The rules are continuously updated during the planning process. The rules listed here serve as a guide for the participants. Only the rules that are passed on to the participants at the time of the event are valid
1. All members of a team registered with the race organisers are considered as participants by these rules and have to act accordingly.
2. Acceptance of the rules
1. By participating or intending to participate in a race conducted under these rules, each competitor and boat owner agrees to accept these rules.
2. A support person by providing support agrees to accept these rules.
3. Acceptance of the rules includes agreement
a) to be governed by the rules;
b) to accept the penalties imposed and other action taken under the rules, subject to the appeal and review procedures provided in them, as the final determination of any matter arising under the rules;
c) with respect to any such determination, not to resort to any court of law or tribunal not provided for in the rules; and
d) by each competitor and boat owner to ensure that their support persons are aware of the rules.
4. The Captain in charge of each boat shall ensure that all participants in the team are aware of their responsibilities under these rules.
3. Every participant must act according to the convention of fair play and sportsmanship.
4. Participants are responsible for damages, injuries and loss of life on their own.
5. Participants compromising nature or third party property will be disqualified from all races. Also all participants acting unfair or not adhering the convention of sportsmanship will be disqualified.
6. It is prohibited to steal anything.
7. It is prohibited to borrow or rent anything of another participant without permission of the owner.
8. The IWR is open for all waterbikes constructed and built by students. The crew has to be students as well.
1. Alumni boats or boats operated by alumni are allowed to take part, but are excluded in the final ranking.
9. Measurement
1. Each boat will go through a measurement process at the beginning of the IWR and will be eligible to participate by receiving a measurement-sticker.
2. Between the races, random checks are carried out. Each rule violation will result in a penalty, three penalties will result in disqualification of the boat.
10.Every team will name a participant as „team representative“ who is available for the organisers via mobile phone/whatsapp. The purpose is to have a central point of contact for all things concerning the administration/organisation of the event
1. The English version is authoritative.
2. Changes of the Official Rules or uncovered decisions:
1. Decisions concerning changes of the rules concerning races are made by the Race Committee, consisting of four people.
2. If the captains are highly dissatisfied about a decision made by the Race Committee the captains have the chance to discuss this decision at the next Captains Meeting.
3. The organizers of the IWR 2024 have the final say in decisions concerning overall organization, safety and timetable, as they are personally responsible and thus the official representatives towards authorities
3. Any changes of the Official Rules will be posted at the announcement board.
1. All participants are responsible for their behaviour on their own.
2. Lifejackets have to be worn on board of any waterbike and at any time being on the water.
3. All participants must obey the assignments of the safety crew.
4. All participants shall give all possible help to a person or boat in danger. If in such a case a race needs to be aborted by any participant, in good sportsmanship races can be rerun.
5. Participants must not be under the influence of alcohol or any other substance when driving a boat, working with tools or machinery.
6. Every boat with an open hull must be equipped with at least two separated buoyancy bodies that can keep the boat afloat if it has capsized or is receiving water ingress due to swell, wake or waves.
7. Electric bilge pumps are allowed. If a team decides to use an electric bilge pump, it must be on board in every race.
8. Any participant contravening these assignments or rules can be disqualified.
9. Every violation of the rules on the water will result in a penalty per boat. With 3 penalties the boat will be disqualified from the IWR 2024.
1. Shipyard FSG
1. The Shipyard FSG is a working shipyard, therefore anything but the marked ways, the canteen and the pit lane is off limits.
2. Any shipyard employee is eligble to close the ways for their jobs. Participants have to obey their orders without excemption and without hestitation.
3. Participants may only be on the yards premises between 0800am until 2000 pm. For Example: Nobody may stay over night in the pitlane, for any reason!
4. Every participant leaving or entering the shipyards premises must report to the IWR’s registration points. One registration point will be at the yard gate and one will be on the pier, where the boats can be put into the water. This regulation explicitly also applies for everybody leaving/arriving per boat. The organizers need to know at any given time, how many persons are on the yard grounds.
5. No private boats (other than participating waterbikes) may be docked anywhere at the yards piers
6. No Drugs allowed on the yards premises (This includes but is not limited to: Alcohol, Marihuana). Persons that appear to be carrying or appear to be influenced by such substances will be denied access to the yard’s premises at the registration points. Bag inspection must be accepted if asked.
