New York Consolidated Laws, Navigation Law - NAV § 34-a. Permits for racing shell regattas not required

Nothing contained in section thirty-four of this chapter or in any other general or special law shall be deemed or construed as requiring any permit or permission to hold a regatta or race of rowing shells by any educational institution or amateur rowing organization in navigable waters of the state.  For the purpose of this section, a “racing shell” is defined to mean any boat, specially designed for racing and propelled solely by means of oars, not including lifeboats or standard type rowboats, not specifically designed for rowing races.  Any educational institution or amateur rowing organization, however, shall file with the commissioner a notification of all races to be held, setting forth the dates, places, a description of the course and the number of entrants in each race.  No fee shall be charged for such filing.