RegattaCentral

UPDATED  FEB 19  AT  4:25 PM

REVISED:    PRACTICE  TIME  FOR  FRIDAY  AFTERNOON:   NOW  1p  to  6p
Practice has been moved one hour later to better accomodate practice time options for all teams.
ALL  boats   MUST   be  OFF  the  water  by   6p   SHARP.  
Failure to do so may result in penalties being assessed to Saturday races.
SAFETY   MARSHALS   ON   WAVE  ATTENUATOR   OR   START   PLATFORM:  
We may have additional non-referee marshals in these areas to help direct traffic.  
You  must  heed the instructions and warnings of  ANY  course marshal or Regatta Official, not just Referees.

REVISED:    Traffic Pattern on water:    Launch from south side of Regatta Island & head due south;
(revised: follow traffic pattern in a southeast direction towards east side of lake; then due south,
At southern end of practice loop you may elect to turn to starboard and follow a clockwise loop for extra practice, 
OR you may continue on directly and )
Row south to southern end of lake and turn to starboard, follow southern end of lake to the west,
Cross past the southern end of the Wave Atttenuator;
Turn to starboard and enter the race course. 
On the course, you may  ONLY  row northward.    Do NOT cross lanes.
Preferred practice lanes:  #'s  1,  3,  5,  &  7  --  spread yourself out.
Pass through Finish Line;  Keep rowing to clear area;  turn to Starboard;  proceed through island canal.
Circle island in canal;  pass under bridges  and  return to recovery docks on south side side of island.
(For a visual, please see venue maps posted under Venue on Regatta Central)

Do NOT row in the area marked off by buoys near the southeast corner of the lake:    
Same as in previous years; avoid rowing in this area or there may be damage to equipment.
 

EARLIEST  ARRIVAL  ON  SITE ON  FRIDAY:   9 a:    There is no secutiry on site prior to 9 am Fri.
 

WEATHER  PREPAREDNESS:   SAFETY  IS  OF  PARAMOUNT  IMPORTANCE
At this time of year, the weather can change quickly.   All personnel must be instructed to bring rain gear, extra clothes, dry socks, etc.    In the time between 7 am and 5 pm, temps will rise and fall, there may be rain, etc.

Dockmasters have been asked to watch the attire of launching crews, but this is not their primary responsibility.  Anyone going out on the water must prepare for changing conditions while on the water.   Referees and regatta personnel have the authority to prevent a boat from launching if there appears to be an issue with insufficient clothing.

In our inaugural year, a micro-burst weather event changed the on water conditions quickly -- this can happen anywhere at any time in any venue.  Rowers must default to safe choices.

We are watching the weather daily.  If you see potential deterioration in the weather, please ensure that your team has proper additional materials such as blankets, sleeping bags, towels, etc,  are available to your rowers.
 

SCULLING MAY BE NECESSARY AT THE START:   Coxswains must be trained in keeping the bow pointed in the correct direction;  please review proper sculling technique with all rowers .    This is especially important with Novice and Freshman rowers.

FREE  WATER     --     WITH  $ 5 PURCHASE  OF  NBP  2014  REUSABLE  WATER  BOTTLE:  
In the interest of sustainability and eco-consciousness, NBP will be offering for sale a reusable water bottle for only $5.
Purchase yours at this regatta and use it for free all season long at NBP --   refill as many times as you want.
A Water Station will be located near the NBP Park Merchandise Tent  for  Free Refills all season long.
Bottles will be sold at this location, and only official NBP Reusable Bottles will be allowed to utilize this Water Station.

COOKING IN TEAM TENTS:   You  MUST  have an extinguisher at hand.

TEAM  BUSES:   Drop off is on the upper roadway as you enter the first bridge.  This area is one way traffic. 
After dropping off rowers, team buses will move north on Cattlemen Rd and park in the pull outs along No. Cattlemen Rd in the general vicinity of Sports Authority.  PLEASE NOTE:  In the case of inclement weather possibly developing during the day, we may have buses come back to the upper loop drop off area and park in two rows should rowers need to get on buses for warmth, etc.

See www.worldclassrowing.com for more information about Benderson Park.
 

UPDATED FEB 18 AT 11:55 PM

REVISED  HEAT  SHEETS  WILL BE  UP  SHORTLY:    Please check for potential conflicts due to the tighter schedule, and let the Director know in case there is something we can do, such as switching with another flight.

REMEMBER TO HAVE YOUR KIDS GET THEIR WAIVERS SIGNED ON-LINE!!

 

UPDATED FEB 17 AT 11:15 PM

RACE  CENTERS  SHORTENED:    Given the record number of entries this year, we had to go to  six-minute centers  on Saturday,   and   eight-minute centers on Sunday. 

As a result, it is  IMPERATIVE  that the coaches instruct their crews to be in the pre-start area at least  ten minutes before their scheduled race time.  The referees will assemble each flight behind the line so they can move onto the stakeboat platforms as soon as the previous heat has departed.

