Section 3: Playing Area
3.1 Course Layout
- Distance: 2,000 m (6,562 ft) for all Olympic and World Championship events. Junior and Masters events may race 1,000 m or 1,500 m.
- Lanes: Minimum 6 lanes for international competition (8 preferred). Each lane is 13.50 m (44 ft 3 in) wide.
- Water conditions: The course must be on calm, sheltered water with minimal current. Courses are aligned to minimize crosswind advantage to any particular lane.
3.2 Lane Marking
The Albano buoy system marks lane boundaries using plastic buoys strung on cables every 10 m (33 ft). Buoy colors change at the 250 m and 1,750 m marks (typically red for the first and last 250 m, white or yellow for the middle 1,500 m) to help crews judge their position and pacing.
3.3 Start and Finish
- Start: Boats are aligned using an Albano alignment system (fixed platforms with mechanical boat holders) or individual stakeboats held by volunteers. The starter is positioned behind all boats and verifies alignment before the start command.
- Finish: A photo-finish camera captures the exact moment each bow ball crosses the finish line. Times are recorded to 1/100th of a second. A finish tower provides an elevated view for judges.