Registration Conditions

Time trial over 6 km for all fields.

• Race Management: Martijntje Gribnau
• E-mail: wedstrijdleiding@helvanhetnoorden.nl
• Head of the Jury: Christiaan Arendzen

Registration and Payment

• Entries: up to and including Thursday, November 19, 2026, 18:00 via the KNRB registration program.
• Changes: up to and including Friday, November 20, 2026, 20:00 via the KNRB registration program.
• Entry fees: Skiff (1x): € 30.00 | Pair/Double (2-/2x): € 45.00
• The entry fee must be in the bank account by Friday, November 20, 2026, before 18:00.
• IBAN: NL37INGB0665566018
• In the name of: Aegir | City: Groningen
• Reference: “Entry fee, *club name*, Hel van het Noorden”.

If this condition is not met, the full entry fee for the club must be paid electronically when the first crew of the weekend reports.

Draw and Race Procedure

• Draw: Friday, November 20, 2026, 20:00, GSR Aegir, Stockholmstraat 10 Groningen.
• On Sunday, racing starts in two blocks: at 10:00 and 14:30.
• Events with fewer than 3 entries will not be rowed.
• Events with fewer than 3 entries will, if possible, be merged with other fields of a higher category. Crews in the respective fields will be informed of such changes via email.
• State the sculling status or sweep status of the rower(s) with every entry.

Regulations 49th Hel van het Noorden 2026

General

• The KNRB Rules of Racing (RvR) apply to the Hel van het Noorden, insofar as the jury declares them applicable.
• The races are time trials according to Article 29 of the KNRB Rules of Racing (RvR). The following additional rules apply.
• The Hel van het Noorden will be rowed on Sunday, November 22, 2026, on the Eemskanaal from kilometer marker 17 to 23.
• The time schedule specifies exactly what time to be where for each event. It is of the utmost importance to adhere to this schedule.
• Read the latest instructions for participating crews carefully at www.helvanhetnoorden.nl.

Weigh-in

• The weigh-in for lightweight rowers of competition crews takes place according to art. 5 RvR.
• The weigh-in takes place between 3 and 2 hours before the first start of the field in the designated room at Aegir.
• In case of failing the weigh-in, the crew may start at the back of the heavyweight field, provided the other participating crews in the heavyweight field have no objections.
• Weigh-in is according to art. 41 RvR. Winter weight applies to this regatta, and the respective crews are weighed in based on art. 5 paragraph 6 RvR.

Back and Bow Numbers

• Back numbers must be clearly visible on the back of the rower. For the 2- and 2x, the bow rower must wear the back number.
• The bow number must be placed on the designated holder on the bow. You may not launch without a bow number in a holder.
• We do not work with a deposit when issuing bow numbers. Instead, an invoice will be sent to the respective club if a bow number is missing after the race.
• Back and bow numbers are only issued if the entry fee has been received.
• Starting with an incorrect event number means no valid time can be linked to a rower, resulting in exclusion.
• The race management accepts no responsibility for failing to record or incorrectly recording times of participants whose back numbers are not properly pinned on and/or the bow number is not properly attached, making them difficult to see from the timing posts.

Safety Requirements

• Checks will be conducted for the safety requirements mentioned in art. 20 RvR. KNRB jury members will check for quick-release bow balls and heel strings. In case of defects, these must be repaired on the shore without obstructing access to the pontoons.
• The club colors must be clearly visible during the race (see art. 8 RvR).

Draw

• The draw is seeded for the (lightweight) men’s, women’s, and masters’ fields.
• Masters are drawn based on last year’s results.
• The draw for Seniors takes place based on rowing status (art. 35 RvR). The classification by performance points is as follows:
  • Group 1: 8 or more points
  • Group 2: 3 to 7 points
  • Group 3: 1 to 2 points
  • Group 4: 0 points

entering the water

• The pontoon time is set per field. Due to the distance to the start (=10km row up!), you must strictly adhere to this pontoon time. A large number of boats must get on the water in a short period; after boarding, you must clear the pontoon as quickly as possible (making adjustments, etc., should be done on the water).
• Departing the pontoon late may result in denial of access to the race.
• You must follow the instructions of jury members, pontoon assistants, and race management.