IF YOUR CREW IS LATE TO THE LINE, WE CANNOT WAIT AND THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RACE.  MOST FLIGHTS ARE ALREADY FULL SO THEY CAN'T JOIN THE NEXT RACE

HOT-SEATING:   You have to allow enough time to exit the course,   row around the island to the recovery dock,   land,   get in another boat,   then row all the way down to the southern end of the course,   and around the wave attenuator to get back in position   -   a total distance of about 3000 meters!    You should allow at least  30 minutes as a minimum transit time.

 

Update: February 08, 2014

PLEASE  DO  NOT  FORGET --   THE  SURVEY:     The survey shown on Regatta Central  MUST  be completed  BEFORE  you can pick up your packet at Registration.   Please do it in advance of Regatta Weekend.

Entry Limits / Youth Divisions:    The youth entry limits per club established in 2013 will be repeated:
1X :      max  6  per club per event
2X,  2- :      max  3  per club per event
4+,  4X,  8+ :      max  2  per club per event
Middle School 8+ :      max total  5  per club

Wave Attenuator:    Is now complete nearly to southern end of lake. 

Practice Sessions / Youth:       Friday:  1p  to  6p  (revised 02-19-14)
Practice Sessions / Masters:    Saturday:  after youth races finish; 1 hour session

Coaches only Bike Path:    Be sure to bring your own bike --
On the western shoreline, we have a new dedicated 'coaches only' ride along path.
Traffic pattern on Coaches' path is  NORTHBOUND  only.
To reach the Start Line area, you will ride south on a separate path on the far side of the coaches' path.

Team Tents:    are available for rent.  Rented sites will receive prioritized space allocation.
Call Sarah Kupiec at   941 . 224 . 9395  to reserve yours asap.

Parking:    There will be limited parking on the island. 
Cost is  $ 5.00  per day for  all  vehicles, except vehicle hauling boat trailer and car topped boats.
Vehicles pulling  Team Support Trailers  will also park for free.
There will also be one additional Coach's Parking Pass per team.

Free Parking:    Will be available south of Sports Authority.  Transport will  NOT  be provided.
The walk is slightly less than 1/2 mile.
If you opt for Free Parking, you may drive to the island to drop heavier or larger materials there, but you cannot leave your vehicle or the materials unattended.

Free Admission:    Admission to Nathan Benderson Park is free for all attendees and spectators.

Bow Numbers:    Be sure to bring your own -- we are utilizing up to 8 lanes 

Water  &  Ice:    We will not have water stations on site for this regatta.   Teams should provide their own as needed.   Both water and ice will be available for sale on site. 

Spectator bikes:    Spectators are welcome to bring their own bikes to utilize throughout this beautiful facility.  All public areas are accessible,  except  that only coaches are allowed on the Coaches' Ride Along Path on the western shoreline.    There is a secondary path which is available to Spectators slightly west of the Coaches' Path. 
 

Update: January 13, 2014

Registration will open January 20, 2014. Juniors will race 1500m and Masters 1000m.

There are no refunds for cancelled or missed events due to schedule compression because of inclement weather.

MEDALS:

We will be awarding top three medals for the three fastest times in an event, regardless of heat. Therefore, if an event has two heats, and the fastest time in the second heat beat the top two finishers in the first heat, that boat would be awarded 1st place. In the event there is one heat, the top three finishers would be awarded corresponding medals.

TEAM TENTS

Each team will be allotted a 20’x40’ space on the island along the beach frontage. Space is on a first come, first serve basis. Each team will receive only one parking pass for their team support vehicle.

There are 10’x10’, 20’ x 20’ & 20/x40' tents available to rent. Reserve your prime spot and cheer on your teammates! If you are a smaller club and would like to reserve a space with another team we can accommodate that too!

10’x10’- $150.00 per set-up

20’x20’- $250.00 per set-up

For more information/To Reserve contact Sarah Kupiec by e-mail: [email protected] or phone: 941.224.9395.

 

Boat Rentals:

Boats are available for rent. The cost is $50/seat including oars and a coxbox as necessary.

For Saturday/Sunday events:

Please contact Alex Dragos, [email protected], Sarasota Scullers Youth Rowing

Available: Three 8+'s, six 4+, four 4x, four 2x/2+, five 1x

Or Joe Gutierri, [email protected], Cape Coral Rowing Club

Available: Three 8+'s, two 4+'s, oars and coxboxes as necessary.

Or Dave Spraker, [email protected], Stewards Foundation

 

For Saturday events:

Please contact Casey McKenna-Monroe, [email protected], Sarasota County Rowing Club

Latest news as of December 10, 2013

There will be no Masters party Saturday night.  The turn-out has been too low the last three years.

The Entry Fee Cap has been increased to $1200.

There will be no masters events on Saturday and Middle School events, if any, will be run on Saturday, not Sunday.