THE ORGANIZERS: The "Races" are organized and staged by River Rats Adventure Racing LLC. Race management reserves the right to add, modify, replace or cancel venues or events at any time. Race Management reserves the right to make changes and amendments to the rules and regulations at any time. In the event that changes are made, race management will contact all registered teams with the updates so that they may make the appropriate adjustments to their preparations for the race.

TEAMS: This race has been organized to be run by 2 or 4 person teams, unless otherwise specified. Each team must consist of either two (2) or four (4) members. Racers may race in either the mixed, male or female categories. All racers must be at least 18 years old. The teams must consist of the same members throughout the race and team members must stay together and complete the entire course together for the team to be officially ranked. All members of the team should be in good physical condition and be of reasonable health. All racers will be required to complete a medical form at registration to verify this. This race is an unsupported race. Race management will be arranging for the transport of your bicycles, but you must carry everything else you that will need for the race for the entire course.

1. Every team/solo must run the course as marked, any team/solo not doing so will be disqualified
2. Teams must complete the course as a team (no relays)
3. No outside assistance is permitted at any time. Teams/solos will be disqualified!
4. All teams/solos must start at the designated start line and finish at the designated finish line
5. Teams/solos may help one another at any point on the racecourse - including any special challenges. Any team/solo NOT helping a team/solo in distress may be subject to a time penalty.
6. All competitors must wear their race bib at all times during the race
7. All Competitors must wear their PFD's when on (in) the water
8. When crossing swinging bridges - competitors must be single file for safety reasons Course Marshals will be on hand to monitor. Teams/solos may elect to bypass the bridges but must cross bridged areas at same locations
9. All participants must be 18 years of age or older
10. You are allowed to change team members, divisions, etc. at any time PRIOR to the race
11. No pre-riding or exploring of the RACECOURSE permitted (Friday & Saturday)
12. All team members/solos must be present for check-in & pre-race meeting
13. All team members/solos must sign waivers at check-in
14. Entry Fees are Non-Refundable
15. All Teams/Solos must present their passport at the finish line with all stamped checkpoints
16. Any team/solo not doing so may incur a time penalty or be disqualified.

REGISTRATION: Each team must check in for registration at the designated racer check in area the evening before or early on the morning of the race. At this point, race management will verify with the team captain that all paperwork is in order. The paperwork required includes:

1. completed and signed medical forms from each team member
2. signed waivers from each team member
3. full payment of entrance fee for the team

There will NOT be a mandatory gear check at check in. Any items listed on the mandatory gear list may be checked for on the course. Teams missing items from the list will not be allowed to continue on the course. There also will NOT be a navigation check at registration. Maps will be pre-marked with the course, but mistakes have happened in the past, so being able to verify correct plotting of UTMs, etc. may be necessary. At least one member of each team should be familiar with the following:

1. Familiarity with a 1:24/25,000
2. Familiarity with a 1:30,750
3. Familiarity with UTM grid system
4. Familiarity with a compass and declination

RACE BRIEFING: All teams must attend the race briefing scheduled on the morning prior to the race. The race briefing will consist of distribution of the race package, description of some of the obstacles and challenges on the course and a question and answer period. Race management will be available until the start of the race to answer any further questions that do not get answered during the race briefing.

The race package given to each team will include all maps required for the race, course description with the grid coordinates for all checkpoints and transition areas, and a "passport." The passport must be carried at all times by the competitors during the race.
The maps provided in the race package are the only maps permitted on the course. Any team found using maps other than those provided may be disqualified from the official rankings.

The course description is practically the most important piece of information given during the race briefing. It will include brief descriptions of particular obstacles to watch for throughout the course and a list of all checkpoints on the course. Each checkpoint will be denoted by a UTM grid coordinate. The race course and checkpoints will be marked on the maps, but you may need to verify the accuracy of the placement of these points at some time along the course. It is the responsibility of each team to verify the coordinates of all checkpoints on the map, as well as determine the route they wish to follow. When in doubt, the UTM given in the course description should be used. Newer supplementary maps may be provided due to the age of the topographical maps. Some of the checkpoints given will also be labeled as transition areas.