7. Garbage is to be disposed off into the IWR‘s recetables a) Every participant has to collect garbage and dispose it whenever or wherever they find it
2. Rowing Club
1. Participants of the IWR are guests at the rowing club, they have to behave as such.
2. Members of the rowing club have the right of way and the priority in putting their boats in the water.
3. Garbage is to be disposed off into the IWR‘s receptables
a) Every participant has to collect garbage and dispose it whenever or wherever they find it
4. Since this is a place open to the public with under age persons present the use/consumption of Marihuana is prohibited
3. Campsite Kielseng
1. The campsite is a working laboratory of the Flensburg University of Applied Sciences (FUAS). All buildings, boats, towers, roofs etc. are off limits. FUAS’s employees order’s have to be followed
2. Marked accessways must be kept open at all times (for emplyees and fire department)
3. No open fires or barbecues allowed except if permitted and supervised by FUAS Staff.
4. Garbage is to be disposed off into the IWR‘s receptables
a) Every participant has to collect garbage and dispose it whenever or wherever they find it
5. Parking on the premises is only allowed for camper vans; vehicles that are not used to sleep in, have to be parked elsewhere (i.e. public parking areas)
6. Since there are under age persons present the use/consumption of Marihuana is prohibited
7. There is no security control – everybody is responsible for their own property
4. Campsite KTS
1. The campsite is a working public school of the City of Flensburg. All buildings are off limits.
2. No vehicles allowed neither on the lawn nor on the raceway
3. Marked accessways must be kept open at all times (fire department) 4. No open fires or barbecues allowed.
5. Garbage is to be disposed off into the IWR‘s receptables
a) Every participant has to collect garbage and dispose it whenever or wherever they find it
6. Since there are under age persons present the use/consumption of Marihuana is prohibited
7. Garbage is to be disposed off into the IWR‘s recetables
a) Every participant has to collect garbage and dispose it whenever or wherever they find it
8. There is no security control – everybody is responsible for their own property.
1. Only one person per boat is allowed to participate in the Captains Meeting.
2. At the registration the teams will get one Captains-Meeting-Card for each boat. Every participant who wants to participate in the Captains Meeting has to bring such a card.
3. The Captains Meeting will be called up on a regular basis after breakfast and lunch.
4. There will be an announcement if a Captains Meeting will be held additionally.
1. The captain of each boat is responsible for his boat concerning all intents and purposes.
2. The boats must get their propelling force out of muscular strength. The main muscular strength has to be produced by the legs. Any kind of energy storage is prohibited.
3. The boats must be equal or shorter than 6m in length (LOA ≤ 6m).
4. The boats must be shorter in the width than in the length.
5. The boats may have a maximum draft of 1.2 metres.
6. Only two persons are allowed to generate the propelling force.
7. The boats are only allowed to be operated within approved waters. The area of approved waters will be indicated by marker bouys and/or on sea charts by the organisers of the IWR. All other vehicles have the rigtht of way (ferries, sailing boats etc). The boats must keep well clear of those. Boat Captains are responsible to make sure their drivers know the limits.
8. If changes on the boat, which change the performance of the boat in any discipline, shall be done during the event following regulations apply:
1. All Changes must be possible to be performed on the boat floating in the water. It must be demonstrated if it is demanded by any Captain or the Race Committee.
2. All parts (except tools) needed for those changes have to be carried on board during all races.
3. Not adhering results in disqualification of all races were unapproved changes were made or parts needed for those changes were not carried on board.
9. Water Ballast
1. All permanent or temporary water ballast tanks to be used in a race have to be approved by the Race Committee one week before the regatta.
2. The usage of water ballast in tanks not approved by the Race Committee results in disqualification from all races in which the water ballast was used.
10.If the boat is damaged it may be repaired ashore. The Race Committee has to be informed as fast as possible about necessary repairs. During these kinds of repairs, no changes improving the performance of the boat may be done.
11.Major changes to the shape of the boat during the event are not allowed.
12.Any boat breaking any of these rules will be disqualified from all races.
1. The races start, when the Race Committee says so. In case of problems, these can be discussed in a Captains Meeting afterwards.
