What does the umpire do in a rowing race?
A · Advanced · The start and the race · 4 of 12The umpire follows the race in a launch and is responsible for a fair and safe race. The umpire warns or stops crews with a white flag and can exclude a crew or order a re-row. At the finish, a white flag means the race was in order and a red flag means it was not.
How it works
The officials around a race:
- The starter runs the start from a tower behind the start line.
- The judge at the start sits on the start line, confirms the boats are level and alone rules on a false start.
- The umpire follows in the centre of the course. The starter and the judge at the start are subordinate to the umpire except in their own duties.
- The judges at the finish decide the order the bows reach the line and validate the result.
- The control commission works on land: weighing, crew identity, boats and equipment.
- The president of the jury heads all of them. With two other members the president forms the board of the jury, which hears protests.
The flags:
- White, lowered to one side: a named crew must move that way.
- White, held upright with "Stop!": the named crew must stop.
- White at the finish: the race was in order. The judge at the finish answers with a white flag or light.
- Red at the finish: the race was not in order, and the result waits for the umpire's decision.
- Red flag waved with a bell at the start: the race is stopped.
Tricky cases
Does the umpire tell crews where to steer?
No, not normally. The umpire gives steering directions only to avoid accidents, to stop one crew interfering with another or when there is an obstruction in a lane.
A boat capsizes in the middle of a race. What does the umpire do?
The umpire makes sure the rescue service is acting. If it is not, the umpire stays with the capsized crew until all its members are safe and the rescue service has arrived.
Is there always a launch behind every race?
No. At the top regattas the Executive Committee may choose zonal umpiring, with umpires in boats that stay in one place or follow only part of the race.
Can the umpire stop a race because of the weather?
Yes. In a squall or a sudden turn in the weather the umpire decides whether the race continues or is stopped.
Why the rule exists
Rowers face backwards and cannot see trouble coming, so one official travels with the race and has the power to act at once. The rules give the umpire a plain order of priorities: "The safety of the rowers is more important than any of the provisions of the Rules of Racing."
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Rowing rules | As above | RR 84 and bye-law; RR 74 bye-law |
| Zonal umpiring | Umpires at fixed points, in radio contact. The president of the jury can return to a following launch if safety needs it | RR 84 (5, 6); RR 84 bye-law (k) |
| Language | Officials use visual signals in principle and speak to rowers in English | RR 83 bye-law (1 b) |
From the rule book
World Rowing Rules of Racing and Related Bye-Laws (Overall and Classic Rowing), Rules 38, 74 and 82 to 85 with their bye-laws (Appendix R9). Last updated 1 July 2025. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Rowing Rules of Racing (PDF).