BOAT RACE Heiwajima | Basic rules of boat racing

This is a competition between six boats!

Boat racing is a competition between six boats.
Six boats compete for a position by racing three laps around the 600-meter course.
After crossing the start line, the boats race counterclockwise around the 1st and 2nd turn markers (600 meters per lap), making three laps (1,800 meters) in all.

All six boats are numbered and color coded,
Boat No. 1 = white, boat No. 2 = black, boat No. 3 = red, boat No. 4 = blue, boat No. 5 = yellow, and boat No. 6 = green
.

The odds of predicting the order of the winning racers is relatively high because there are only six boats in the race.
Win = 1/6, Place-Show = 1/3, Quinella = 1/15, Exacta = 1/30, Trio = 1/20, Trifecta = 1/120, Quinella-Place = 3/15

Stadium facilities

Boat racing stadiums are located within a nearby sea, lake, or river. They each have their own special pool where the race takes place.
The water surface of the pool is called the racing surface. There are 24 race stadiums in Japan, and the racing surface at each stadium is made to the same basic specifications.
BOAT RACE Heiwajima is a saltwater course situated within a canal.

This screen displays odds, race results, and video footage of the race.

The moment the boats dash out at once at the start of the race is called the pit out.

This clock is 3 meters in diameter. It signals the starting time to the racers.

The red and white buoys are called turn markers. The outcome of the race is often determined by who reaches the 1st turn marker first on the first leg of the race.

This turn marker is located opposite the 1st turn marker. This is where the boats compete for a starting position after the pit out.

Racing tactics

Let's look at the tactics racers use to conquer the 1st turn marker and thereby, the race.

■ 逃げ / Nige (run away)

The racer in lane 1 uses this tactic to turn around the 1st marker first while running away from the outer five boats. Nige (逃げ) is also called in nige (イン逃げ) because the racer maintains the "innermost" position. Since lane 1 is closest to the turn marker, it has the shortest distance to travel around the course, and therefore has the highest probably of placing in 1st.

■ まくり / Makuri (rolling)

This tactic is used by the racers outside lane 1. The racer tries to reach the 1st marker by rolling around it to block the boat on the inside lane in order to prevent it from getting ahead.

■ 差し / Sashi (crossing)

Racers use this tactic to overtake racers using the nige (逃げ) tactic, or to avert a racer about to use the makuri (まくり) tactic. When the inner boat floats outward on the turn, the racer crosses lanes and overtakes them.

■ まくり差し / Makurisashi (rolling and crossing)

In this tactic, the racer makes as if he/she is going to use the makuri (まくり) while turning the corner, but actually changes midway to pull a sashi (差し). It is a very advanced technique.