RegattaCentral

The course is 1000 meters long, raced downstream, for all events. It will be buoyed on the perimeter at the start, finish, and 500m marks, and accommodates 6 lanes of racing (7 in a pinch)

OVERALL RACING SCHEDULE

Saturday, June 24: All junior racing will take place on Saturday. Heats will take place in the morning and are on the same course as finals. Finals will take place after the conclusion of all heats. Update: Racing should be finished before noon.

Sunday, June 25: All other racing (masters, adaptive, adult rec, and open) will take place on Sunday. Generally, mens races will be run in the morning, mixed races at the beginning, middle, and end of the day, and womens in the afternoon. Adaptive races will be run in the morning. Update: Racing should be finished just after noon.

ELIGIBILITY AND CATEGORIES

Categories are: Open, Junior (U-19) and Junior Novice, Masters (27+), Adaptive, and Adult Recreational.

Junior races (not incl. novice) will include lightweight categories. Lightweight men shall weigh no more than 150 lbs., and lightweight women shall weigh no more than 130 lbs. Coxswains shall not be counted. Rowers not qualifying for lightweight status shall not row in lightweight events, although lightweight rowers may race in non-lightweight events. Weight classification will be on the honor system, although a scale will be on hand at headquarters if needed to resolve disputes.

Adults aged 19-26 should race in the open or recreational category, if applicable, or can race in masters crews (up to 2 per 8+) with the result of that masters crew's handicap being forfeited. More than two (2) U-27 athletes on a masters crew will result in that crew racing on an exhibition basis. Recreational crews are generally adult crews practicing informally, typically with no more than one coached session weekly. Most adult novice or learn-to-row crews would fit in the recreational category. Coaches, please be honest with your entries and keep your experienced masters rowers in masters events. Seeding rec crews with masters rowers, or junior novice crews with experienced junior rowers, will not be tolerated and may result in the crew's disqualification or change of status to exhibition. Repeated offenses of this nature by a club will result in disqualification or exhibition status for all entries by that club.

This regatta also serves as the rowing event for the State Games of America. You do not need to be a resident of Michigan to take part in this regatta or in any State Games activities or ceremonies. Technically only residents of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois; Ontario, Canada; and anyone from any state or province who has medaled in a State Games event from 2015, 2016, or 2017, are eligible to participate (see the eligibility requirements at this web page). However, we will accept entries from any state for this regatta, and anyone qualifying to receive a medal will receive a medal regardless of statehood. The State Games ceremonies will take place in August. For more information, click here. 

ENTRIES

Competitors are responsible for allowing sufficient time to race in one event, land, re-queue, and launch in time for an additional event. With races on 10-minute centers, on a 1000-meter course, raced downstream, we have found that this is not especially difficult.

All junior events are capped at 18 entries, with a maximum of 3 entries per event per club. Up to 3 waitlist entries may be accepted for each club, which will be filled after the regular entry deadline as available, according to order of submission. All junior athletes may participate in a maximum of 3 events.

Masters events are also capped at 18 entries, but there is no limit on the number of events per athlete. We suggest being cautious and not overburdening your masters bodies. Entries will be split according to age only in order to avoid heats and will be raced as separate finals in immediate succession.

Events with less than three entries may be scratched. Events with large numbers of entries may be split into separate events and/or assigned full-distance heats if appropriate. Confirmed entries will be posted on the RegattaCentral website.

Entries must be received no later than 11:59 pm eastern time on the deadline date as listed here. Late entries will be accepted but will be assessed a $5 PER SEAT late fee, which will be in excess of the $800 cap if applicable. Late fees will also be applied to free race events.

Racing entries are to be submitted online via RegattaCentral. Online registration will open on Monday, April 10, 2017.

Deadlines are as follows:

JUNIORS (except novice)
Junior race registrations: Friday, June 16, 2017 (extended from May 23! then extended from June 9!!!)
Late junior race registrations (with $5 PER SEAT late fee): Sunday, June 18, 2017

Dinner ticket purchase: Friday, June 9, 2017 or when sold out (350 cap) CANCELLED
Prospect book profile purchase and submission: Sunday, June 18, 2017

ALL OTHER RACING EVENTS (include junior novice)
All other events registrations: Sunday, June 18, 2017
All other events late registrations (with $5 PER SEAT late fee): Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Masters competitors must submit date(s) of birth for all competitors during the entry process. Crews with missing or incomplete date of birth information will be assigned an average crew age of 27 and a 0.0 handicap. Up to 2 rowers with an age of 21-26 may be accepted into an 8+ Masters Crew at the discretion of the Regatta Committee, but such an addition will result in the handicap being forfeited. Crews seeking to have more than two U-27 rowers in a master's shell may be permitted to do so with the permission of the regatta committee, but with exhibition status.

Clubs entering more than one boat for an event, please identify single scullers by name and crews by the stroke's initials. They will be listed that way on the regatta schedule. Depending upon the number of entries, the events may be split into separate club and open events according to the competitive level of the crews. Please honestly designate as such on the entry form. We want the competition to be fair.

Entry fees are:

1x = $24
2x = $36
4+ = $48
4x = $48
8+ = $60
Adaptive = $0

$800 cap/club
Remember: late fees are significant ($5 PER SEAT) and do not apply to the club cap!

