| What is bumps racing? |
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| Articles - General_Information | |
| Written by Mark McMillan | |
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Q: What is bumps racing? Bumps Racing for Dummies: A divisional processional race held over usually four days. Here's where it gets complicated: In Oxford there are two formats of bumps racing Eights Rules and Torpids Rules. Eights rules require that both crews involved in a bump immediately pull off the racing line, and pull out from that day's racing. Torpids rules require only the bumping crew to pull out, so a crew can get bumped multiple times. The starting position for the next day or the next years racing depend on who you bump (in Eights the two crews involved in a bump simply swap starting positions - Torpids is more tricky). If you are wondering why the difference between Torpids and Eights is there, well it is traditional, and surprisingly enough it makes tactical differences. Start orders for Torpids carry on from year to year, and start orders for Eights do the same. Although the start orders for each are totally seperate. Boats which finish a race at the head of their division will have to race the next higher division as well (as sandwich boat), allowing boats to transfer between divisions. What's the point: Mark McMillan Coxswain, St. John's College, Oxford.
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