Race Procedure and Prizes

• Time Trial (Elimination Heats)
  Following scrutineering, each boat will be timed over the length of the 10 metre pool for the purpose of seeding boats to determine the groupings of teams who will compete in the ‘round robin’ section of the event. Teachers will be notified by email and/or phone and/or in person if their school has been invited to compete in the finals.
  
  
• Finals Races
  The finals shall be conducted with pairs of boats competing against each other over the length of a 10 metre pool in a series of ‘round robin’ and/or elimination races to be announced in the official schedule of events.
  
  
• Timing
  Each boat will be timed over the course. For the finals, the first boat to cross the finishing line will be declared the winner. If neither boat reaches the finishing line, the boat that has travelled the furthest will be declared the winner of the race. The race-day officials will adjudicate on any dispute as to the finishing position of any boat and there can be no appeal against the decision.
  
  
• Starting Procedure
  Boats will be presented at the start line within two minutes following the official’s call to race. In the case of best of three heat races boats will alternate lanes.
  
  The boats will be placed in the pool in a ready to run state.  Spraying solar cells with coolant on the start line will not be permitted. Each boat must have a solar panel cover in place. The starter will direct the team member to switch the boat on. The starter or any other approved official may require the team to demonstrate that the boat’s propeller will not turn with the cover in place. When satisfied the starter will then ask for the panels to be removed and start the race.
  
  
• Stability
  It is important each boat is durable and waterproof so as to maintain its efficiency during the races. If a boat comes off the guideline it shall be deemed unstable and will not be restarted. There shall be no handling of boats during the race other than by the officials or other people nominated by officials. If both/all boats come off the guidelines, the race will be awarded to the boat that has travelled the furthest. If a boat comes off the guideline and obstructs another boat, the boat still attached to the guideline shall be awarded the race if it reaches that point and collides with the boat which first dislodged, provided that no other boats have already successfully completed the race.
  
  
• Poor Light/ Adverse Weather Conditions
  If the light conditions do not allow the boats to complete the race, the boat that has travelled the furthest, or if the boats travel the same distance, the boat that reaches that point first will be the winner. When the boats have come to a halt short of the finish line, the race will be deemed to have finished if none of the boats have moved for at least 30 seconds.
  
  
• Practice and Testing
  Practice on the course will be allowed at any feasible time as long as officials are in attendance and racing is not affected.
  
  
• Pool Location
  The pool will be located as close to North – South as possible. The races will either be run in a North – South or South – North direction at the discretion of the race coordinator. All races in any round will be run in the same direction. In the finals the winner is determined on a ‘best of three race’ principle and the boats will race in alternate lanes.
  
  
• Results
  Final results will be decided after the first four provisional placegetters have been scrutineered and passed by the officials.
  
  
• Prizes
  The presentation of prizes to the fastest boat, best poster and best team effort will be held as soon as possible after the completion of the event. Additional prizes that may be awarded include design, making and refining the boats, teamwork, engineering and construction, team outfit, innovation, or use of recycled materials. The final categories of prizes will be announced at the time when the final call for entries is issued.

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