1. Pre-Race

  • 1.1 Qualifying
    • Each boat shall be allowed a maximum of three (3) laps for Time Trials. The boat running a time trial shall have exclusive use of the course for their run. 
    • For Official E-League Events, the qualifying session shall commence 30 minutes before the start of the official broadcast.
      • (i) Each boat shall be given the GREEN flag the first time past at speed to signify the start of the time trial lap, and at the end of the first lap to signify the start of the second lap. 
      • (ii) At the end of the second time trial lap, each boat shall be given a WHITE flag to signify the start of the last time trial lap.
      • (iii) At the end of the third trial lap, each boat shall be given a CHECKER flag to signify the end of the run. 
    • No more than the four laps will be allowed. If you do exceed the four lap maximum, you will be disqualified from qualifying but be allowed to race. 
      • If a boat flips, spins or rolls in qualifying, the driver may continue to complete the rest of their allotted laps. No extra laps will be given if a boat flips.
    • Qualifying will be used in the event of a tiebreaker for the final heat. The boat with the fastest one lap time will advance over the slower qualified boat. IE: If two boats are tied after the heats and one is to make the final heat and one be relegated to the consolation, the faster qualified boat would advance. Points will be awarded to boats qualifying that would go toward the high point season total and apply toward the event total.

2. Race

  • 2.1 Restarts
    • There will be NO restarts allowed during league races. Should you be disconnected from the server, problems with your wheel, have a blowover or anything that prevents you from completing the race, there will be no exceptions to this rule!
  • 2.2 Milling (5 minute period)
    • The jockeying for position after the five minute gun is called milling.
    • 2.2.1: Safe Entry to Course– When leaving the pit area, you may enter the course anywhere so long as not to interfere with boats already on the course at speed.
      • (a) It is the full responsibility of the driver entering the course to make a safe entrance. If a wreck occurs due to a driver entering the course poorly, depending on the severity, a 1 Lap penalty or Disqualification from the heat may be assessed.

    • 2.2.2: Cutting the Course: Cutting the course is allowed anywhere and anytime  until 1 minute is left on the clock.

      • (a) Cutting the course after the 1 minute mark is permitted only if a boat jumps the 1 minute buoy AND does not impede the path of another driver.
      • (b) Parking your boat in the infield is an automatic DNS
      • (c) Once a boat has entered the infield, it no longer has right of way when re-entering the course. Therefore, it is the full responsibility of the driver cutting the course to make sure it is clear (i.e. there is proper overlap) before re-entry.
      • (d) Once a boat willingly enters the infield, the driver must complete the infield cut and must NOT loop back to the same straightway without first entering the opposite straightaway.

    • 2.2.3: Boat Check-In for Heat: After leaving the pit dock, each boat shall complete one full lap of the course prior to the One Minute Period. The end of the lap being designated at the Start/Finish Line.

      • (a) Any boat not passing the Start/Finish Line two (2) times shall start in the outside lane except at tracks where outside lane is prefered (Madison), you must trail the start.
      • (b) Failure to start outside or trail and not passing the Start/Finish Line twice will result in a 1 Lap penalty.
    • 2.2.4- Late in Starting
      • 2.2.4.1. No boat shall be allowed to leave the pits after the beginning of the one-minute warning period. 

    • 2.2.5: 1 Minute Buoy – All boats shall not pass the exit pin of Turn 1 (designated the 1 Minute Buoy) prior to the one minute mark (1:00.00) on the clock.

