CONDUCT OF CREWS: “Any dragon boat crew or competitor who attempts to win a race by other than honourable means, or who deliberately breaks the Race Rules, or who disregards the honourable nature of the rules shall face disqualification from the competition.” (Reference: I.D.B.F. Competition and Rules of Racing, R4.2)

Definitions
Crew: Any person in a dragon boat.

Drummer: Crew person whose sole responsibility is to sit on bow drum seat and beat drum and/or keep beat.

Event Coordinator: He sets practice times for teams, makes available equipment and accessories for practice sessions. He is in charge of all practices and proper behavior of all teams at practices. He accepts insurance waiver forms at first practice session for all crews. On race weekend he is in charge of all off-water activities, and liaisons with Chief Race Official for any race appeals. He is also acting as Safety Officer and Race Director.

Head Dock Marshall: In charge of Docking area. Responsibilities include receptions and embarkation of all dragon boats to the docking area. He Saves entrance and exit of crew members to boats and docks.

Heat: Any number of boats competing at once, under timed conditions.

Lane: Alley marked by buoys for racing purposes. When no buoys are present, lanes will be approximately the width of one Dragon Boat length.

Paddler: A crew member whose sole responsibility is to paddle while in the sitting position.

Race: Each team having completed one heat as designed in the Regatta Race Plan is considered to have one complete race.

Race Committee: Made up of the Event Coordinator and Chief Race Official.

Steerperson: Steerer or helm’s person at stern on dragon boat controlling the dragon boat’s direction.

Team Captain: Responsible for conduct and safety of the crew while on the water. May or may not be a crew member. (In the absence of Team Captain in the vessel, the steerperson is designated as team captain).

Team Coordinator: Responsible for Marshalling area, collection of waiver forms and roster forms.

Team Manager: Responsible for crew discipline and technical administration off-water including crew insurance waivers. He may or may not be a crew member. He administers appeals.

Team Members List: Registration form listing all crew members’ names.

Waiver Form: Insurance waiver form that all crew members must individually read and sign.

Wristband: Mandatory band worn on each crew member’s wrist for the entire duration of the event to identify his/her team(s).

Dragon Boat Team Details

A full team roster (crew) for racing is 22 members (20 paddlers, 1 drummer and 1 steerperson). The minimum race crew consists of 16 paddlers, plus 1 drummer and 1 steerperson, up to a maximum of 28 crew members. Additional crew members may be added to the roster with the approval of the Event Coordinator.

Crews exceeding 22 members on board will be disqualified.

Only crew members on the roster are allowed in the dragon boat.

A team cannot finish a race unless all crew members who started the race are present in the boat.

A mixed crew must have a minimum of 8 female paddlers and a minimum of 8 male paddlers, plus a drummer in the boat during the race.

An all-men’s crew must have only male paddlers, but can have a female drummer and/or steerperson. An all-women’s crew must have only female paddlers, but can have a male drummer and/or steerperson.

A paddler may enter in more than one race category but must be aware that the race programme will not be modified to accommodate a paddler who registered in races that are close to each other in the schedule.

All teams must have a drummer. Drummer must be at least 18 years old as of 31 July 2006.

Each team must have a manager responsible for all administration (the manager may or may not be a crew member). The Manager is responsible for each crew member’s conduct. The Manager is also responsible for the team roster form and must ensure that all crew members have signed the insurance waiver form provided to all teams. The Manager may or may not be the team Captain.

Teams will be categorized based upon the team's level of experience. No age limit will apply. All paddlers must have proof of identity (passport or I.D. card) at all times. Steerers are excluded from gender consideration.

Teams will be assigned lanes, by number, and must line up and stay within these lanes during the start to the end of a race.

COMPETITION FORMAT
The following types of teams may participate in events:The teams are categorized as follows:

There are no age categories.

Teams’ categories will be based upon their levels of experience. All paddlers must have proof of identity (passport or ID card) at all times. Gender requirements do not apply to steerpersons. Female steerpersons will be admitted to male teams and vice versa.

Participants may register for as many events as they wish, but must be aware that they are responsible for their own health and fitness.

The racing timetable will not be altered to accommodate rowers registered for events scheduled too close together.

Race formats:

Each registered team must race three distances in the following order: 1000 metres, 500 metres, and 250 metres, 250 m., 500 m., 1000 m., 2000 m. final pursuit on 500m. Medals will be awarded to the three best times for each distance.

