basin

Usually man-made body of water where rowing and canoe-kayak races are held; ideally, it is in the lee of the wind and without a current.

starting jetty

Floating platform on which an official stands; the role of this individual is to keep the boats immobile and in line before the start.

starter

Official who summons the competitors and gives the starting signal; the starter also decides if there is a false start.

course umpire

Official who follows the competitors during the race on board a boat; the course umpire may disqualify a boat straying from its lane.

aligner

Official who check that all boats are lined up properly at the start line.

starting zone

The first 110 yd of the course inside which a race may be invalidated due to technical difficulties.

start buoys

Floating yellow or orange units in the first 275 yd of the course that demarcate the six to eight lanes of the basin.

course buoys

Floating white units in the center of the course that demarcate the six to eight lanes of the basin.

scoreboard

Display surface posting information related to a sporting event in progress (time, standings, results, etc.).

floating dock

Floating platform used for launching boats into the water or for taking them out.

finish line

Line marking the end of a race that is demarcated by two red flags atop buoys; a crew ends the race when the forward part of the boat crosses it.

finish line judge

Official who validates the boats’ placement and the race time.

finish buoys

Floating yellow or orange units that demarcate the six to eight lanes of the basin for the last 275 yd of the course.