THE RACE COURSE: The course will pass through a series of checkpoints. Teams must travel through all checkpoints in the order specified by race management, unless there is a series of unmanned checkpoints. At each checkpoint the team must check in and have their passport signed and time stamped by race staff or punched using the orienteering punch located at the marker. At the end of the race each team must show their passport to race management to verify that it has been signed or punched at all checkpoints and that they were reached in the specified order. Any team that did not pass through all checkpoints in order will not be included in the official rankings. If a team misses a checkpoint, they will be allowed to backtrack to reach it, but must still pass through all subsequent checkpoints in order, even if they had already visited those checkpoints (e.g. If you are at checkpoint 10 and realized you missed checkpoint 7, you will be allowed to backtrack to checkpoint 7 but must then pass back through checkpoints 8, 9 and 10 to maintain status as an officially ranked team).

Although each team is free to select the route they feel is most appropriate for the majority of the race, certain sections of the course will include instructions for a mandatory route (for safety reasons or to preserve certain environmentally sensitive areas). Teams that do not follow the mandatory route may be disqualified. Certain roads or trails may be defined as off limits. Use of these roads is also means for disqualification.

The entire course will be given to teams at the race briefing. Race management reserves the right to make changes to the course during the race due to unforeseen circumstances such as inclement weather. Any changes made will be communicated to all teams as soon as is reasonable and will be done as equitably as possible for all teams.

TIMING: There will be one official race clock for the entire race and all teams. The clock will start at the moment the race director designates and will remain running for a maximum of the race's official length. The official time for each team will be recorded when all four members reach the checkpoint or finish line. If a team receives a time penalty for a violation of the race rules and regulations, they must wait out the duration of their time penalty at a designated area prior to crossing the finish line. In so doing, the order that teams cross the finish line will represent the official rankings and results.

Certain cut-off times may be established for later sections on the course. If teams do not reach these points by the cut-off time established, it is assumed that it will not be possible for them to complete the entire course within the maximum time allowed. Due to the shorter nature of this race, any team not making a time cut off will be returned to race headquarters. All cut-off times will be communicated at the race briefing and will be listed in the course instructions provided in the race package.

TEAM RANKINGS: The first team to have all members cross the finish line and have passed through all checkpoints in order will be the winners. Teams must turn in their passport for verification that they reached all checkpoints in order. Any team without their passport or without all team members will not be ranked. Additionally, any team utilizing outside assistance to reach the finish line will not be ranked.

RACE JERSEYS AND SPONSORSHIP: All team members must wear the race bib provided at all times during the race. Teams are free to wear any other items or logos for their team sponsors provided they do not interfere with the event sponsor logos.

EQUIPMENT: Teams will be required to supply their own food and drink during the entire race.

The Mandatory Equipment List specifies the minimum gear required to compete in the Indian River Adventure Race. The list has been established to ensure safe travel throughout the course. If there is room for discretion as to whether or not certain equipment is required, we have left it off the list. In so doing, teams are left to make their own decisions about what will be the appropriate equipment to get them to the finish line in the fastest and safest way. There is NO room for discretion with the items included on the Mandatory Equipment List. Any team found without the mandatory equipment during the race may be disqualified from the race and removed from the course. Any gear issued to teams is to be considered mandatory gear. There will be multiple gear checks during the race to ensure all teams are carrying the required equipment.

Please note, the equipment list is subject to change. River Rats Adventure Racing will endeavor to inform teams of any changes as they arise.

MANDATORY EQUIPMENT: Refer to the Gear Page for the equipment list.

PROVIDED EQUIPMENT: Certain items on the mandatory gear list will be provided by the River Rats (as marked on the list). These items must remain with the team for the duration of the section they are assigned for and must be returned to race staff at the end of the section in good condition. Damage to any equipment provided by race management, beyond a reasonable level of wear and tear, may result in a time penalty or disqualification and the team will be responsible for paying for the damages.

Personal Paddles - The only exception on the mandatory gear list will be paddles. Teams may bring their own paddles to be used in the paddling sections only. Teams with personal paddles will not be required to take the paddles provided by the River Rats but may be required to carry their personal paddles during the race.

FORBIDDEN EQUIPMENT: The following is a list of equipment that is forbidden during the race. Any team possessing any of these items will be disqualified from the race:

1. G.P.S. devices
2. Night vision goggles
3. Weapons of any sort (with the exception of the mandatory knife)
4. Any mode of transportation not authorized by event organizers
5. Maps not provided by race organizers

This is not necessarily a complete list of forbidden equipment. Any device or item that offers an unfair advantage to the team possessing it may also be deemed as forbidden. Please check with event organizers prior to start of race if you have any items that may be questionable. If it is decided that the item will not be forbidden, event organizers will keep the query confidential.

SAFETY: Each team is required to have a working cell phone that must be carried at all times during the race. The cell phone will be in a sealed bag, in the event of an emergency, the team must use the phone to contact race management and rescue procedures will be set in motion. By using the phone, however, the team will be disqualified from the official race rankings and will not be allowed to continue on the course.
Teams are encouraged to help each other while on the course. No penalty will be incurred for receiving assistance from another team.

If a team comes in contact with another team that is in an emergency situation they are required to stop and help. Failure to help another team requiring emergency assistance may result in disqualification. Teams that do offer assistance in emergency situations may be awarded a time bonus.

Weather conditions may restrict safe travel for certain sections of the course. Race management reserves the right to make changes to the course or restrict travel on certain sections due to weather conditions.

It is mandatory that all team member’s wear an approved life jacket at all times during the paddling sections of the course. Similarly, it is mandatory that all team member’s wear a mountain bike helmet at all times during the mountain bike section. Failure to do so may result in disqualification.

WITHDRAWAL FROM THE RACE: Teams may only voluntarily withdraw from the competition at designated transition areas, with the exception of injury situations. Any team that voluntarily withdraws from the race must be transported back to the finish line by their support. If a team voluntarily withdraws at an area other than a transition area and it is not as a result of an injury or a safety concern they will be required to pay for the cost of removing them from the course.

If only one member of a team withdraws and the remainder of the team wishes to continue on the course, they may only do so with specific permission from race management. The remaining members must remain at the transition area until the member withdrawing is in the care of the team's support crew or race management and the race management approves the continued travel by the remaining members. From that point forward, the team will not be officially ranked. Race management reserves the right to issue a time penalty to any team wishing to continue unranked. This would be done to prevent unranked teams from interfering with the progress of officially ranked teams.

PENALTIES: Race management reserves the right to issue time penalties to teams, disqualify teams from the official rankings or remove teams from the course if they are in violation of any of the rules and regulations of the race. The severity of the penalty will be depend on the severity of the violation and will be decided by a judging panel. The following is a list of violations:

1. failing to have an official signature and time stamp in the passport for a checkpoint.
2. team members getting separated by more than 100 meters.
3. changing the team composition during the race (substituting one or more members of the team)
4. missing mandatory equipment
5. not following the prescribed rules of safe travel (e.g. wearing approved life jacket while paddling)
6. possessing forbidden equipment
7. failing to wear the provided race bib as the outer layer at all times
8. receiving any outside assistance including assistance from support crew outside of the designated transition areas
9. using any means of transportation not authorized by race management
10. any environmental damage
11. deviation from mandatory course
12. unfair behavior.

PRIZES: Top 3 finishers in each division will be recognized at the awards ceremony. Everyone in attendance at the closing ceremony will be entered in the random drawings for some awesome gear prizes from our sponsors.
This is not an exhaustive list. Rules may be changed at any time. Racers will be notified of any changes as soon as possible. Please contact race management before the start of the race if you have specific questions regarding these rules.