Note: All races will be done with a held start (the boat is held in place until the start by the paddlers). All regattas in the 1st World Outgames must use a held start.

Boat rental, paddles and life jackets will be included in the registration fee and will be provided on race day.

For information about rules and regulation for teams, team members, steerers and drummers, please click on the rules.

Races will be organized according to the number of participants, and the number of heats required. Races will begin every 10 minutes.

If the regatta is cancelled for weather concerns, a team’s latest or best time will be used for results

Adjustments to the Race Schedule

Races or heats will not be held for teams who arrive late. They will receive no time for that particular race distance but will be allowed to post times in other race distances.

The Organizing Committee and Race Officials reserves the right to modify the race schedule, courses, heats and times due to unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances. These may include weather, daylight safety, etc. These adjustments are part of the Regatta and are considered final, without appeal.

Starting
Each race will begin with a fixed start, meaning that the boats will be held in place until the official start of the race.

All teams must listen to the Starter and follow instructions clearly when lining up in their designated lanes for the start.

Starting procedure will be clear and precise:
“5 minutes to start”,
“3 minutes to start”, and
“1 minute to start”.
*This will not be the actual time delay. A “5 minutes to start” announcement may be only 20-seconds before the actual race start signal.

The referee will give the race to the starter by saying “Mr. Starter, you have the race.” Once the starter is satisfied on the boats’ alignment, he will give the “Attention Please” followed by a strong, powerful sound within 1 to 4 seconds.

Drummers may not drum during Start procedures. Drummers must stop drumming if a False Start is called by the Starter.

A steersperson must raise their hand to signal their dragon boat team is NOT ready.

UNFAIR STARTS – A false start could be called if in the opinion of the Starter or the referee, a special condition (weather, wind, or waves) did not permit a fair alignment of the boats on the starting line. At that point, the race will be stopped and restarted immediately.

Races, which are 250 meters or shorter in distance, are in a dead start not floating start. Competing dragon boats will slowly coast towards the start line from 20 meters behind the Start. The race starter will make no announcement other than a strong, powerful sound. The race result will be final. No appeals, no petitions, no protests, or restarting is permitted. Be forewarned: Short-distant races are dangerous due to floating starts.

Right of Way Rules

A boat has to stay in its lane from the beginning until the end of the race. A boat creating interference either by touching another boat or creating a wash while entering another lane shall be disqualified. A re-race will take place immediately after (minus the disqualified boat(s)), time permitting.

All non competing boats must keep clear of all competing boats and cannot interfere with the race in any way.

NOTE: If a collision is about to happen, the boat in fault must do anything in its power to avoid collision. If in the opinion of the referee, nothing is done to prevent collision, the boat in fault will be considered a safety hazard for all participants and the penalty will be disqualification for the rest of the competition.

Finishing

The Finish line will be the vertical cable on the Race Tower matching the Vertical line on the Southern side of 2000 meter mark. When the cable is not present, the finish line will be the Finishing Official matching the Vertical line on the Southern side of 2000 meter mark on land.

For the Finish line officials to stop the timer system, a Dragon Boat’s bow (Dragon’s nose) must cross the finish line.

Teams returning to docks must stay in their return lane and exit as quickly and as safely as possible.

Should there be a discrepancy in the placement of the teams in the timing from the Time Judges, the Chief Race Official will determine the official and final placement. These discrepancy judgments will be final.

Other Grounds for Disqualification

Any Team determined to have broken a rule(s), as defined by Official Rules and Regulations or any team not complying with the safety protocol, will receive a time penalty or disqualification, depending on the gravity of the incident.

Mixed teams with less than 8 female or 8 male paddlers in a race crew will be disqualified, but will be allowed to race only for fun and will be placed in further races with no time (they will be placed after the last time in that category).

A dragon boat must stay in their lanes, and cannot touch a buoy, if a dragon boat touches a buoy twice, the team will be disqualified.

Crewmembers who are ‘intoxicated’ will be disqualified from racing for that day. The Organizing Committee has the sole discretion to deny any athletes from entering a boat who they feel are intoxicated or using illegal substances.

Discipline – (As per I.D.B.F. Competition Regulations & Rules of Racing, Part 2, R3.1.3). ‘The Chief Race Official shall be responsible for implementing the Disciplinary Code and additionally may disqualify any crew or competitor who behaves improperly or shows contempt by bad conduct or speech towards the Race Officials or any other persons, including on-lookers.”

Disqualifying times will not be considered qualifying times.

