This set of rules and regulations stipulate the proper conduct of organising the 27th Penang International Dragon Boat Festival (PIDBF) 2006. In any area which is inadequately covered, the decision of the Organising Committee will apply.

1.0 BOATS AND PADDLES
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1.7		 The fibreglass big dragon boat to be used measures approximately 11.7 metres in length, 1.1 metres in width and 0.6 metres in depth. The weight is approximately 500 kgs.

The fibr eglass small dragon boat to be used measures approximately 6.7 metres in length, 1.1 metres in width and 0.6 metres in depth. The weight is approximately 350 kgs.

The Organising Committee shall provide all boats and paddles used. Competitors will be permitted to use their own paddles provided that their racing paddles comply with the International Dragon Boat Federation’s racing paddle specifications. All paddles will have to pass a check against the Racing Paddle Specification Template. The allocation of equipment to individual crews shall be at the sole discretion of the Organising Committee. The Organising Committee shall not be responsible for any failure of the equipment during the race.

Before a race, crews should check the equipment provided. The Chief Equipment Steward must be informed should there be any complaints on the equipment issued. His decision, whether the complaint is valid or not and whether a change is deemed necessary, is final.

Participating teams shall reimburse the Organising Committee for any losses or damages to the boats and equipment caused by the teams concerned.

The Organising Committee has the right to change the boats depending on the availability and weather conditions.

The length of the course shall be 500 metres and 1000 metres.

2.0 TEAM MEMBERS
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A team (big boat) shall consist of a maximum of 28 men/women: 18 paddlers, 1 steersman, 1 drummer must be seated at their respective seats, 1 team manager, 1 team captain and 6 reserves.

There will be no fixed minimum number of paddlers.

A mixed team shall consist of a minimum number of 8 women paddlers in the 20 crew and 4 women paddlers in the 12 crew.

A team (small boat) shall consist of a maximum of 18 men/women: 10 paddlers, 1 steersman, 1 drummer must be seated at their respective seats, 1 team manager, 1 team captain and 4 reserves.

Each crew must be able to swim at least 50 metres wearing light clothing. It is the responsibility of the person entering the team to make sure that all members of the team comply with this rule.

All crews are required to submit indemnity forms that are properly filled and signed to the Organising Committee before the first practice. Crews failing to do so shall not be permitted to practise or to participate in the race.

Each crew is solely responsible for his/her own safety during official practice sessions and during the races. The Organising Committee as well as any other individuals or organisations connected directly or indirectly with the race will not be responsible for any injury, damage or loss incurred or suffered by competitors or members of the team.

Each crew is allowed only to register with one team. With the exception of those school boys/girls and women selected to represent the State, they may register to represent their individual schools, clubs or associations. For those students representing State, clubs or associations, approval will have to be obtained from their principals concerned.

Racing & Competition classes:-
a) Mixed class using big boat: crews must contain a minimum eight (8) women paddlers.
b) Mixed class using small boat: crews must contain a minimum four (4) women paddlers.
c) Junior class: competitors under the age of eighteen (18) on the 1st Jan. 2006.
d) Senior class: competitors must be aged 40 or over on the 1st Jan. 2006.


3.0 TEAM MANAGER
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Each crew shall submit together with the application form the name of its crew manager and crew members. The team manager shall be responsible for all matters pertaining to the crew and also for liaison between the team and the Organising Committee. The team captain shall be responsible for co-ordinating the activities of the crew.

If a team manager is not available, the team captain shall assume the role of the team manager.

The Organising Committee will not communicate with any other crew official or members.


4.0 ASSEMBLY
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All crews shall report to the Chief Boat Marshall at the assembly point 30 minutes before the race. Failure to do so may result in disqualification.

Crews shall be at the starting point at the time specified in the racing programme.

A crew must be ready to board 15 minutes before the time of the race.

Crew identity checks will be carried out by officials in the Crew Assembly Area and crew members must submit identity badges / membership card upon request.

Only the actual crew members may enter the crew assembly area. Other members of the team are strictly forbidden to enter the area.

Crews are to follow instructions by the Race Officials and proceed to the starting point without delay. Failure to obey instructions may result in disqualification.

5.0 COMPETITION FORMAT
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Preliminary Heats shall be held where the number of teams for the event is too large for the racing lanes to accommodate. The order of the heats to be run shall be determined by draws after the composition of the Heats may be applied. (Please refer to Race Programme)

Any crew to qualify for the next round shall be decided either according to their placing or to their time.


