COACHES MEETING - 8:15 AM - GRANDSTAND

This regatta is unique--celebrating Canada Day by delivering an inclusive rowing-paddling festival on Toronto Island’s regatta course--as it combines canoe, kayak, dragon-boat and rowing races on the same course. Rowing and paddling races start every 5 minutes, alternating paddling/rowing (see Annex A for Combined Order of Events), and there are 10 minutes between rowing races. Rowing races are 1000m, (500m for dashes) in length and paddling are either 250m, 500m or 1000m.

Clubs with boats on trailers are requested to arrive on June 30th and park their trailer overnight on the Island. Security will be provided. Instructions on getting to the Island are included in Section 03 below—Transport to the Island. The DDRA is offering clubs an offset for the cost of transporting their boats on the ferry to the Island.

01: ROWING ENTRIES:

1. No entry will be accepted without a proper entry form completed on Regatta Central. Your entry fees are payable online through Regatta Central. Association fees of $50.00 are for member clubs Argonaut, Don & Hanlan. Association Fees must be mailed to Gaynor Reader, 67 Winner’s Circle, Toronto, ON, M4L 3Y7, or by cheque (made out to the Dominion Day Regatta Association) presented to the DDRA Treasurer on July 1st.

2. Entries closing date: Friday, June 16th, 2023. The draw will take place on Saturday, June 17th 2023, and the preliminary draw will be posted on Regatta Central on June 18th. Clubs will then have until Friday, June 23rd to submit second entry requests to fill lanes as needed to ensure six lanes for each race. A final draw will be posted on Monday, June 26, 2023.

3. Submitting an entry does not necessarily guarantee a race.
4. One entry per club per event will be eligible; clubs will be notified of the decision on second entries, the decision of the draw committee is final; all clubs will be notified of the draw results, via email to Club contacts, and posting on Regatta Central.

02: ROWING REGATTA RULES:

1. All clubs must compete in their club colours or they may be excluded from the race.
2. No composite crews will be allowed.
3. No rower or coxswain may compete in two consecutive rowing races; this will apply to the final schedule which may arise from collapsing of some races.
4. The course is 1000 metres long and is restricted to six lanes. Races are 1000m or 500m or 250m.
5. Due to the tight race schedule no heats will be allowed.
6. Prizes will be awarded to all members of the winning crews. There are no medals or awards for second or third place.
7. Rowers in Weight Restricted events will be weighed in on a gauged bathroom scale – 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM. The weigh-in area is TBD, although likely will be close to Control; it is not possible to transport tables and chairs to the Island. For Weight Restricted Men the maximum weight will be 74.5kg, for Weight Restricted Women the maximum weight will be 61kg.
8. Regatta umpires and officials will do their best to request that other boats on the water course (fishing, tour boats, cruisers) exit the course as soon as possible. Coast Guard Auxiliary will be in attendance. If necessary, the Marine Police will be called.
9. Finish Judges will time races using the CrewTimer mobile app. Race Umpires will do back up timing.
10. There are no heats, all races are finals. If there are more than 7 entries, two races will be held with prizes awarded to the winners in each race.
11. National team rowers cannot compete in the events they have been selected for. They can only compete in senior or open events.
12. All competitors must have paid RCA & ROWONTARIO membership fees (or be a member of their National Rowing Federation if not Canadian) and will be charged a seat fee of $6.73 per event entered.
13. Photographs taken in the launching area, during races and during winners’ presentations may be used on DDRA social media, posters and programs, and for general publicity of the event.
14. A point system is applied to identify a Points Champion, according to the following schedule. A plaque will be awarded to the Rowing Club winning the Points Championship.

POINTS

EXCEPTIONS TO THE 2022 RCA RULES OF RACING, under Rule 1.6

R. 2.5, 2.6 – Coxswains will not be weighed, nor required to carry weight (if underweight)

R 10.3, 10.5, 10.6 - all Starts will be Quick Starts with a horn, not a flag. All Starts will be floating starts with approximate alignment.