Appeals
A fee of $50.00 Canadian is applied for filing an official protest. The fee is refundable, if the protest is judged deemed valid.

The Captain or Manager must make appeals, no later than 15 minutes after the disputed heat has finished. Protests are made to the Chief Race Official via a Protest form. However, a verbal protest must be made first, followed in a timely fashion by a written appeal. When an appeal is made, the Chief Race Official must immediately notify all affected parties. Subsequently, the Chief Race Official will convene the Race Committee as soon as possible to rule on the appeal. The resulting ruling will be final.

No video submission will be considered

COMPETITION SCHEDULE
The official race programme will be available one week before the opening of the Outgames. It will be organised according to the number of participants, and the number of heats and events required. Races will begin every 10 minutes.

Training Details
Teams are responsible for the booking of their own timeslot through the Organizing Committee office. The Organising Committee operates on a first come first serve basis. Teams that fail to show up for a booked training session will forfeit their training time.

Teams may cancel or modify their training schedule up to 48 hours in advance of their booked training time with the Organising Committee office. This may be done via e-mail, mail, fax and by telephone, otherwise a cancelled training within 48 hours will be considered a forfeit of the team’s training and any fees associated with that training session will apply.

The Organising Committee reserves the right to cancel training at any time due to weather conditions which makes training conditions unsafe. Resulting cancelled training can be rescheduled with the Regatta office the next day (time allowing).

Steerspersons must be competent with a range of steering manoeuvres. They must attend all practices for their team. The head coach will ensure that each team’s steerperson has a reasonable ability to helm the dragon boat. For safety precaution, Steerperson(s) may be replaced at the sole discretion of race officials.

Each crew member must attend a minimum of 1 practice session for security reasons.

Practices that are cancelled due to bad weather will be rescheduled (time allowing).

Team managers must submit the rosters and all crew member insurance waivers prior to the team’s first practice. Waivers must be signed and handed in. A team member who has not signed a waiver will not be allowed in the dragon boat. No team will be allowed to enter the dragon boat unless signed waivers are handed in.

REFEREES AND OFFICIALS

• Mr. Yves Guérard, Chief Official
• Ms. Janine Guérard, Photo Finish Coordinator
• Mr. Richard Archambault, Race Announcer
• Mr. Normand Lemaire, Water Referee
• Mr. William McKee, Water Referee
• Mr. René Pilon, Water Referee

ACCREDITATION
During the accreditation, participants from Canada will be required to show government-issued identification with a photo. For athletes from all other countries, a passport will be the preferred form of identification. Furthermore, every participant will be required to provide his or her participant number.

Main Accreditation Centre (Salle 220C Hall Viger)
Volunteers
20 to 23 July	08:00 to 18:00	Palais des congrès de Montréal
Participants - Conference
24 to 28 July	08:00 to 20:00	Palais des congrès de Montréal
Participants - Sport and Culture
27 and 28 July	08:00 to 20:00	Palais des congrès de Montréal
29 July	08:00 to 18:00	Palais des congrès de Montréal
30 July	08:00 to 12:00	Palais des congrès de Montréal

Late Accreditation (Limited Services)
30 July to 5 août	08:00 to 18:00	Olympic Stadium (rotonde)
30 July to 3 août	08:00 to 18:00	Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard
4 August	08:00 to 14:00	Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard
30 July	12:00 to 18:00	Palais des congrès (5e étage)
31 July to 5 August	08:00 to 18:00	Palais des congrès (5e étage)

MEDALS
Every participant in the 1st World Outgames Montréal 2006 will receive a participation medal. In recognition of personal achievement, medals will be awarded to the top three fastest times in each race distance.

RESULTS
Results from heats and appeals will be posted on the Official Notice Boards, located by the Race Finishing Line (by the Race Tower) and by the Marshalling area as well as on the web site of the 1st World Outgames.

COMPETITION SITE AND TRANSPORTATION

Olympic Basin (Parc Jean-Drapeau)

Jean-Drapeau

As you exit the Jean-Drapeau metro station, follow the signs towards the Parc Jean-Drapeau. After crossing the Cosmos Bridge, turn left towards the Olympic Basin (Quartier des athlètes, Boat Park, etc.)

EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
Boat rental, as well as the rental of paddles and Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs or life jackets) are included in the cost of registration and will be issued the day of the race. However, paddlers may bring their own paddles (subject to Rule E.9), PFDs (subject to Rule E.8) and butt pads.

