HOCR 2025

[fullmetal]

Slower crews having the right of way seems to be a cox-friendly approach, where the person in charge of the steering can't see crews coming from behind. However, that is a disservice to competitive value, where the faster crews will never have a chance at their fastest effort. Slower sculling (blind) boats probably find it easier to give way when they can see faster boats coming from behind.

[socalstroke]

Interestingly in the UK in a head race the crew overtaking has to move out to pass rather than the slower crew yielding

This is interesting--what is the general thinking behind this approach? I am genuinely curious to hear the pros and cons.

(Also, I am fresh from being a launch driver for a referee observing a ton of U19 and masters crews at head race...)

COLREGs in avoiding a crossing situation. Also a slower rowing boat takes longer to maneuver, therefore it is safer for the overtaking boat to move to the outside of a bend while the boat being overtaken maintains its line or moves to the inside. UK rules still required the boat being overtaken to yield but that can be at odds with the best racing line.

[KitD]

HOCR has the added bonus of bridges on or just after significant bends. Adhering to the regs on that particular course seems much more important than on most straighter, more forgiving courses. Many races have a flat "no overtaking" rule approaching pinch points. HOCR seems to just let crews get on with it anyway.

[fullmetal]

The HOCR rule is generally that overtaking crews cannot force an unsafe yield (if the yielding crew would have to merge with a bridge column to give way properly). Most arches are wide enough to accommodate two or three crews, and the rules recognize this.