2. The IWR generally consists of the following competitions:
1. 100m Sprint
2. Slalom
3. Forward-Stop-Backward (FSB)
4. Acceleration (10m sprint)
5. Bollard Pull
6. Long Distance
7. Secret Mission
8. Overall-Performance, will be calculated by the Low-Point-System out of the following disciplines:
a) 100m Sprint
b) Slalom
c) Forward-Stop-Backward (FSB)
d) Acceleration (10m sprint)
e) Bollard Pull
f) Long Distance
9. Disciplines may be altered or omitted by the Race Committee.
3. The results of the races will be posted at the announcement board.
1. All results posted before the presentation ceremony are preliminary and may be subject to change.
2. Boats which are not racing are not to disrupt races. If a boat disrupts racing boats the disrupting boat will be disqualified for that discipline.
3. Boats which are disqualified or did not attend to a race are scored by the number of finished boats at that race (Qualification, Semi-Final, Final,…) plus one point.
4. All boats that are due for a race must be ready at the starting area at the posted time. In case of doubt the Race Committee decides about additional time. All participants have to keep in mind that the schedule has to be pursued thus reducing time for special treatment. Individual re-races of boats are not possible in Semi-Finals and Finals.
5. If a boat is damaged and cannot compete the Race Committee has to be informed immediately.
6. If a boat gets damaged in a race it has the chance to re-race after a repair if it does not cross the finish line before. In case of damage the team has to give a signal and stop the boat. This rule does not apply during the Long-DistanceRace.
7. Jump Start
a) A boat jump starting in 100m, FSB, Slalom will not be evaluated in this run.
b) A race with a jump starting boat is not abandoned. The time of the other boats will be evaluated.
c) Except at the Long-Distance-Race, every jump started boat gets one chance to re-race that run. If the boat jump starts again it will be disqualified for that discipline.
1. 100m Sprint
1. The 100m Sprint is a race over about 100m.
2. This discipline is started in a standing start.
3. A boat has finished the race, when the bow of the boat has crossed the finish line.
4. At most 4 boats race against each other in one run.
5. All boats attend the Qualifying.
6. The fastest 16 boats of the Qualifying attend the Semi-Final.
7. The fastest 4 boats of the Semi-Final-Runs attend the A-Final. The boats with the 5th to the 8th fastest time attend the B-Final.
8. The fastest boat of the A-Final wins the competition. Places 2 to 4 are ranked by the A-Final. Places 5 to 8 are ranked by the B-Final. Places 9 to 16 are ranked by the time of the Semi-Final-Runs. All others are ranked by the time of the Qualification-Run.
9. In Semi-Finals and Finals it is not possible to re-race in case of a damage or technical problem.
2. Slalom
1. The Slalom is set out by the Race Committee.
2. All boats must round the buoys on the correct side in the correct order. The first buoy has to be passed on the starboard side of the buoy.
3. The buoys may be touched, but all parts of the boat must go around the buoys.
4. This discipline is started in a standing start.
5. A boat has finished the race, when the bow of the boat has crossed the finish line.
6. At most 4 boats race against each other in one run.
7. All boats attend the Qualifying.
8. The fastest 16 boats of the Qualifying attend the Semi-Final.
9. The fastest 4 boats of the Semi-Final-Runs attend the A-Final. The boats with the 5th to the 8th fastest time attend the B-Final.
10.The fastest boat of the A-Final wins the competition. Places 2 to 4 are ranked by the A-Final. Places 5 to 8 are ranked by the B-Final. Places 9 to 16 are ranked by the time of the Semi-Final-Runs. All others are ranked by the time of the Qualification-Run.
11.In Semi-Finals and Finals it is not possible to re-race in case of a damage or technical problem.
3. Forward-Stop-Backward
1. The boats have to go approximately 50m forward. Then they have to stop after a line and have to go stern first to the starting/finishing line.
2. The stop-and-reverse-line has to be passed by all parts of the boat.
3. The line will be specially marked.
4. This discipline is starting in a standing start.
5. The starting line will be also the finish line.
6. A boat has finished the race, when the stern of the boat has crossed the finish line.
7. All boats attend the Qualifying.
8. The fastest 16 boats of the Qualifying attend the Semi-Final.
9. The fastest 4 boats of the Semi-Final-Runs attend the A-Final. The boats with the 5th to the 8th fastest time attend the B-Final.