Warming up

Warm-up Lane:

• The shore side of the warm-up lane will be determined on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at 18:00 depending on the wind direction.
• The warm-up lane is 10 meters wide and indicated every 250 meters by a yellow buoy.
• Crossing the line of the warm-up lane is penalized with a 15-second penalty. Hindering may lead to exclusion. (It is also not permitted to deviate outside the lane when overtaking).
• Crews participating in the race are not allowed to row in the warm-up lane.

Rowing up:

• Participants must be in the pre-start area at least 15 minutes before the start time of their field. This means participants must pass the finish line at least 45 minutes before the start. Crews rowing up who arrive late at the finish line will be sent back. These participants cannot start in another heat.
• It is permitted to continue rowing in the warm-up lane when a race passes.
• Turning is only allowed after passing the turning buoy located 200 meters from the start line. It is permitted to row past the turning buoy.
• In the start zone, rowing at race pace, doing build-ups, or practicing starts is prohibited.

Starting Order and Start Procedure

• The lowest number starts first, the highest number starts last.
• The starting order is determined by the draw.
• Starts are conducted in accordance with art. 52 RvR. The pre-start is located 100 meters before the start line and is marked by a white flag. The start is marked by a red flag.
• Crews within the same event number start at 15-second intervals. There is a 1 to 2-minute gap between categories. In the starting area, always follow the instructions of the pre-starter and other officials immediately.
• The jury can impose disciplinary measures if instructions are not followed (art. 75 RvR).

Timely Rowing up:

• Ensure you are ready for the pontoons at the scheduled time (see www.helvanhetnoorden.nl for times per field). If you are late, you may only launch if it is still safe to do so.
• The race management and jury members may decide on the disciplinary measures to be applied if the pontoon time is missed, as described in art. 75 RvR.

Overtaking and Passing

It is mandatory to comply with the rules of art. 53 of the RvR:

• The overtaking crew is free to choose its course.
• The overtaken crew may not hinder the overtaking crew and must yield in time so that the overtaking crew is genuinely free to choose its course.
• However, the overtaking crew may not abuse its right of way by forcing an overtaken crew into a position that makes rowing impossible or otherwise puts the overtaken crew in a dangerous situation.
• The overtaken crew must in any case yield before the bow of the overtaking crew is level with the stern of the overtaken crew.
• Safety and sportsmanship must prevail for both the overtaken and the overtaking crew in the way they treat each other.
• Failure to comply with these provisions may result in the jury taking disciplinary measures in accordance with art. 75 RvR.

Protests, Collisions, and Equipment Failure

• A protest is made known by raising a hand immediately after passing the finish line. If this is not possible, the protest must be confirmed in writing by the club representative to the race management no later than 60 minutes after the last finish of the respective block.
• The representatives of the crews involved in a protest must be available to the jury and/or race management from this moment until the results are final. They must ensure that the rowers of the crews can be heard at very short notice.
• In the absence of the crew representative, the jury member will make a ruling without hearing the party concerned.
• Crews must prevent a collision at all times. If a collision does occur, the jury may impose a disciplinary measure on the responsible crew according to art. 75 RvR.

Timekeeping

• For each crew, the rowed time is recorded individually, accurate to a tenth of a second.
• A time difference of less than 0.2 seconds is considered a tie (ex aequo).

Training

• Training is allowed from sunrise until half an hour before sunset on Saturday, November 21, 2026, on the Winschoterdiep and Noord-Willemskanaal.
• Training is not allowed on the Eemskanaal on Saturday.
• Training in the dark is prohibited.
• A visible yellow vest must be worn during training.
• During the race, there is a total blockade for all shipping traffic at the following times:
  • Between 9:00 and 11:45
  • Between 13:00 and 17:00

Weather Conditions

• If the weather conditions prevent the completion of the full program, the race organization reserves the right to change the program at its own discretion.

Following Instructions and Directions

• Participants must follow instructions from jury members and other race officials immediately and strictly at all times.
• Failure to follow instructions, or not doing so in a timely manner, can lead to disciplinary measures by the race management or jury (art. 75 RvR).

Disciplinary Measures

• In the event of a violation of the regulations, as referred to in art. 75 RvR, a time penalty may be imposed.
• The time penalty is 15 seconds.
• Multiple violations can lead to multiple sanctions.
• Severe offenses can result in exclusion according to art. 75 RvR.

Deviation from Provisions and Regulations

• Good seamanship and sportsmanship are required at all times.
• In all cases not covered by these provisions, the decision rests with the Head of the Jury.