      • (a) Boats passed the Score-up Buoy prior to the one minute period shall be required to legally traverse the course and pass the 1 Minute Buoy to be a legal starter.
      • (b) Failure to traverse the course will result in a 1 lap penalty.
      • (c) Failure to pass the 1 Minute Buoy after the one minute mark will result in a 1 lap penalty.
      • (d) Prior to establishing a lane at the Score Up Buoy (below), a five (5) boat overlap will be in effect.
    • 2.2.6: Lane Commitment Buoy – The commitment buoy will be the yellow turn 2 entrance buoy.
      • (a) Exception – At Detroit, because turn 2 is so small, the score up buoy will be the last orange straight away buoy prior to the yellow entrance turn marker buoy.
      • (b) Once the score up buoy is passed, each driver must maintain their lane all the way through the start/finish line. After the start/finish line is crossed, all normal overlap rules are in effect.
      • (c) If a boat ahead of you occupies the lane you are in, you must move to the outside of that boat.
      • (d) In cases where a lead boat takes an outer lane, if an inside lane is available you may take it.
      • (e) Any overly aggressive attempt at stealing a lane, as determined by the referees, will be penalized with a 1 lap penalty.
    • Other than these, view the Racing rules header that also applies to this.
  • 2.3 Race Format
    • 2.3.1- All races except the GOLD CUP shall be standardized and consist of: 
      • (a) Three Qualification heats. 
      • (b) One Provisional heat (optional) 
      • (c) One Final Heat. 
    • 2.3.2- All Qualification heats shall be determined by a blind draw. 
    • 2.3.3- Provisional Heat (Optional) – Boats not seeded to the final shall be eligible to run in the provisional heat. 
      • (a) Provisional heat shall be three (3) Laps. 
      • (b) No points are awarded for the Provisional Heat. 
      • (c) The winner of the Provisional Heat shall start as the provisional starter in the Final Heat. 
      • (d) The Provisional boat shall not occupy the inside lane (Lane 1) at any time prior to the start. 
      • (e) The Provisional boat shall not interfere with the five or six front row Final qualifiers during their maneuvering for Lane 1. 
      • (f) Any boat qualifying for the Final Heat via the Provisional Heat unless allowed to move up shall follow the Final Heat Qualified boats past the commitment buoys after the one-minute period has begun. 
      • (g) The Provisional boat shall start five (5) seconds after zero zero (:00.00) on the starting clock, unless a different time has been designated by the Chief Referee. 
      • (h) The Provisional boat may occupy any open lane at the start. 
      • (i) The Provisional boat start shall be independent of any other boat who may be late on the start. 
      • (j) The Provisional boat shall be penalized for jumping the gun (JG) if it crosses the start/finish line prior to its mandated start delay time per item (g.) above. 
      • (k) The Provisional boat may move up to the front row if a front row-qualifying boat fails to make the 1:00 mark. 
    • 2.3.4. Final Heat – The Final heat field shall consist of those boats accumulating the highest point totals from the Time Trial Period and qualification heats, plus the winner of the provisional heat as the provisional starter if a provisional heat has been run and completed. 
      • (a) Final heat shall be five (5) Laps. 
      • (b) Time trial order shall be used to break any ties on points for determining eligibility for the Final Heat. 
      • (c) The number of boats competing in the Final Heat shall be announced by the Chief Referee at the drivers’ meeting. 
      • (d) Should the number of boats starting on the first row be reduced for safety reasons, those moving to the second row shall be the boat with the lowest point total first, the boat with the second lowest point total next, and so on in that order. The Alternate Boat(s) shall start on the 2nd row unless there are not enough competitors to fill the front row, at which time the Alternate(s) 1st, 2nd, 3rd shall be allowed to move to the front row until it is filled. 

