How is a close rowing finish decided?
I · Intermediate · Racing and winning · 1 of 5A close finish is decided from the photo finish picture by the senior judge at the finish. Times are recorded to one hundredth of a second. Two crews can be shown with the same time and still be placed one ahead of the other, because the camera can separate them more finely than the clock records.
How it works
- Who decides: the senior judge at the finish decides the order by viewing the picture from the photo-finish system.
- Who runs the camera: specialists who are not part of the team of judges.
- The camera: a system using fewer than 100 frames per second is not suitable for deciding the order of finish.
- Times: intermediate times and finish times are recorded to 1/100th of a second. Equipment records times and placings every 500 metres.
- Same time, different place: if the picture shows a gap of less than 1/100th of a second, the crews may have the same recorded time and different rankings.
- When finer times are kept: where crews go through to the next round on time, and in a time trial, times are recorded as the photo-finish system shows them if that is needed to separate crews.
- The top regattas: at World Championships, the Olympic and Paralympic Games and World Cups every time on the results comes from the photo finish.
Tricky cases
Two crews have the same time on the results sheet. Is that a dead heat?
No, not necessarily. If the photo finish shows a difference smaller than 1/100th of a second, the crews keep the same recorded time and get different places. It is a dead heat only when no difference can be determined.
Can a regatta time races by hand?
It depends on the regatta. At an international regatta hand timing may be used if the finish of each crew can be seen plainly by eye. At the top regattas all times come from the photo finish.
Why the rule exists
Rowing finals are often won by centimetres after 2,000 metres. A human eye on the bank cannot split those finishes fairly, and a result nobody can check invites argument. The rules also keep the camera operators separate from the judges, so the person deciding is not the person running the equipment.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Rowing rules | As above | RR 74 bye-law (6, 7) |
| International regattas | Hand timing allowed when the finish is plain to the eye. If a photo finish is used, all times in that race come from it | RR 74 bye-law (8 a) |
| World Championships, Games and World Cups | All times from the photo finish. Video for intermediate times needs 100 frames per second or more | RR 74 bye-law (8 b); RR App R4 (3 b v) |
From the rule book
World Rowing Rules of Racing and Related Bye-Laws (Overall and Classic Rowing), bye-laws to Rule 74, Rule 85 and Appendix R4. Last updated 1 July 2025. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Rowing Rules of Racing (PDF).