03: ROWING AND PADDLING - TRANSPORT TO THE ISLAND:

TORONTO ISLAND FERRY & PUBLIC TRANSIT SERVICE

To get to the regatta on Toronto Island, all boats, trailers, and participants must take the ferry boat to the Island.

The Toronto Island Ferry service leaves the City and docks on the Island at Hanlan’s Point, Centre Island and Ward’s Island. The regatta is being held on Centre Island. The Mainland Ferry Terminal, located at the Bay Street & Queen’s Quay West intersection, is a ten minute-walk from Union Station. The Harbourfront L.R.T. leaves Union Station frequently and stops at Queen’s Quay Island Ferry Dock stop.

Public transit to the Ferry Terminal includes the Bay 6 bus and the Harbourfront LRT.

User-pay parking can be found nearby. Bicycles may be taken on the ferry although some restrictions apply during peak periods.

Passengers should take the Centre Island Ferry. It is advised that passengers get the earliest ferry on July 1st. The DDRA will request a 7:30 AM ferry, and it is possible that such a ferry will be scheduled. If not, the first ferry will be 8:00 AM on July 1st. Later ferries become very crowded and the wait times can vary. Ferries returning to the City leave at 15-minute intervals from the Centre Island terminal. See Ferry Schedule.

APPROX. FEES FOR THE USE OF THE TRUCK & TRAILER FERRY BOAT TO THE ISLAND.

VEHICLE FERRY RATES INFORMATION: 416-392-8194

• Vehicles Under 18 Feet: $177.60

• Trucks & Trailers Under 30 Feet: $355.22
• Trucks & Trailers Over 30 Feet: $532.81

PLEASE TRANSPORT YOUR BOATS & TRAILERS OVER TO THE ISLAND ON FRIDAY JUNE 30TH

PLEASE ADVISE APROXIMATE TIME OF ARRIVAL @ DOCKS – text Rob Cook cell #:416-930-1041

PARTICIPATING CLUBS WILL BE OFFERED A $250.00 SUBSIDY to offset the cost of the ferry for trailers

FEES FOR PASSENGER FERRY BOAT TO THE ISLAND - PASSENGER INFORMATION: 416-392-8193

• Adults: $9.11, Seniors & Students (15 to 19): $5.86, Juniors (Under 15) $4.29

• Group Rates of Ten or More - 10% Discount – call in advance - 416-392-8193 or book online
• More information on ferry tickets, click here.
• Return journey (Island to City) is free.

On July 1st, trailers may return to the Mainland starting at 7:00 PM from Hanlan’s Point Ferry Terminal.

PARTICIPATING CLUBS WILL BE OFFERED A $75.00 SUBSIDY to provide for a dinner for the driver.

04: COURSE DESCRIPTION:

• The regatta course is approximately 1000m in length and runs in six lanes from the Rowing Start to the Grandstand, where the Finish line is located.

• There will be buoys every 250m along the course, in six lanes, and there will be five buoy lines
• Crews will launch, head south then west around Forrester’s Island and west along the south part of the course outside lane 6, to the Start. Keep an eye out for paddling races when exiting from the channel from Forrester’s Island onto the course. Follow the directions of the Marshal in the Safety Boat at this position.
• Crews may warm up in Backhouse Bay (travelling north-south) but be careful of cruiser traffic and do not get too far from the Start, as you may not hear the call to the start, which will only come once.
• Follow the starter’s directions to be aligned in your lanes—all starts will be Quick Starts. Lanes number from north (1) to south (6).
• The Chief Umpire (rowing) and the Chief Official (paddling) are in constant communication and in radio communication to their respective Start lines. The Rowing Start will be advised to start their race, only when the previous paddling race has crossed the finish line, and vice versa. 

05: EMERGENCY PROVISIONS:

• In the event of a weather event (high winds or heavy rain/thunder, lightning), a decision may be made to shorten the course, or the regatta may be suspended or canceled, depending on the time of day.

