Event Regulation

Article 1 — Purpose and Scope

These Regulations define the rules for participation, registration, conduct and classification of Equator Crossing 2027 and the associated races, held in Porto Alegre, São Tomé and Príncipe, on 13 February 2027. 2. These Regulations apply to all participants registered for the Races, whether federated or non-federated swimmers, national or international.

Article 2 — Organisation

The event is organised by Equator Crossing. 2. Equator Crossing is responsible for the operational organisation of the event: logistics, safety, registrations, communications and race-day management.

Article 3 — Nature of the Edition

The 2027 edition is the 4th edition of Equator Crossing. 2. All Races will be timed and participants’ individual times recorded. The 2027 edition is open to federated and non-federated swimmers and does not form part of an official federation competition framework, nor does it provide for federation homologation of the results. TIME LIMITS — In the Equator Crossing (3,800 m), for safety and operational management purposes, the following maximum passage times apply from the start signal: 35 minutes at 800 m and 1 hour 05 minutes at 1,500 m. The maximum time to complete the race is 2 hours 30 minutes. A swimmer who exceeds any of these cut-off times will be withdrawn from the race by the safety team, must follow the instructions given and board the support craft indicated by the Organiser. For results purposes, the swimmer will be recorded as DNF (Did Not Finish). The safety team may also withdraw a participant at any time, regardless of the cut-off times, whenever it considers that there is a risk to the participant’s safety or to race operations. 3. Times and classifications in this edition are for information and personal reference only and do not constitute officially homologated records.

Article 4 — Races, Distances and Places

Places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, up to the stated limit. Once the limit is reached, the organisation may open a waiting list.

For classification purposes, participants are grouped by gender (Male / Female) and by age group, calculated by complete age on the race date: Junior (16–19), Senior (20–39), Master A (40–49) and Master B (50 or over). Age groups may be adjusted by the organisation, before the race, to avoid groups with a single participant.

Article 5 — Conditions of Participation

• The race is open to all swimmers, federated or not, national or foreign, without the need for a federative sporting licence.
• Minimum age: 16 complete years on the race date.
• Participants aged 16 to 18: written consent from a parent or legal guardian is mandatory.
• All participants must have the physical capacity and swimming level appropriate to the distance of the race they register for.
• A health and fitness declaration is mandatory, provided in the Liability Waiver and Informed Consent form at registration.
• A prior medical check-up is recommended, especially for participants with pre-existing health conditions.

Article 6 — Registration

Registrations are made under the terms, deadlines and conditions published by the Organiser in the Official Travel Programme and/or the applicable registration form. 2. Registration is only considered confirmed after payment of the entry fee and submission of the duly completed and signed Liability and Informed Consent Form. 3. Cancellation and any refund conditions for a Race entry are those communicated in the applicable registration process. Where a Race is purchased in association with the Travel Pack, the Pack Terms and Conditions also apply to the extent relevant.

Article 7 — Participant Insurance

Equator Crossing will arrange the insurance and cover legally required of the Organiser for the event. Participants will be informed before the race of any specific cover applicable to them. 2. The existence of insurance or cover held by the Organiser does not exempt the Participant from complying with any individual insurance obligations applicable to them, particularly when participating through the Travel Pack.

Article 8 — Check-in And Call Room

Mandatory in-person check-in opens 60 minutes before the start of each Race, including identity confirmation and issue of the Participant identification number. • Mandatory call room opens 30 minutes and closes 5 minutes before the start — including roll call and final verification of safety equipment. • Participants who do not report to the call room before it closes will not be permitted to compe

Article 9 — Mandatory Equipment

An individual swim safety buoy is mandatory in all Races. The Organiser may provide one upon prior request if the Participant does not bring their own. 2. The Organiser may refuse the start to any Participant who does not comply with this requirement.

Article 10 — Conduct of The Race

The Equator Crossing will be supported by the safety and support resources defined in the Safety Plan applicable to the Race. • The number of Participants entering the water will be reconciled against the number finishing; no Race will be considered closed until all Participants are accounted for, including withdrawals collected by support craft. • The Organiser may suspend, postpone, alter or stop any Race for safety reasons, including weather or sea conditions, in accordance with the Safety Plan and applicable Terms and Conditions.

Article 11 - Classification and Timing

All Races will be timed and individual times recorded. 2. Classification is determined by order of finish within each Race and age category defined by the Organiser. 3. In accordance with Article 3, times and classifications do not have the status of officially homologated records in this edition.

Article 12 — Awards

Awards will be presented in each Race (Equator Crossing, 1,500 metres and 500 metres) in the following categories: • Overall Classification: trophy/medal for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each gender (Male and Female). • Age Category Winner: medal for 1st place in each gender in each age category defined in Article 4 (Junior, Senior, Master A, Master B). 2. A Participant receiving an Overall Classification award will not also receive an Age Category Winner award in the same Race; in that case, the age-category award passes to the next classified Participant in that category. 3. The awards ceremony will take place at the end of the competition day (Day 4, 19:00), in accordance with the Event Programme. The Organiser may introduce additional awards (e.g. oldest Participant, fastest overall time of the day, symbolic distinctions), to be announced before the Race.

Article 13 — Complaints and Disputes

Any complaint relating to classification or the conduct of a Race must be submitted in writing to the Organiser within 30 minutes after publication of the provisional classification for that Race. 2. As there is no official federation refereeing in this edition, technical/sporting complaints will be considered by the Organiser under these Regulations, without prejudice to the Participant’s legal rights. 3. Contractual complaints or complaints relating to service provision should be submitted by email to: info@equatorcrossing.com

Article 14 — Safety and Assumption Of Risk

Participation in open-water swimming activities involves risks inherent in sporting activity in a natural environment. 2. By registering, the Participant declares that they are aware of these risks and participate voluntarily, in accordance with the Liability and Informed Consent Form. 3. The Participant undertakes to comply with safety instructions and Race rules. The Organiser’s liability is determined in accordance with applicable law, and these Regulations cannot exclude liabilities that cannot legally be excluded.

Matters Not Provided For

Any matters not expressly covered by these Regulations will be considered by the Organiser, taking into account safety, sporting good faith, the Terms and Conditions and any applicable legal rules or decisions of the competent authorities.

Article 16 - Acceptance

Registration in any Race implies knowledge and acceptance of these Regulations, as well as the submission of the Liability Waiver and Informed Consent, when required. Participants registered through the Equator Crossing Travel Pack are also subject to the respective Terms and Conditions. If registrations exclusively for a Race are subsequently opened, without purchase of the Travel Pack, the Race Only Registration Conditions made available in that registration process will apply.