RULES IN BRIEF A boat may not interfere with another boat by getting too close or by creating wash two false starts result in disqualification If the coxswain does not meet the minimum weight requirements of 55kg in men's events and 50kg in women's events, a dead weight is placed in the boat to make up the deficit The coxswain must be male for men's events and female for women's events If a boat suffers a mechanical fault in the first 100 metres of a race, the race may be recalled If a rower falls out of a boat, the rest of the crew may row on If the coxswain falls out of the boat, the crew must abandon the race Up to half the crew may be substituted before a race