FORWARD

 

 

PURPOSE

 

The Maui County Hawaiian Canoe Association (MCHCA) was formed for the purposes of engaging in charitable, educational, cultural and recreational activities associated with Hawaiian canoeing, including the promotion of outrigger canoe racing and the construction and preservation of authentic Hawaiian Koa canoes.

 

The Race Rules as set forth are in furtherance of these purposes.

 

OBJECTIVES

 

The specific objectives of MCHCA Race Rules are as follows:

 

1.             To define and cover participation by MCHCA member clubs in races and regattas sanctioned by the MCHCA Board of Directors.  These shall include the MCHCA scheduled regattas and such other regattas, surf course races, or open races accepted as sanctioned events by MCHCA’s Board of Directors.

 

2.             To serve as “Model Rules” and as a guide for MCHCA in establishing rules for the conduct of our races and regattas.

 

3.             To define and cover participation by MCHCA member clubs in approved races and regattas.

 

CODE OF ETHICS3*

 

We are all responsible to promote good sportsmanship and fair play in the activities we engage in.  This means observance of these race rules as well as generally accepted rules of behavior and all governmental laws.

 

Paddlers are to avoid situations where a canoe is deliberately rammed, where there is deliberate interference with another crew, where assaults and/or abusive language are used.

 

Coaches are required to support and enforce these race rules and to avoid any circumvention of these rules.

 

Officials and Officers are required to do their best to be fair and not biased in their decisions and in carrying out their duties.

 

Any violation of the Code of Ethics shall be reported in writing to the Race Rules Committee chairman immediately following the incident.  The Race Rules Committee will meet to review the report and then make recommendations to the MCHCA BOD for any disciplinary action, i.e. fines, suspensions, etc.  If the violation occurs at the MCHCA regatta the RACE RULES COMMITTEE will meet immediately following that regatta.  If the violation occurs at any other race or event the RACE RULES COMMITTEE will meet within 5 days from that race or event.7*

 

I.              SANCTIONED AND APPROVED RACE REGATTAS

 

A.    Sanctioned Races and Regattas

           

1.             Definition – A sanctioned race or regatta is one, which is conducted directly or under the auspices of MCHCA.

 

2.             Note – MCHCA member clubs and non-MCHCA clubs may request permission to sponsor sanctioned races and regattas under the auspices of MCHCA.

 

3.             Conditions – All sanctioned races and regattas conducted by MCHCA or by clubs under the auspices of MCHCA shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

a.             Prior approval by MCHCA’s Board of Directors.

 

b.            MCHCA prevailing Race Rules as approved by MCHCA’s Board of Directors shall apply, and any deviation thereof shall require Board approval.

 

c.             Conduct of the race shall be governed by the MCHCA Race Director and a Race Committee appointed by the Race Director in accordance with MCHCA’s Race Rules or as approved by the Board of Directors.

 

d.            Guest participation is permissible subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.

 

e.             Registration and entrance fees shall be in accordance with MCHCA prevailing Race Rules or as approved by its Board of Directors.

 

B.    Approved Races and Regattas

 

1.             Definition – An approved race or regatta is:

 

a.             Any race or regatta other than MCHCA sanctioned races or regattas – sponsored by an MCHCA member club on Maui, which has been duly approved by MCHCA.  Such races and regattas shall require approval by MCHCA Board of Directors unless the Board, because of extenuating circumstances, shall deem otherwise.  In such cases, the Board of Directors shall notify all prospective participants not less than two (2) weeks prior to the race or regatta that approval is being withdrawn and the reasons therefore.  The sponsoring club shall have the right of appeal.

 

b.            Any race or regatta sponsored by other than the MCHCA and/or MCHCA member club in which participation by MCHCA/HCRA member clubs has met the approval requirements as indicated below:

 

1.             A race or regatta in which participation is limited to the canoe clubs on any given island shall require approval of the respective island canoe racing association only.

 

2.             A race or regatta, in which invitations to participants are issued to clubs on other islands, statewide, nationally, or internationally, shall require MCHCA/HCRA Board of Directors’ approval.

 

2.             Conditions

 

a.             In the case of invitational races and regattas, the sponsoring organization shall submit to the MCHCA Secretary the following information for MCHCA’s Board of Directors’ review at least 30 days prior to the event.

 

1.             Letter of invitation;

 

2.             Rules governing the event, including canoe eligibility and class divisions;

 

3.             Location and description of the site and race course;

 

4.             Evidence of required approval of governmental agencies (U.S. Coast Guard and State Department of Transportation, Harbors Division);

 

5.             Character and type of awards;

 

6.             Entry fees;

 

7.             Escort boat requirements; and

 

8.             Paddler registration and eligibility requirements.

 

a.             Failure to satisfactorily meet the requirements of this paragraph shall be grounds for denying or, in the case of sponsoring MCHCA clubs, for withdrawing approval of the event.

 

b.            Participation by MCHCA member clubs in any race or regatta sponsored by an MCHCA member club from which approval has been withdrawn, or any race or regatta sponsored by other than MCHCA or an MCHCA member club approval by the Board of Directors, shall constitute a violation of rules subject to disciplinary action as determined by the Board of Directors.  MCHCA club sponsors shall also be subject to disciplinary action if the proposed race or regatta is held after approval from MCHCA is withdrawn.  Such disciplinary action may include expulsion from the Association or denial of permission to participate in MCHCA/HCRA sanctioned races and regattas.

