VSA
Albert Park Grand Prix
Instructions for competitors
These instructions are to be read with the attached map which you are urged to print and study!
1)
The Event
The event is a long distance sculling race over one and a half laps of the lake. The event is intended to present
challenges to competitors including a mass start, and steering around marker buoys and Gunn Island.
Parking for trailers is possible on the grass behind APSM, but vehicles must park in the council car park
(and pay).
2)
a)
Four phases
Competitor briefing and bow number issue
A compulsory competitor briefing will be held at 7:45 am, outside Albert Park South
Melbourne (APSM) Rowing Club. This will take about 7 minutes and bow numbers will be handed
out as competitors leave the briefing. Deposits will not be taken to save time, but competitors who do not
return their number will be charged $10.00.
b)
Warm up and marshaling
No competitor is to warm up before the briefing. (Competitors launching from the Powerhouse staging may
scull to the briefing .) After the briefing, row to the start at the southern end of the lake and warm up with care
in an anti clockwise direction around the basin at the St Kilda (Powerhouse or southern end of the lake) below
the narrows. Be careful of other scullers coming down the lake from the north and joining in the warm
up circuit. Warming up must not include racing in traffic.
At 8:15 a marshal in a motor boat will call competitors by number or name from the warm up circuit to the
starting grid in bow number order. Once called, competitors are under starter's orders, and must do as
instructed, taking up position according to their bow number and the grid diagram.
Please allow one and a half lengths of clear water between grid rows to enable others to have access, and
to ensure there is enough space for the start. This means that the higher numbers will be very near the St
Kilda end of the lake. No competitor may go beyond the starting line, which will be between two large
orange buoys.
Provision has been made for competitors who prefer not to start on the grid to start from "pit lane" which
is behind the grid near the lake edge at the St Kilda end.
The race will start between two large (1.2m) orange buoys anchored across the course at the St Kilda end
of the lake. After the first lap, competitors must go around both these buoys to make the turn at the St
Kilda end.
c)
The start and race
The grid and starting arrangements will be determined once the entries are finalised. We will take into
account the number and experience of competitors in laying out the grid and determining the number to be
started at any one time. Details will be posted with the draw and will be available at APSM before the
event. Once the grid is complete, the race will be started by the starter who will be in a motor boat or on
the bank. The starting procedure will be:
Announcement
"Once I have clearance I will start you".
Shortly after this announcement the starter will raise a green flag, and say:
''Attention!", followed by "Go" as the flag is dropped.
If there is to be a delay, the starter may advise competitors, in which case, he will again make the warning
announcement.
In the mass start, competitors must take care that they do not clash with others, and allow enough space.
The race proceeds to the northern end of the lake keeping to the east side (Bow side as you go up the first
leg), around Gunn Island anti clockwise. Note there is a pontoon on the northern side of Gunn Island
Once around Gunn Island, go outside the orange buoy anchored off APSM rowing club and start down the
west side of the lake. At the bottom of the lake, go around both orange buoys and start the second lap.
Once around Gunn Island for the second time, the finish line is between a finish desk just to the east of the
APSM rowing club and the orange buoy
Overtaking and traffic courtesy
If a competitor is about to be overtaken, he or she will yield the racing line by moving to the outside of the
course, once the faster boat is within half of one length. It follows that if passing, you must keep to the inside.
This rule applies on straights and in bend s. Competitors being overtaken MUST talk to the faster sculler,
and let them know that space is being created forth them to pass.
Just as talking to one another makes overtaking safer, competitors may be in a position to warn others
behind them of obstacles which may not have been seen by those following. This small courtesy will add
to the safety and smooth running of the event.
d)
After the finish
There is likely to be congestion after the finish, so move well away from the line and once able, go ashore
as quickly as possible, and return your bow number.
e)
Timing
Times will be taken from "Go", and a deduction will be made for grid rows when the results are published.