1. The conduct of the Race shall be the sole responsibility of the Umpire, who shall be chosen by mutual consent of the Presidents of the two University Boat Clubs.
2. The Umpire shall be responsible for positioning the stakeboats, which shall not be moved after the toss for choice of stations has taken place except with the agreement of both parties.
3. Each crew shall be attached to its stakeboat five minutes before the official start time of the Race: lateness renders a crew liable to the award of a False Start from the Umpire. If, once the Umpire has commenced the starting sequence, he considers that there has been a False Start he shall at once recall the crews to their stakeboats and shall award a False Start to the offending crew. A crew with two False Starts shall be disqualified.
4. A boat’s proper course is such as will enable it to reach the winning post in the shortest possible time, provided that it allows ample water for the other crew to steer its proper course on the side on which it started, when that crew is in a position to enforce its right to that water. But both boats shall pass through the centre arches of Hammersmith and Barnes Bridges. A boat failing to keep to its proper course does so at its peril in the event of a foul occurring.
5. The Umpire shall be the sole judge of a boat’s proper course. He may warn either or both crews when he considers that there is danger of a foul occurring, or if there is any obstruction on the course, but he shall not otherwise direct the steering of either crew.
6. It shall be considered a foul, when after the race has started, there shall be any physical contact between the boats, oars, or persons, of the two crews.
7. In the event of a foul occurring either crew may claim, to the Umpire, that the other crew be disqualified. If the crew making the claim was in its proper course, and the crew against whom the claim is made was out of its proper course, the latter shall be disqualified unless the foul was so slight as not to influence the race. In this case the crew against who the claim was made shall only be disqualified if, in the opinion of the Umpire, it has seriously or deliberately encroached on the course of the crew making the claim.
8. In the event of a serious or deliberate foul the Umpire shall disqualify the offending crew without waiting for a claim. He may do this at once or at any later time up to or immediately after the end of the race. (Note: This means that he may delay his decision, either in the interests of safety, or to see whether a foul has, in fact, influenced the result of the race).
9. The crews shall abide by their accidents. But the Umpire may declare “No Race”, and order a restart, or a re-row.
10. If either crew is interfered with by any outside agency to such an extent as to influence the result of the race.
11. If, before reaching the end of the wall, either crew should suffer any serious accident or sinking or waterlogging, which is not due to the fault of any member of the crew concerned.
12. Refusal to abide by the decision of the Umpire, or to follow his instructions, shall render a crew liable to disqualification.

ANCILLARY PROVISIONS

General

Each club acknowledges that British Rowing’s rules and regulations apply to it and that, so far as relevant, the Boat Race will be conducted in conformity with those rules and regulations. In particular, if an athlete tests positive for a substance set out in the list of prohibited substances issued by the World Anti-Doping Agency, then that athlete will not take part in a Boat Race until permitted to compete within the sport by the rules of British Rowing.

Coxswains

Coxswains must wear a buoyancy aid in the correct manner at all times when they are on the water, and be familiar with the method of operation. Coxswains shall be weighed on Boat Race day prior to the Race.

Coxswains shall be weighed in minimal clothing only (i.e. all-in-one or separate singlet (or zephyr) and shorts, plus socks), and without buoyancy aids, amplification equipment, etc.

The minimum weight for coxswains shall be 55 kg. To make up this weight, a lighter coxswain shall carry dead weight. Dead weight shall consist of a single weight, or as few items as possible. A coxbox or similar apparatus shall not be counted as part of the coxswain’s weight or as part of dead weight; such apparatus is deemed to be part of the boat. Dead weight should be carried as near to the coxswain as possible, but not on him or her, nor in a way that might impede his or her exit from the boat. Any dead weight carried, and its manner of stowage, may be checked after the Race.

Boats

It is the responsibility of the crews to ensure that their boats are safe and are prepared to standards which conform to those required by the British Rowing code “Row Safe: A Guide to Good Practice in Rowing”. The Umpire (or his representative) may inspect the boats prepared by the crews, and shall exclude any boat that fails to meet the standard laid down.

The bows of racing boats shall be properly protected. A solid ball, of not less than 4cm diameter, made of rubber or material of similar resilience, must be firmly attached to the bows. Where the construction of the boat, or its composition, is such that the bow is properly protected or its shape does not present a hazard in the event of a collision, this requirement need not apply. It is recommended that the bow ball be white as, in most circumstances, this is the most satisfactory colour with regard to judging the finish of a race.

No boat shall make use of any substance capable of modifying the natural properties of water to improve performance.

Neither crew shall make use of a boat with a sliding or swinging rigger mechanism.

There shall be no restriction on the design of boats or equipment other than as described above.