Burlington C1 Pursuit

Rules

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As races go, the C1 Pursuit is a little tricky to run, and record times for. It has a rather uncommon start and an uncommon finish, each with its own set of issues. First there's the gathering and starting of several heats, at precise intervals. Then there's a very busy finish.

So we've designed a set of rules to help prevent disruption at any point we have influence over: gathering boats, starting them, and recording their finish. Our goal is to move each paddler smoothly through the entire race course.

Please take the time to read and understand these event rules. Some are very specific to the C1 Pursuit itself.

Year 2008 C1 Pursuit Rules

All Burlington C1 Pursuit race contestants:
1.	United States Canoe Association technical specifications apply to all canoes.
2.	A wearable PFD, in good wearable condition, must be in the canoe at all times during the race.
3.	Only single bladed canoe paddles may be used.
4.	The Burlington C1 Pursuit entry form waiver must be signed.
5.	The 10:20 am pre-race instructional meeting is absolutely mandatory. Racers, you are expected to be at the meeting, out of your boat, and standing on shore with the group for a roll call to start the meeting. First heat will go off 15 minutes after the close of the pre-race meeting. Early start heats please take note: Have your warm-up's completed prior to the pre-race meeting. Help us not have to chase you down off the water to make the meeting. Also, have your boats ready to set off as soon as the meeting is finished.
6.	Once the first heat has been started, the entire race has officially begun. All following heats must then be released at their appointed time intervals to avoid race disruption. Heat release times will be reviewed at the mandatory pre-race meeting. Also, the starter will stay in communication with all boats in the voice-range warm up area. However, it is the ultimate responsibility of each contestant to know their own start time, and be at the starting line for the start of their own heat. In short, limit your warm up paddling distance to well within earshot of the starter, and you won't miss your heat.
7.	Any contestant jumping the start command for their heat, in the sole opinion of the starter, will be penalized 5 minutes.
8.	Generally accepted rules of good sportsmanship apply to this event - before, during and after the race itself. Any un-sportsmanlike incidents observed by, or brought to the attention of the race marshal will be considered for action.
9.	All contestants must finish the race between the finish buoys, which will be located toward the right bank, or be penalized 1 minute. In a mass-finish event such as the Pursuit, this rule insures that the event timers can accurately record finish places and times.
10.	Once a contestant has finished, they must continue paddling downstream of the finish line. Move at least 20 yards downstream after you cross the finish line. Any contestant who, at the sole opinion of the Race Finisher, stops paddling at the finish line will be penalized 5 minutes. Again, in a mass-finish event such as the Pursuit, this rule is to provide upstream paddlers an opportunity for a fair finish, and not having to avoid a collision with other boats plugging up the finish area.
11.	Any issues not covered here will be determined by the Starter, Finisher, Officials and/or Race Marshal as needed. Each is empowered to make final decisions.

Contestants in the Seeded Classes:
1.	Seeded standings are determined by the Burlington C1 Pursuit race committee, using performance data from past C1 Pursuit races, performance at other races, age, and gender.
2.	The seeded system will be mathematically biased such that first time contestants will not be placed into too early a starting heat. The Burlington C1 Pursuit race committee will reward annual attendance at this event by using past C1 Pursuit performance data as a high factored seeded variable.
3.	Any contestant may move into a later (more difficult) starting heat by notifying the registration desk anytime up to 15 minutes prior to the posted time of the mandatory pre-race meeting.
4.	No contestant will be considered for movement into an earlier (easier) starting heat, unless an obvious and significant error is alleged by the contestant themselves. In such a case, the contestant must appeal to a race official prior to 9:30am on the day of the race. The race committee will consider the appeal, and its decisions are final.
5.	Sandbagging is not allowed. If you enter this event, you are expected to paddle it as hard as you would any other elite level race; and do so to the best of your ability throughout the entire course, from start to finish. If you choose not to race completely through, we ask that you either drop out, or finish and disqualify yourself.
6.	Decisions as to starting heat seeded are the sole discretion of the race committee and/or race marshal alone in the event there is no time to convene the committee.
7.	Seeded entries must either be received, or postmarked, by the Saturday prior to the race. Any person registering in the seeded class after that date will be placed into the heat immediately prior to the pro class. So register early if you wish to participate in the seeded class and compete for a purse.
8.	Seeded class purse money is partly determined by number of contestants, and will pay down to 20 places.

Open Class Contestants:
1.	Jumping the start command will result in a 5 minute penalty - with especial attention to the Open Class.
2.	A race official will be located at the first buoy turn, 5 minutes downstream from the start. Depending upon water level, the current at turn 1 can be quite fast. Even with three buoys it is always very congested at turn 1 for the Open Class heat. Particular attention to sportsmanlike conduct will be applied to this area of the race course.
3.	To maintain the elite nature of the Burlington C1 Pursuit 'Open Class', no cash award will be paid to any contestant who does not finish within 13 minutes and zero seconds of the Open Class winner. There will be no exceptions.
4.	The Open Class purse will be paid out to the first 10 contestants who finish within 13 minutes of the Open Class winner.
5.	Unclaimed Open Class purse money will be redistributed to the Open Class winners, up to $500, increasing their purse. This means that if there are less than 10 people in the Open Class, or/and less than 10 people finish within 13 minutes of the Open Class winner, then the unclaimed/unearned purse money will be distributed back upwards among the Open Class winners.