What do DNS, DNF, REL, EXC and DSQ mean in rowing results?
A · Advanced · Penalties, protests and weather · 7 of 12The letters beside a crew's name say why it has no normal result. DNS is did not start and DNF did not finish. REL is relegated to last in the race, EXC is excluded from the event and DSQ is disqualified from the whole regatta. BUW means the boat was under weight.
How it works
| Code | Meaning | What follows |
|---|---|---|
| DNS | Did not start | In a final the crew is placed last. A crew that never raced in the first round is not ranked in the event |
| DNF | Did not finish | In a heat, quarterfinal or semifinal the crew is not placed and does not race again in the event. In a final it is placed last |
| REL | Relegation | Last place in that race |
| BUW | Boat under weight | Relegation to last place in that race |
| EXC | Red card or exclusion | Out of all rounds of the event and not ranked in it |
| DSQ | Disqualification | Out of all events at the regatta |
Ranking between them:
- A crew that stopped during a race (DNF) is ranked above a crew that withdrew before the start (DNS) in the same round.
- A relegated crew (REL) is ranked below a DNF or DNS crew in the same round.
- Between two DNF or two DNS crews, the one with the higher place in the round before is ranked higher.
A disqualified rower takes no further part in the regatta. If the rower cannot be replaced under the substitution rules, the crew is excluded from the event.
Tricky cases
A crew broke an oar in its heat and could not finish. Is it out?
It depends. A crew that does not finish does not race again in the event. Where "a problem has prevented the crew from finishing", the president of the jury, or the Executive Committee at the top regattas, may decide to place it last in the race.
Is excluded the same as disqualified?
No. Exclusion covers one event. Disqualification covers every event at the regatta, and no member of a disqualified crew may race again there.
An excluded crew drops out after the heats. Do fewer crews go through?
No. The number of crews set by the progression system still goes forward to the next round.
Why the rule exists
A results sheet has to tell a crew that tried and failed from one that broke a rule, and both from one that never came to the start. The order between the codes rewards the crew that raced as far as it could.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Rowing rules | As above | RR 62; RR 66 and bye-law (6) |
| Under-weight boats | A second offence in a later round of the same event brings exclusion | RR App R3 (10) |
From the rule book
World Rowing Rules of Racing and Related Bye-Laws (Overall and Classic Rowing), Rules 62 and 66, the bye-laws to Rule 66 and Appendix R3. Last updated 1 July 2025. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Rowing Rules of Racing (PDF).