RegattaCentral

2016 Collegiate Heat Sheet - Saturday 3/18 9pm

2016 Youth Heat Sheet - Sunday (tab at bottom) updated in real-time as this is a google document

Coaches, please make sure your coxswains are prepared for backing into the stakeboat. Here is a video that might be useful (courtesy of the Austin Rowing Club). 

For those who might be interested in focus points for race prep training, here are some of my observations from previous years:

1. Keep close to the stake boats when entering the race course. The marshall purposefully sequences the order that boats enter the race course so that crews enter in lane numerical order allowing them to stay close to the stake boat as they cross to their lane assignment. Coxswains should think about lining up in order without much input from the marshal. Except when racing into a headwind (which would blow the boats back into the stake boats), crews want to stay close to the stake boats as it minimizes the distance needed to back the boat up. You should cross at about 1 boat length in front of the stake boats so when you stop and spin, your stern will be very close to the stake boat.
2. Everyone in sweep boats needs to know scull with a sweep oar to move a boat sideways. Once a boat is locked on the stake boat, NO ONE should ever take a regular stroke to align the boat. If you take more than one stroke, you are moving the boat in a forward direction and will pull away from the stake boat. Remember the stake boat holders don’t have much to hang onto at the stern end of the boat. Now you have to repeat the process to get back to the stake boat again. I stay everyone on your team because if you change your lineup, different people will need to do the sculling.

Problem at the previous race: almost 50% of the crews needed instructions on how to scull the bows around. Novices don’t need this additional stress at the start. Also for sculling boats, it is best if they back with one oars as they row with the other as if spinning the boat, again to minimize the forward pull away from the stake boat.

1. The standard (polling) start is like a countdown start. While hands are not recognized, teams should know there is a starting sequence to be followed and they still have time to make alignment adjustments and still be ready to go with the drop of the starter’s flag. Use this time wisely.
2. Steering directly at the finish flag is NOT the shortest course. The shortest distance between the start and finish lines is a straight line staying in your assigned lane. Leaving your lane also subjects your boats to protests and penalties.