Steering and interference
World Rowing · 2025Each crew must remain completely within its own lane, including its oars. Leaving the lane is at its own risk; gaining an advantage or disadvantaging another crew can bring a sanction without a prior warning. Interference includes contact, wash or other disruption caused by encroaching into an opponent’s lane.
The rule
Each crew must remain completely within its own lane, including its oars. Leaving the lane is at its own risk; gaining an advantage or disadvantaging another crew can bring a sanction without a prior warning. Interference includes contact, wash or other disruption caused by encroaching into an opponent’s lane.
In practice
The umpire decides whether interference has occurred and may order a crew to stop for safety. If a crew’s chances are harmed, the remedy must address that disadvantage, not merely punish the offending boat. Depending on the circumstances, the race may continue for a later ruling or be stopped and re-rowed. Steering remains the crew’s responsibility throughout.
Sources & approach ↗