D.1 Competitors, championship officials, pilot life- savers, oarsmen and life- savers shall assemble for the start of the race at the time and place indicated in the information sheet or, in the event of alteration, as announced at the briefing meeting, and shall follow all directions of the officials in charge.
D.2 Boat crews shall comply with all instructions for the championship and in particular the directions of the Safety Officer and Referee and they shall ensure that their boat is properly cleaned and in good order before it is handed over after the event.
D.3 Each competitor shall provide a whistle and a flag “alpha” approximately 40cm by 30cm (16” x 12”) on a pole a least 1 metre long, or proportionate size for a canoe. This flag must be flown at all times by the escort boat or canoe while the competitor remains in the water but should be taken down in the event of the swimmer’s retirement. In the event of any emergency, or of assistance being required, long continuous blasts on the whistle must be given and the flag waved vigorously.
D.4 Unless otherwise specified, all Association Championships shall be freestyle championships.
D.5 Where breaststroke event is held as part of an Association Championships all competitors must declare their nominated stroke on the entry form and no subsequent change will be allowed. Breaststroke swimmers must wear a pink cap: freestyle swimmers may wear any other colour except white or pink.
D.6 To start the race audible and visible signals shall be given simultaneously.
D.7 Competitors shall not receive support from any floating or fixed object.
D.8 For any event over 5.0km in length, competitors shall not use any aids to swimming other than one sleeveless and legless costume, one cap and goggles. Sleeveless shall mean the costume must not extend beyond the end of the shoulder onto the upper arm and legless shall mean the costume must not extend lower than the crotch onto the upper leg. No neoprene or other insulating/buoyancy enhancing material may be used for any purpose, including caps.
No costume may extend outside the highlighted area detailed in the picture above.
D.9 For any event up to or equal to 5.0km in length, where wetsuits are allowed there will be two distinct race categories one for swimmers wearing costumes as defined in D.8 and one for those wearing wetsuits.
D.10 Competitors shall not consume, or so recently have consumed as to be still under the influence of, alcohol or stimulants. The use of banned drugs (as defined by the International Olympic Committee’s Medical Commission) is prohibited. The Association reserves the right to arrange the screening of random urine samples for the detection of banned drugs. Failure or refusal to provide a sample will result in disqualification. Copies of the Medical Commission’s list of banned drugs will be held by each Swim Secretary, from whom advice may be obtained.
D.11 Competitors shall be allowed to stand for the purpose of resting or to costume food and drink provided rules D.7 and D.10 are complied with. No steps may be taken.
D.12 Competitors shall not be accompanied by any other swimmer in the water for the purpose of pace making.
D.13 Competitors shall not use MP3 players or similar audio equipment during a swim. The use of heart monitors can only be used for medical reasons and only after the association has received a medical note from the swimmers doctor.
D.14 A Championship Referee shall order from the water any swimmer who has contravened any rule or whose condition is, in his opinion, unsatisfactory.
D.15 All Championships shall have a time limit. That limit shall be specified in the information sheet and at the briefing meeting for the event.
D.16 At the end of the time limit, the championship facilities shall be withdrawn. Any swimmer not leaving the water at that time will be deemed to be making an individual attempt on the course. This individual attempt may be recognised by the Association provided that the Rules for Recognition of Individual Swims have been observed. The Association accepts no responsibility for swimmers or boat crews continuing in this way and if the boat owner presents additional account for any boat so delayed this must be met by the swimmer.
D.17 In the event of deteriorating conditions, the Championship Referee shall have the authority (which he/she may delegate) to vary the course or to order any swimmer or swimmers from the water and/or declare the race terminated. In such circumstances the allocation of awards shall be determined by the Championship Committee.
D.18 Any competitor retiring from the championship must inform the delegated officials who will be located at the points detailed at the swim briefing of their retirement. They must provide a summary of their condition, their location and their planned destination. Any costs associated with the failure to report and any subsequent search for them will be charged to the competitor.
D.19 Each competitor shall have his or her race number, as given to them at the registration, marked on both shoulders. In addition support crews shall carry theirs swimmers number marked on their hand.