10.The fastest boat of the A-Final wins the competition. Places 2 to 4 are ranked by the A-Final. Places 5 to 8 are ranked by the B-Final. Places 9 to 16 are ranked by the time of the Semi-Final-Runs. All others are ranked by the time of the Qualification-Run.
11.In Semi-Finals and Finals it is not possible to re-race in case of a damage or technical problem.
4. Bollard Pull
1. The towing force will be measured over a period of 30sec. The first peak will be excluded from the mean force.
2. The boat with the highest mean force during these 30sec will win this competition.
3. All boats have one attempt.
5. Acceleration
1. The Acceleration is a race of about 10m.
2. This discipline is started in a standing start.
3. A boat has finished the race, when the bow of the boat passes the required distance.
4. The ranking will be made out of the acceleration time.
5. All boats have three attempts and the best one counts.
6. Long-Distance
1. The Long-Distance-Race will start out of a flying start. The exact starting system will be explained at the Captains Meeting.
2. All boats will race together in one group.
3. The Long-Distance-Race will take approximately one hour of racing. The exact procedure will be announced at the Captains Meeting.
4. The ranking will be made out of the particular race time and the covered distance.
5. A boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible. However, a right-of-way boat or one entitled to room or mark-room need not act to avoid contact until it is clear that the other boat is not keeping clear or giving room or mark-room, and
6. When a right-of-way boat changes course, she shall give the other boats room to keep clear.
7. If two boats come into overlap, the boat leading at the time the overlap began has right of way, the other boat has to keep clear.
8. Mark room
a) Rule 8.7.5 applies between boats when they are required to leave a mark on the same side and at least one of them is less than 12m (approx. two boat lengths) away from the mark. However, it does not apply between a boat approaching a mark and one leaving it, or if the mark is a continuing obstruction, in which case rule 8.7.9 applies.
b) When boats are overlapped the outside boat shall give the inside boat mark-room.
9. Giving room at obstructions
a) Rule 8.7.9 applies between two boats at an obstruction except when the obstruction is a mark the boats are required to leave on the same side, or when rule 8.7.7 applies between the boats and the obstruction is another boat overlapped with each of them.
b) A right-of-way boat may choose to pass an obstruction on either side.
c) When boats are overlapped, the outside boat shall give the inside boat room between her and the obstruction, unless she has been unable to do so from the time the overlap began.
7. Secret Mission
1. The race content, rules and regulations will be kept secret until the competition starts.
1. Protest Committee
1. The committee consists of one member of the race committee and 4 additional members appointed by the organizers of the IWR.
2. The committee is tasked with resolving all protests during the regatta.
2. Right to protest
1. A crew of a boat may protest another boat for a breach of rules under 7.0.0 and 8.0.0 in races they competed in.
2. The captain of a boat may
a) protest another boat for a breach of rules under 7.0.0 and 8.0.0 in races his boat competed in and
b) may protest another boat for a breach of rules under 6.0.0.
3. The Race Committee and Protest Committee may protest any boat for a breach of any rules.
4. All participants may protest a boat for a breach of rules under 4.0.0.
5. A person may only protest a boat for breaches of the rules he or she witnessed themselves.
3. Protests
1. The protesting party has to inform all parties it is protesting against immediately.
2. The protesting party has to inform the Race Committee immediately after the race.
3. The protest has to be turned in to the Race Committee using the provided form not later that 1 hour after the end of the race concerned.
4. Hearings
1. Regular hearings will be held after racing has ended for the day.
2. Additional hearings can be held at the discretion of the Protest Committee.
3. Procedure of a hearing:
a) Hearing of a representative of the protesting party.
b) Hearing of a representative of the protested party.
c) Hearing of witnesses.
5. Decisions
1. Decisions on consequences from a protest are made in private by the Protest Committee.
2. Decisions of the Protest Committee are final. An appeal to the Captains Meeting or the Organizers is not possible.
3. The parties involved in a protest are to be immediately informed of a decision.
4. All decisions will be announced at the next Captains Meeting.
The organizers of the IWR 2024 and their representatives are not responsible for any losses of life or property (ownership), personal damage of the property, which are caused.