Only the drum and drum sticks provided (or the drummer’s or steersperson’s voice) shall be used to signal the stroke rate. Noise making devices (such as horns/whistles) are prohibited from use in the dragon boat at the start of the race, as it can cause false race starts.

It is mandatory to wear a PFD (Personal Flotation Device) during the Regatta under ideal conditions (determined by the organizers). The Regatta will supply ample PFDs in the dragon boat.

Paddles used in all Dragon Boat Races MUST be I.D.B.F. (International Dragon Boat Federation) approved which must fit into a paddle template. Personal paddles may be used provided that they fit the exact dimensions of those being supplied by the race organizer. Carbon fibre and wooden paddles are permitted.

No alteration of the Organiser’s equipment will be tolerated. In the event that a team alters or modifies the Organiser’s equipment, the team’s race time will be disqualified. At the Head Dock Marshall’s discretion, the offending paddler can be ejected from the race and Regatta. Restitution to the Organiser for the repair of altered or broken equipment will be required. Modified is defined as sanding, waxing (of any kind), taping, etc. of the paddles.

No mechanical aids are allowed in the dragon boat (I.D.B.F. 13.2). “In the interest of crew safety, no additional fixtures or fittings, such as straps to fasten a paddler into the boat or onto the seat are permitted.”

Any paddle straps approved by the Organising Committee are permitted, teams are asked to submit a visual sample of one to the Organising Committee office.

The facilities for the Dragon Boat Regatta are of international standard. The Olympic Basin was created in 1975 on the Island of Notre-Dame for the 1976 Montréal Olympic Games.

The basin is 2, 180 metres long, 110 metres wide and 2.3 metres deep. Equipped with an Albano system, it is divided into seven 13.5 metre-wide lanes.

SERVICES

• First Aid
• Team tents

Water Safety
The Lifesaving Society will ensure the safety of participants at the Olympic Basin during all competitions.

Physiotherapy and Massotherapy
In partnership with the Fédération québécoise des massothérapeutes and Kinatex Sport Physio, the 1st World Outgames is pleased to offer physio and massotherapy services in the following locations:

• Parc Jean-Drapeau
• Centre sportif du Parc olympique
• Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard
• Viger Square (massotherapy only)

These services will be available to volunteers and spectators at special rates.

SPORT COORDINATOR
If you need more information about Dragon Boat, email us at dragonboat@montreal2006.org.

SUIVI DES INSCRIPTIONS
Visit the statistics page to see an overview of the 1st World Outgames Montréal 2006 participating cities.

REGISTRATION TWO GREAT LATE REGISTRATION FEE OFFERS! Go for the full package or for the à la carte – it’s up to you! Register as an individual or as a team. Bring your friends. Come play for real. The registration period for the 1st World Outgames ends very soon! To be eligible to participate, it is essential that your registration is paid in full.   Please take a few minutes to complete your profile, if needed, and pay your registration online to ensure your place in your selected activity/activities.   Hurry! Time is running out!   FULL REGISTRATION PACKAGE* Sports and Culture   $325 CAD   Full Registration package for Sport and Culture participants includes: One event (sport or culture) Participation at the Opening Ceremony Participation at the Closing Ceremony One métro/bus pass A participation medal Free admission as a spectator to your selected sport/cultural activities Reduced admission fee to all other sports (as a spectator) Participant Souvenir Bag which includes: city and transit maps, official games programme, souvenir poster and Montréal and Québec tourist information brochures Rebate of $100 CAD for the International Conference 20% discount for the games' souvenir book Over a week of friendship, fun and discoveries! *Note : - Subject to change without notice. - Additional sports/cultural activity (maximum 3) at $75 CAD. - Offer valid for new registration. Subject to availability as some   events (sport or culture) may close before the deadline.  I want to register now >>  For more information, please visit the Registration page. À LA CARTE PROMOTION* Sports and Culture   $75 CAD   The À la carte Promotion* for Sport and Culture participants includes: One event (sport or culture) A participation medal Free admission as a spectator to your selected sport/cultural activities Participant Souvenir Bag which includes: city and transit maps, official games programme, souvenir poster and Montréal and Québec tourist information brochures Over a week of friendship, fun and discoveries! *Note : - Subject to change without notice. - Additional sports/cultural activity (maximum 3) at $75 CAD. - Offer valid for new registration. Subject to availability as some   events (sport or culture) may close before the deadline.  I want to register now >>  For more information, please visit the Registration page.