CHECK-IN

Scullers and crew representatives must check in at Regatta Headquarters at the Grand Rapids Boathouse at any of the following times:

• Friday, June 23 from 3:00 - 5:00 PM
• Saturday, June 24 from 7:00 - 10:00 AM
• Sunday, June 25 from 7:00 - 10:00 AM

All intentional scratches should be reported at least one (1) hour prior to an event and no later than 11:00 a.m. the day of racing. Scheduling issues must be brought to the attention of the Regatta Director prior to the Coaches & Coxswains meeting.

PRACTICE TIMES

The course will be available for practice from 4:00 - 6:00 PM on Friday, June 23 and for 2 hours following completion of racing on Saturday, June 24 (generally 12:00 - 2:00 PM). Crews seeking to practice following racing on Saturday will not be permitted to launch until all shells racing in the final race of the day have landed. If you intend to practice during either of these times, please notify regatta staff in advance. We will TRY to have a safety launch on the water during practice times, but cannot guarantee this.

COACHES AND COXSWAINS MEETING

The Coaches & Coxswain meeting will take place in front of the Headquarters tent at the Grand Rapids Boathouse on each day of racing. (Scheduled time is 7:30 am) All coaches, coxswains, and scullers should plan to attend the meeting on their day of racing.

BOW MARKERS and EQUIPMENT SPECS

Bow markers will be distributed from a desk at the launch area. Bow markers must be returned at the conclusion of racing. A $10.00 charge will be assessed if the bow markers are not returned.

All shells must have bow clips to race. All shells must be equipped with a bow ball. Each set of shoes within the shell must be equipped with properly-secured heel tie-downs. Allow time for regatta officials to inspect shells upon the approach to the launch dock.

Recreational single shells must be less than 22 feet in length and at least 18 inches in width. Single shells longer than 22 feet and/or narrower than 18 inches wide may not be rowed in recreation events.

CLASSIFICATIONS

The following definitions are used at this regatta:

Junior: Maximum age is 18 and enrolled in high school (or middle school) as of the spring semester immediately preceding the regatta.
Junior Novice: A junior rower meeting the above requirements that has been rowing for no more than one year (i.e. they may not have rowed in this event previously). If a junior novice event is not available, novices may register for junior events. Please email the regatta director at [email protected] if this is the case... if enough novices register for a non-novice event we will consider splitting the event.
Open: Unrestricted.
Master: Minimum age for all rowers is 27.
Mixed: An equal number of women and men in the crew. Unequal crews may be permitted to race as exhibition and only with the prior approval of the regatta director.
Rec: Recreational adult rowers, with no more than one coached practice/week.

Ages are as of 12/31/2017.

SAFETY

All shells must be equipped with a bow ball. Each set of shoes within the shell must be equipped with properly-secured heel tie-downs. Allow time for regatta officials to inspect shells upon the approach to the dock.

All crews must follow the instructions of the official Aligner upon reaching the starting line area. The Marshal tracks crew arrivals and pre-aligns boats for each race. A floating start is used and there are no lane markers. Be alert!!!

We will have professional security staff on the property overnight on both Friday and Saturday nights to help guard shells and other equipment. The boathouse is not known to be an area of crime or vandalism. Even so, we cannot guarantee the safety of any items left in the park... exercise caution and common sense! No public overnight camping is allowed on the boathouse grounds.

HOT SEATING

Hot-seating of athletes and/or boats is generally discouraged. The Regatta Committee accepts no responsibility for missed start times and will issue no refunds on that basis.

Races are at 10 minute centers, except for heats which may be run on a significantly more aggressive schedule. Update: There are no events scheduled with heats at this regatta. Notify the dockmaster if you plan to hot seat well before your event. The regatta schedule is relaxed enough that this should be possible far in advance. The dockmaster is not required to approve a hot seat request if it doing so will negatively impact the overall regatta schedule... but this is typically an exception. If the dockmaster approves, they will give you a brightly colored 'hot seat' card. When you have finished your race, hold up the card up for the finish line official and for officials on the dock. The finish official and launch area official will make every effort to give you priority docking, but safety and fairness are their primary responsibilities. Move quickly and make sure a hot-seating crew is ready on the dock to switch out equipment or rowers.

DECORUM

We do not require uniforms although request all rowers in a crew to dress consistently. Athletes, coaches, and spectators are expected to minimize foul language and conduct unbecoming of the sport of rowing while at the regatta. While shell-to-shell communication is allowed, it is expected to remain friendly. Unsportsmanlike conduct on the part of athletes, coaches, and spectators, including insults, taunts, trash talk, and foul language will not be tolerated and may result in the disqualification of the offending crew, squad, or club.

REFUNDS

Except for special circumstances, the regatta committee cannot refund scratches communicated to the regatta beyond the regular race entry deadline (see above).

RESULTS

Results will be posted as they occur at the headquarters tent. Results will be unofficial until such time as the reports of the referees have been received and penalties assessed.

After the race, official results will be available on RegattaCentral, the Grand Rapids Rowing Association's web site at www.grrowing.org, as well as other rowing websites.