6.0 STARTING PROCEDURE

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Each crew shall take up position in accordance with the lane drawn. Each lane is given a number; Lane 1 being the lane nearest to the location of the Finishing Line Judges.

The position of the most forward part of the dragon heads of the competing boats shall be aligned on the Start Line. Aligners Assistants will alter the position of the dragon boats in accordance with the Chief Aligners instructions, by physically moving the boats or by adjusting the length of rope available to the steerers.

Before the start of the race, the steerers shall hold a rope attached to the starting pontoon. The crew will keep the boat in its proper starting position as instructed by the Chief Aligner. The rope will only be released after the start of the race.

When the Chief Aligner is satisfied that all the boats are correctly aligned the Starter 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. All paddles shall then be held above the water level. (The Drummer is forbidden to take such action prior to this instruction, especially in crews under Chief Aligner orders, when they are moving to the Start Line).

When the Starter is satisfied that all crews are ready, the starting signals of the word ‘ATTENTION’ followed by the word ‘GO’ will be given by the Starter without further reference to the crews. On the word ‘GO’ the Aligner’s Assistants will release the sterns of the boats or the steerers the pontoon ropes, as appropriate.

Any crew that starts to paddle before the start signal is deemed to have caused a false start.

In the event of a false start, a second signal will immediately be given and all teams involved will return to their starting position without delay.

Any crew, which causes two false starts, will be disqualified. After two false starts, any other crew(s), which causes a third false start, will be disqualified.

Depending on the weather conditions, the Starter / Chief Course Umpire may change the starting procedure and the length of the course as he deems necessary, in which case all teams will be duly informed in advance.


7.0 DURING THE RACE

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All crews are to paddle in a straight course within their respective lanes.

Straying into the course of another boat may result in disqualification if such act materially affects the result of the race.

In the event of a collision, the Course Umpires shall report the incident to the Chief Course Marshal who holds the authority to disqualify the team, which causes the collision.

In the event of a collision within the first 50 metres from the Start Line, the Chief Course Marshal shall have the right to restart the race.

In the event of a collision occurring after the first 50 metres from the Start Line, the infringing team/s shall be disqualified. All boats, irrespective of whether they are involved in or affected by the collision, will continue to complete the race. Their positions at the end of the race will stand.

If in the opinion of the Course Umpires or the Chief Course Umpire, a boat has been swamped or capsized deliberately by the crew before, during or after the race, the Organising Committee reserves the right to disqualify and to refuse the crew's entry in future races.

The use of audio aids for keeping time during the race is permitted with the exception of loud hailers and air horns.

All teams are to cross the finishing line. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.

The drummer seated in front must actively drum during the whole duration of the race. Any attempt to stop drumming may result in disqualification.


8.0 FINISHING AND JUDGING

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The Judges will be positioned on finishing tower at right angle to the finishing line. Larger coloured buoys will indicate the finishing line. Photo-finish cameras will be installed at the finishing.

Boats will be judged the moment their heads (bow) cross the finishing line and their times will be taken. A boat has finished the race when the foremost part of the boat crosses the Finish Line with the same number of crew members in it as in the start of the race.

In the event of a dead heat for first, second or third placing in timing, the Organising Committee shall have the authority to declare immediately a re-row between/among the team involved. In the event of a re-row, all team managers must ensure that their crew are available for the re-row at the time specified otherwise their crew will be disqualified.

Each boat must carry the same number of crew members from the start to the finish of the race.

Once a crew has finished a race it must return immediately to the Boat Marshalling area and disembark.

9.0 GENERAL

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The Organising Committee will not be responsible for any mishaps during the race.

The Organising Committee reserves the right to alter or to amend any rule if necessary, in which case all participating crew will be duly informed.

All crews are to abide by the rules and requirements of the Organising Committee whose decision in all matters relating thereto is final and binding.

In the event of a crew wishing to make protest following a race, concerning the conduct of another crew, the Crew Manager must lodge the protest with the Chief Official. Such protest must be made within 15 minutes of the end of the race. Protests against a race result must be made no later than 15 minutes after the result is officially posted.

All protests shall be made in writing and shall be accompanied by a fee of RM100.00. The fee shall be refunded if the protest is upheld.

To ensure the smooth running of the race, full co-operation from all participating teams will be appreciated. Please keep the Teluk Bahang Dam CLEAN.