3. Racing Rules

    • 3.1 Illegal Start– 
      • Any boat that crosses the starting line with less than 15 seconds remaining until the start of the race shall be declared an illegal starter and shall receive a 1-lap penalty. For starting purposes when the tip of a sponson completely passes the start buoy he will be considered over the starting line. This is the end of the buoy closest to the turn 1.
    • 3.2 Establishing Right-of-way
      • Boats that are on the race course and running in established lanes shall have right of way over those not running in established lanes. 
        • (a) This right of way shall exist until two straight away buoys have been passed. After that, the standard right of way rules shall apply.
        • (b) A boat leaving the racing lanes shall relinquish all right of way
      • In order to establish right-of-way, the following procedure shall be used in overtaking another boat: The passing boat must establish a reasonable safe interval before gaining the right to choose a lane of travel. This rule shall hold true on turns as well as straightaways.
      • A boat shall enter the racing lanes in such a manner as not to interfere with any boat or boats that are on the race course and running in established lanes. Failure to comply with this section shall result in a minimum 1 lap Penalty.
      • The boat being passed may choose the buoy line. However, the boat being passed is obligated to hold a fair course. 
    • 3.3 Striking, Missing or Passing Buoys 
      • A boat that strikes and thereby dislodges a buoy at any time shall be penalized a lap.
      • A dislodged buoy ceases to be a marker and may be disregarded. 
      • When an offending boat forces an unoffending boat into a buoy that is struck and thereby becomes dislodged then the offending boat shall be. Receive a lap penalty. 
    • 3.3 Side by Side Racing
      • Competing boats shall maintain a safe lane for each other. 1 lane consists of at least 2 boat widths. Any boat that fails to maintain 1 lane is said to encroach on the other boat’s path, and may be subject to a 1 lap penalty or if repeat offenses occur a DQ can be assessed. (a) A safe interval or “overlap” is ten (10) boat lengths which is considered one roostertail.
    • 3.4 Bearing in and Bearing out
      • The lead boat has the right to set the arc through the turns. Upon entering the turn the lead boat is allowed to Bear in (drift to the inside) or Bear out (drift to the outside). The same is applied when exiting the turn, the boat ahead is allowed to Bear in or Bear out. However, the lead boat MUST leave lanes for any boats to the inside or outside of them or a 1 lap penalty will be assessed. Also, if this bearing in/out is found to be excessive, for instance drifting over more than 3 lanes, a 1 lap penalty will be assessed.
    • 3.5 Changing Lanes
      • On the straightaway, the passing boat must move at least ten (10) boat lengths ahead before altering its course to the buoy line. At that time, the boat being passed loses all rights until it re-establishes an overlap and shall, if necessary, slacken speed to avoid risks of collision.
  • Should the passing boat not have established the proper ten (10) boat interval before reaching the entrance buoy to a turn, an overlap shall not exist.
    • The overtaking or starboard boat must also establish right of way over all boats in lanes between itself and the course line.
  • 3.6 Blowovers
    • Should a blowover occur and your boat is disabled, exit out of the event and return to the pits. A boat has encountered a flip, rollover, or severe impact with the water, even though it remains upright and/or is able to continue. A boat must pass 90 degrees in any direction to constitute a flip.
  • 3.7 Rookies
    • If a driver has not competed in a previous H1 E-League Event, they will be given a Rookie Status. What this rookie status means is that during the race, the rookie drivers must stay outside or trail behind the field. After completion of 1 full event. A vote by the competition committee will be taken. If a majority of the committee believe that the Rookie has learned well enough to stick his nose in and race with everyone, they will be moved out of the rookie status. If the vote does not pass, they must run a full additional event as a rookie before moving out of rookie status. 

4. Control aids and cheating

  • 4.1 Control aids
    • 4.1.1: A hydroplane must get its control inputs directly from the driver’s input device (racing wheel and pedals, game controller, or keyboard/mouse.)
    • 4.1.5: Penalties: 1st instance will result in loss of qualification points or disqualification from a heat race. 2nd instance will result in disqualification from the heat and event, and a kick from the server. Any instance in a subsequent event will result in a ban from the server.
  • 4.2 Cheating
    • 4.2.1: Any form of cheating will not be tolerated. If caught cheating, punishment can range from DQ from the race to banishment. Punishment severity will be at the discretion of all league administrators.

5. Points

  • Points are awarded for both qualifying and all non consolation heats (including the final).
  • 5.1 Qualifying
    • As stated earlier, points are given to the fastest qualifiers. These points apply toward the day’s total and for the league’s high point title. They are awarded as follows:
Pos Points
1. 100
2. 80
3. 70
4. 60
5. 50
6. 40
7 to Last. 30
DNQ. 0
  • 5.2 Heats
    • All heats and finals will awarded points as follows:
Pos Points
1. 400
2. 300
3. 225
4. 169
5. 127
6. 95
7. 71
DNS/DNF/DQ 0

6. Incidents

  • 6.1 Penalties
    • The 1st instance of a lane violation or encroachment as described above will normally result in a 1 lap penalty. A violation observed to be particularly egregious or malicious may result in immediate disqualification from the heat, at the discretion of a majority of the competition committee.
    • The 2nd instance of lane violation or encroachment will result in disqualification from the heat.
    • Accumulation of 3 penalties over the course of an event will result in disqualification from the event.
  • 6.2 Chatter
    • Any chatter should take place after all the boats have finished the current race and prior to the start of the five minute gun for the next race. This applies to both any posted chatter within the game and any recorded voice on Discord. Any violations from another driver would be handled by the competition committee. If you are not satisfied with the findings of the competition committee, either get over it or find another place to race. A warning will be given should either the chatter be occurring during the racing. If this continues in either case, sitting out the next heat followed by probation, suspension and potentially expulsion if the matter is not addressed.