Dragon Boat West

speaking of rules, can someone post a link to the ADBF rules?   Or maybe someone can answer a question that's been on my mind when I  think about the RTADBF.

There was a team that made their "HOO-HAH" chant just prior to the airhorn going off.  You could say that it was in btwn the "ATTENTION PLEASE" and "GO <airhorn>".

I didn't have too much of an issue with that, as I saw it as their way of getting pysched.   But at the same time, if it is going to intefere with the race start, then that should be addressed.   

Now before anyone decides to say that everything is all "fair and dandy" and teams can do whatever they want prior to the start, think carefully.   One day, a team might just say, "GO!", or start chattering "HOLD THE BOAT!!!" or "PADDLES UP!!" and confuse the hell out of the other competing boats.

Anyways, just a thought that I'd like to query on.

http://dragonboatbc.ca/docs/2010/2010_official_rules.doc

I never knew we were in 2010 already...my computer must have screwed up somewhere during daylight savings... :)

 :?

With all due respect, the start is when you and your team-mates should really have your focus "in your own boat" It's nobody's fault but your own if your let yourself get distracted at the start by questionable tactics used by other teams.

The above is very true. However, when that team was beside us in one of the races, they were so loud we actually missed hearing the start announced and barely heard the horn. Interfering with the start to the point where teams cannot hear the announcer is just plain wrong.

Ahh, but you DID hear the horn,eh?? So did you beat them or did they beat you??
If you ever run into this team again you now know what to expect, and if worse comes to worse you can always level a protest against them.
Speaking of noise and distractions at the start of a race, how many of you out there have lined up for a race in Victoria and had one of those float planes come in for a landing??? Different teams use different tactics/strategies at the start and how you adapt to those tactics/strategies will make your crew that much stronger. 

rtshvdy: with all due respect, I expected someone like you to come along and post something like that.   I read the "2010 ADBF rules", and know that what that team did could fall into a grey area of where the start is compromised.   But as for your statement, I guess in your "books"/"opinion", it would be ok for someone from the other team to maybe.. throw a paddle at your steers/drummer right before the airhorn, and that would be fair game, right?   How about this... maybe someone from another team can just yell "GO!" instead of the announcer.  Would that be fair game too?  Or are you gonna back paddle (no pun intended) and have a change of opinion?  

As you mentioned (I already quoted it, but I think I'll highlight it): the start is when you and your team-mates should really have your focus "in your own boat" It's nobody's fault but your own if your let yourself get distracted at the start by questionable tactics used by other teams.

Oh, and btw, rtshvdy, we won our heat (against the team with the questionable start "tactics").   Yes, I've raced in Victoria.   To  compare a float plane to a team with "questionable start tactics" is not exactly.. the right comparison.   I don't think the float plane decides to maliciously interfere with screwing a couple of teams off the start. 

Welcome back Zephy!  Maybe I should start posting again, too?  Stir the pot a little.

Hockey fans will have seen this: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb4WaZMVtyE

I think it's fair to say that most teams have the sense not to be the dragonboat equivalent of Avery.  Just cause there's no hard rule to be a distracting buffoon, doesn't mean you should do it...well, on the water at least ;)

 

Hmmmm
I think its time to launch the Dog-Pedo again......... :D

HEY!!! COLOSSUS!! thanks for the welcome back!

Something tells me that the mods are gonna be shaking their heads at us..  :lol:

well i never see you online anymore, so its not like we can chat there.  :lol:

But back on topic. In my opinion, if there are no rules saying you can't psych out other teams, then by all means, go for it.  But I would hope that it happens to the detriment of your own starts.  Plus, everyone will hate you and think you're a bunch of tools, which is also deserved.  Personally, I'd rather be focussed on my own start and my own race instead of worrying about making loud noises to distract other teams.

Ditto!  Focus in your own boat people!

there are no rules saying that you can't pysche out other teams, but there is enough of a gray area that allows for dispute if it does interfere with the start.  

Now we all seem to have had experience in festivals here, so I think it's fair to say that the sequence goes as such: "GO!" -> "Airhorn" (a blink of an eye later),   That being said, most/all teams really would start paddling at the announced "GO!".  

To me, this is also about REACTION TIME.   Colossus, having done amateur auto-x, you should also know that in any timed competition, the difference between any placement can be separated by .01seconds.  

I have to say though, that I am a little disappointed by the posts thus far.   So far, the rebuttal has only been the utopian concept of "focus in the boat".   But noone has addressed the issue of the distraction being enough that you can't hear the announcer/airhorn well enough.   Maybe one day, I'll be delinquant enough to come as a spectator and bring my own airhorn...

It's safe to assume that the paddlers are focused, but what if you can't hear?   PLAIN AND SIMPLE.   What if you aren't distracted, and you are waiting for the GO/airhorn, but you just can't hear it?

Read the post by Merlin_fan.   It wasn't an issue of focusing.  

Waterbunny: please read all posts first, thanks!

There are no specific rules about making noise and distracting (intentionally or otherwise) attention of teams on the start line.

However under DBC rules there is a catch-all rule  under TEAM CONDUCT(7.2) "Any crew or competitor who attempts to win a race by other than honourable means.....or who disregards the honourable nature of the rules shall face disqualification from the competition".

As a race offical, long-time coach and paddler my own approach is that part of the game involves psyching out your opponents so banter, jibes and cheering etc is fair game prior to marshalling. 

But once the race has been turned over to the Starter teams do have to focus their attention on the Starter's external commands and the start signal.  Any noise, cheer, jeer, loud talk or sudden flinching by one team which badgers, distracts , causes a  false start or interfers with relay of or hearing the Starter's instructions or start signal should get a warning or a penality under 7.2 depending on the circumstances, assuming it was witnessed by an official.

Have a good day!

Yes, FINALLY!  Thank you!   

Spot on, Wet Spot! lol

I think the word "GO" being shouted will affect a few if not most teams, in which case, there's grounds for protest/restarts/penalties. As Colossus said, It'll just make the teams doing the distractions look like total newbs.

As for Victoria...
Typical starts:
"Are you ready" then 1-3 seconds then "Attention Please" then 1-3 seconds then "GO <airhorn>"

The starts in Victoria:
"Are you ready" then 1-3 seconds then "Attention Please..GO <airhorn>"
So yea...be prepared.

With that said, live and learn, and race your own race..

You should sleep earlier.  victoria being compared to victoria is a bad comparison.  ;)
and i think the word i used was "tool".  :D 8))

lol, i meant typical start elsewhere vs. starts in victoria

Tool, total newbs..tomato, tomahto..potato, potatho. Semantics buddy ;)

I can forgive a newb for not knowing better.  A tool does know better but does it anyway. ;)

colossus: where's the "BOO" button... I keep clicking around your name, but nothing happens  :P

It took a while, but it was finally removed.  I wanted to Cheer someone for that, but that button was removed too.  :lol: