If a national federation wishes to hold an examination at some other time, the federation must meet the living and travel expenses of the members of the examining committee. Candidates who have failed one examination may enrol for another, but not earlier than the following year. Successful candidates will be issued with a legitimation card as International Marathon Racing Officials. The cost incurred by a candidate in connection with the examination, shall be a charge on the national federation of that candidate.

1. River courses without obstacles, or interruptions.
2. River courses with obstacles such as weirs, rocks or shallows involving obligatory or optional portages.
3. Open water courses on lakes, estuaries or the open sea.
4. Any combination of the above.

1. Detailed information on the course and their markings.
2. Starting time(s) and procedures.
3. Starting line.
4. Finishing line.
5. Competitors's racing number.
6. Obligatory safety equipment requirements.
7. Transport arrangements for boats and competitor, if being provided by the organizers.

a) Stationary Start

The position of the boats at the start is such that the bows of the competing boats are on the starting line(s). The boats must be stationary. The craft may be held at the stern.

Wherever possible all boats in a class shall line up at the starting line and use the stationary start. Where this is impossible or impracticable owing to lack of space, or water or weather conditions, the following altemative simultaneous starting procedures may be employed.

b) Grid Start

National teams equally represented in each rank of the grid with the positions being determined by the draw. National teams to take precedence over club teams.

c) Le Mans Start

The boats are lined up on the shore in an order determined by the draw.

d) Rolling Start

Where strong currents render a stationary start difficult, a rolling start may be used, the boats being allowed to drift towards the line with a view to crossing on the signal.

e)Interval Start

Where a simultaneous start is impracticable or undesirable, an interval start may be used, the order being determined by a draw. A list of competitors with their starting times shall be issued to the team leaders and pinned to a notice board at the start at least three (3) hours before the start of competition. It is also possible to have an interval start in groups.

5) In all cases paddlers shall be called to the water at least ten minutes before the scheduled start, or in the case of a Le Mans Start given a ten minute warning.

6) The following procedures will then apply for the respective starts:

1. Stationary Start and
2. Grid Start

The starter shall ensure all craft are stationary on the starting line or grid line as appropriate. When the starter is satisfied the line(s) are stationary he shall give the signal or "Ready'followed by a shot, starting horn, or the word "Go". If a competitor commences paddling atter the word "Ready' and before the shot has been fired, he has made a false start. A competitor who attempts to start before any instruction is deemed to have made an unfair start. A competitor who attempts a false or untair start will be warned. A second warning will result in the imposition of two minute penalty. A third warning will result in the competitor's disqualification from the event.

A disqualified competitor must leave the water immediately.

c)Le Mans Start

Competitors shall stand stationary on a starting line. The starter when he is satisfied the competitors are stationary shall say "Ready" followed by a shot or the word "Go". If a competitor or competitors commence running before the shot has been fired, the starter shall declare a false start and warn the offending competitors. A competitor who attempts to start before any instruction is deemed to have made an unfair start. A competitor who attempts an unfair start will be warned. A second warning will result in the imposition of a two minute time penalty. A third warning will result in the competitor's disqualification from the event. In a Le Mans Start, no competitor shall tackle, block, hinder or obstruct another competitor running to his boat.

d)Rolling Start

The canoes shall form up well before the start line and drift towards the starter. The starter shall ensure the line is as straight as possible and that no competitor will obtain any undue advantage as a result of the start. When the starter is satisfied, he shall let the line drift to within 10 metres of the start line and giveThe signal "Ready" followed by a shot, a starting horn or the word "GO".

If a competitor commences paddling after the word "Ready" and before the shot is fired, he has made a false start.

An immediate time penalty of two minutes shall be imposed upon the competitor making a false start.

e)Interval Start

Competitors shall be called into their starting position in the predetermined order. Competitors must be advised five minutes, two minutes and one minute prior to their designated start time. The starter shall ensure that each competitor, or group of competitors is stationary and level. A competitor crossing the start line prior to the ten- second warning shall be recalled with the elapsed time taken from the designated starting time; a competitor commencing paddling between the ten- second warning and the shot or starting command shall incur an immediate two-minute time penalty.

7. Any penalty imposed under this rule shall be notified to the team manager of the offending competitor by the Technical Director. Whenever possible, advice of any time penalty shall also be given to the offending competitor(s) at the first available checkpoint.

8. Multi-stage races:

Where a race is divided into several stages, the starts of the second and subsequent stages on the same day shall be carried out individually, or in groups as

determined by the organiser, and advised to the team leaders at the team leaders meeting.

If carried out individually the competitors will leave the stage start in the order of arrival from the previous stage, and at the same intervals of time.

If in groups, these should also take into account arrival from the previous stage, and time differences recorded. Timing will be cumulative, and the winner being the competitor/crew having taken the shortest time over the whole course, making due allowance for any time penalties awarded by the organisers. The restart of the second or subsequent days may utilize any of the initial or stage start methods described in this rule.

Competitors may only portage at points designated by the race organisers.

a) At official compulsory or optional portage points, the limits of the section of the river to be portaged must be clearly marked by flags showing the start and end of the disembarkation area and the start and end of the embarkation area. The flags marking the portage shall be diagonally divided in red and yellow.

b) All competitors (and their designated helpers where approved) shall disembark in the defined area, carry their craft around the portage and embark in the defined area.

c) Any water atter the end of the disembarkation area and before the start of the embarkation area is out of bounds.

d) Organisers must aim to provide enough bank space toallow at least four K-2's to be portaged simultaneously.

e) A competitor making a portage at a point other than the designated portage area along the course must not make any forward progress unless directed by the competition committee.

f) Where shallow water is encountered it is always permitted to disembark in the river and drag or carry the boat into deep water.

g) Under no circumstances may a portage be used with an effect of shortening the course of the race.

For an event to be recognised as World Championships at least six (6) national federations must participate. Championship. are restricted to the following classes and categories:

Men: K-1, K2, C-1 and C-2 Women: K-1 and K-2

Entries shall be limited to two (2) boats per nation per event. World Championships shall be held over 2 days, and each race shall be completed in one stage, i.e. non-stop.

1 ) Competitors have the right to appeal to the Jury against a decision of the Competition Committee. The appeal, in writing and with reasons, must be addressed to the Chairman of the Jury and lodged, by the team manager with the Jury's Chairman not later than 20 minutes after the team manager has been informed, in writing, of the decision against the competitor or team, and has signed the receipt.

2) If the paddler involved in the disqualification is still completing the course, the time for lodging an appeal shall be extended until one hour atterthat paddler either completes the course or withdraws from the event.

3) An appeal must be accompanied by a fee of (or equivalent to) 25 US dollars. The tee will be refunded if the appeal is upheld.

4) On receipt of the appeal, the Chairman of the Jury shall advise the relevant team managers and indicate arrangements for hearing the appeal.

5) The appeal shall be heard as soon as possible. Witnesses may be called.

6) The decision of the Jury is final.

7) Final results shall be prepared and medals and trophies presented after the Jury's decision is announced, or the time limit for appeals to the Jury has expired (whichever is the latter).