RDS description

The Rowing Data System is a web-based regatta management software tool. It hopes to make things simpler for organizers and clubs attending regattas by providing a common interface and experience for regattas.

Regatta registration

RDS accesses registration information from RegattaCentral, in line with Rowing Canada protocols.

Scheduling a draw

Once entries close, the regatta organizers can create a draw. Events within a single regatta can have different progression rules and use different numbers of lanes, allowing the organizers to customize their regatta. The draw can be scheduled programmatically and manually altered if desired. Once finalized and released by the organizers, the draw is available online.

At the regatta

During the actual regatta, there are a number of different areas of functionality. In each case I have worked with Rowing Canada umpires to make these useful.

• A scratch page allows the regatta organizers to indicate late scratches.
• A weigh-in page, whose data is immediately available to other parts of the RDS.
• An outdock page allows Control Commission to indicate who has boated and when they left the dock.
• A start line page, showing the crews for each race, any scratches, and when the crews were checked in by Control. Race timing can be started from here.
• A splits page, which allows timings to be taken at some intermediate point on the race course.
• A finish line page allows for the timing and placing of crews within a race.

Once the race data is all entered, results are calculated automatically and progression rules are applied to send qualifying crews to the next round. Results are available on the internet immediately after the race result is deemed official. % of gold medal standard times may be calculated agains Rowing Canada's standards if required.

Internet access

For full race day functionality, the host club may wish to look into whether it can access the internet from various locations on site. The finish line is best run on a computer with a keyboard, although the iPad does a good job of most parts (with a data plan and a stopwatch backup).

Pricing for the RDS

There are two pricing structures. You can choose the lower of the two. These give you support and a licence to use the RDS for the purposes of administering and running your regatta.

1. $2 per athlete registered to race. This means that clubs have to register athletes for particular crews, which would happen anyway if the regatta were going to use the rule-checking modules.
2. $20 per race scheduled to run (including time trials, heats, semi-finals and finals).

More information

If you are interested in finding out more, please contact us by email at info@regattadata.com.

We can also provide assistance with the technical aspects of accessing the RDS at your regatta site.