1. Because of the nature and size of each event it is impossible to wait for latecomers. Each crew and sculler is responsible for being on time for their event.

2. All boats should follow the Basin Traffic Pattern (this map can be downloaded from the Maps section of the website.) All boats should be in the buoyed Queuing Zone 5 minutes prior to the start of their race. Once in the Queuing Zone, boats should proceed parallel to one another with odd numbers on the Boston side and even numbers on the Cambridge side and only proceed single file once you approach the start line. Crews or scullers that fail to follow the Starter's command will be penalized. Note of advice: it is no advantage for a faster crew to close upon a slower crew in front prior to crossing the start line. Apart from risking a penalty by disobeying the Starter's instructions, the first bridge arch is barely wide enough for two crews (fours or eights) to pass, and so attempting to overtake a slower crew under the arch will likely result in interference.

3. Late arriving boats should not cross the line of buoys to jump into the starting sequence, but should await instruction from the Marshals or Starter. Boats that arrive late may be allowed to start behind their assigned position, but only at the discretion of the Starter. Any boat that starts out of sequence against the orders of the Starter will be disqualified.

4. In each event, women's divisions will start approximately 2 minutes after the last boat in the men's divisions, except in the Championship events where the hiatus between men's and women's divisions may be as much as 6 to 8 minutes.

5. All competitors should be advised that an Open Water interval of 3 to 4 boat lengths is expected as competitors cross the Start Line.