• Crews on the course will be instructed on actions to be taken in accordance with the Emergency Action Plan (see Annex B)

06: FIRST AID AND SAFETY:

• MedixEMS (trained paramedic) will be onsite with a tent, oxygen, and other necessary first aid equipment. The staff will be located on the athletes’ side, just east of the Finish Line.

• There also will be a First Aid kit at the Control Commission.
• See First Aid and Safety Plan in Annex C

ANNEX C: First Aid & Safety Plan

First Aid & Safety Plan - Dominion Day Regatta

All safety boat drivers, coaches and race umpires and officials should familiarize themselves with the First Aid and Safety Plan. Coaches will attend the coaches meeting before the event (8:15 AM – grandstand) and are responsible for the safety of their athletes. All coaches are responsible for understanding our First Aid & Safety Plan prior to attending the regatta. It is recommended that all volunteers and staff have taken a first aid/CPR training course.

Boat drivers are responsible for carrying a valid Pleasure Craft Operator’s Permit and a Toronto Port Authority (TPA) Power Vessel Operator’s Permit and have a basic understanding of how to operate the boat they are driving. Make sure you have enough gas and that your boat carries a paddle or oars, bailer, sound signal, PFDs for the largest crew. Boat drivers must wear their PFD at all times on the water. 

Boat drivers and coaches are responsible for keeping lookout up and down the course and listening for official notices on the PA system and on the radios.

RADIOS: 

Where possible each safety boat will carry a radio. Radios are to be used for official communication only.

911 EMERGENCY:

Call 911, and specify your location—Toronto Island, Allan A. Lamport Regatta Course, on the water, or near the Grandstand or in the athletes’ areas near Franklin Gardens.

FIRST AID KIT LOCATIONS:

1. Control Commission

FIRST AID TENT:

MedixEMS, an Event Medical Service will provide two emergency first responders for the day. They will set up a tent in the athletes’ area, just east of the Finish Line. They will be equipped with fully stocked Trauma Kits, Oxygen and Resuscitation Equipment (Suction Units, Oral and Nasal Airway Devices) and Pulse Oximetry. They will have ice packs and bandages.

LIGHTNING: 

All boats will leave the water immediately if lightning is seen. Refer to Emergency Action Plan.

HIGH WINDS AND POOR CONDITIONS:

At the Chief umpire’s/Official’s decision, the course may be shortened or the regatta may be delayed or called off due to high winds or poor conditions. Their decision is final.

Coaches should take into consideration the ability of their athletes to cope with the prevailing weather and wind conditions. DO NOT send an athlete on the water if there is any doubt about their ability to line up, start, row/paddle and finish their race. They will thank you for your wisdom one day.

ON WATER RESCUE PROCEDURE:

Safety boats are positioned on either side of the course on lookout for boats that have tipped or need assistance. The biggest hazard for someone in the water is other boats. BE CAREFUL.

When a safety boat is heading to a rescue raise your hand to indicate that you are “on the way” When you get to the “victim” approach from downwind to avoid drifting over them. Put engine in neutral and then turn off when you can reach the victim. NEVER leave engine on with people in the water near your boat.

Determine if everyone is OK and that all the crew is present. Bring victim into your boat and then proceed to secure their boat and equipment. Head for shore. Take great care that the boat does not hit rocks. Return equipment to athlete.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Once the victim and his boat are on shore it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to make sure they connect with their coach or other responsible adult. Do not leave the victim alone until you have handed them over to their coach or another responsible adult who is known to the athlete. If this is not possible decide appropriate action.

ADVICE TO PADDLERS & ROWERS:

All RCA Rules of Racing & all Canoe Kayak Canada Sprint Competition Rules apply. If you tip do not leave your boat or swim to shore. Allow rescue drivers to help you and keep you safe. If you tip, flip your boat over and cling to it until help arrives.

If you need help hold your paddle/oar in the air blade up as a signal of distress, if you can. It is not permitted to paddle/row down the centre of the course. Please row/paddle on return lane to avoid interfering with races.

OBEY the instruction of your coach and the regatta umpires/officials and HAVE FUN!

Canoeing Safety Officer: Sue Cox; Rowing Safety Officer: Jeany Ellis