Getting ready and starting
World Rowing · 2025The first 100 m form the start zone. Crews need the Starter’s permission to enter and must be attached to their starting positions at least 2 minutes before their scheduled start. The Judge at the Start checks alignment; a late crew may receive a warning and cannot assume the race will wait.
The rule
The first 100 m form the start zone. Crews need the Starter’s permission to enter and must be attached to their starting positions at least 2 minutes before their scheduled start. The Judge at the Start checks alignment; a late crew may receive a warning and cannot assume the race will wait.
In practice
The normal procedure uses a roll call, then “Attention”, followed after a clear pause by the start signal. With lights, red changes to green with an audible signal; with a flag, the flag drops with “Go”. An announced quick start omits the individual roll call. Crews must remain ready and follow the actual signal, not anticipate its timing.
Sources & approach ↗