 

C.    Race Scheduling

           

The last regatta shall be a Championship regatta.  During this regatta the 3rd seed (lane) for States shall be awarded to the 1st place finisher of each event.  In the event that the 1st place finisher is already qualified to go to States, the 3rd seed shall go to the crew with the 3rd highest cumulative points for the season.  The location and sponsor of the Championship regatta shall be determined by a majority vote of the MCHCA Board of Directors (No later than the April MCHCA BOD Meeting.  15*

 

The Race Schedule for MCHCA sanctioned and approved races/ regattas shall be determined in accordance with the following procedures:

 

 

1.             Sanctioned Regattas

 

All sanctioned regattas shall start at 8:00 a.m. and be scheduled in the following order:                                                                                                            

 

                                                                                                                                                           

                                2004                       2005                 2006                 2007                 2008                 2009                      

 

                                HWN                 LCC                  KIH                   NKE                 NKE 22*                        NAP                             NKE                 HWN                 LCC                  KIH                   KCC 22*                        KCC                             WAI                        WAI                  HWN                 LCC                  HWN22*             NKE                             KCC                 KCC                        WAI                  HWN                 LCC                  KIH                               NAP                 NAP                 NAP                        WAI                  KIH  22*             LCC                              LUOK               LUOK               LUOK               LUOK               WAI                  HWN                             KIH                   NKE                 KCC                 NAP                 LUOK               WAI                                         

                                Off:                  Off:                  Off:                  Off:                  Off:                  Off:                 

                        LCC                  KIH                   NKE                 KCC                 NAP                 LUOK  

                       

(2008   changes made to accommodate parking issues at the harbor and to allow Kihei

 Canoe Club to honor Moki Kalanikau on the day his family will be holding a reunion and

 memorial.  Normal order will resume in 2009.) 22*  

               

                                After hosting the championship regatta, a club would sit out a year and then host the first

                        regatta of the year.  After Wailea hosts a championship, the order of clubs hosting and

                                sitting out would be consistent with the age order of the clubs.

 

                                If Hana or Lanai decided to host a championship, an extra club would have to sit out that

                        year.  This means that a club could be out two years in a row.

 

                                The first regatta would be nine weeks before the state regatta (the season would start as

                        usual), leaving a weekend free between the MCHCA championship and the state regatta. 

                        There would be a bye weekend the 4th of July weekend.  17* 19*

 

 

2.             Draft System

 

Remaining race dates shall be awarded through a draft system.  Order of selection shall be as follows (Clubs in order of inception):

 

            Hawaiian Canoe Club

            Hana Canoe Club

            Lahaina Canoe Club

            Kihei Canoe Club

            Na Kai Ewalu

            Kahana Canoe Club

            Napili Canoe Club 10*

            Lae Ula O Kai

            Wailea  16*

            Hui Wa’a O Lanai 12*

 

Clubs desiring additional race dates shall choose one (1) weekend per round until all weekends are taken or no additional dates are desired.  However, see item three (3) for special rules for the first round draft selections.

 

                       

                          3.       Protected Races  

 

Each club member shall be able to protect one weekend that they had occupied/ reserved in the previous year during the first round of draft.  All such protected weekends must be declared in advance of the first round selection.  All weekends12* not protected shall be eligible for selection by other clubs during the first and subsequent rounds. 

Note.   What you had last year is what you get this year. 13*

 

                        4.         Conflicts

 

No conflicts in the schedule shall be allowed.  No club is allowed to conduct a race on a weekend during which any other member club has a race scheduled.

 

NOTE:        This rule applies only to competitive races, and not races, which are primarily for fundraising.  It would be permissible for clubs to schedule fundraising races (i.e. hotel, challenge cup, restaurant) on the same day.  Clubs shall be subject to sanctions as set forth in Section I, Section 2b of these rules for violations of this rule.

 

                        5.         Time of Scheduling

 

The draft selection shall be held during the first or second MCHCA BOD meeting of the calendar year, but in no event later than February. 20*

 

 

II.            ORDER OF REGATTA RACING EVENTS

 

A.    General:     This article covers the order and distance, scoring and awards for the official events of MCHCA’s Regattas.

 

B.    Order and Distance 4*

           

1.   Girls 12 B 13*                                                           ¼ mile

2.   Boys 12 B 13*                                                          ¼ mile

3.   Girls 12 A 13*                                                           ¼ mile

4.   Boys 12 A 10* 13*                                                     ¼ mile

5.   Mixed Boys & Girls 12                                             ¼ mile

6.   Girls 13                                                                   ¼ mile

7.   Boys 13                                                                  ¼ mile

8.   Girls 14                                                                   ¼ mile

9.   Boys 14                                                                  ¼ mile

10.  Women Novice “B”                                                  ¼ mile

11.  Mixed Men & Women Novice “B” 11*                         ¼ mile

12.  Girls 15 12* 13*                                                         ½ mile

13.  Boys 15 12* 13*                                                        ½ mile

14.  Men Novice “B”                                                       ½ mile

15.  Girls 16 & Under                                                      ½ mile

16.  Boys 16 & Under                                                     ½ mile

17.  Girls 18 & Under                                                      ½ mile

18.  Women Novice “A”                                                  ½ mile

19.  Boys 18 & Under 11* 12*                                           1 mile

20.  Men Novice A 11* 12*                                                               1 mile

21.  Women Freshmen 11* 12*                                          1 mile

22.  Men Freshmen 11* 12*                                               1 mile

23. Sophomore Women