RegattaCentral

CLASSES OF PARTICIPANTS

1.  HIGH SCHOOL: Participants must on the day of the regatta be enrolled in any high school. Club and composite crews are permitted.  Individual High School rowers/crews or coxswains cannot participate in any event with college crews.

2.  HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS: Participants must on the day of the regatta be enrolled in any high school and must not attain the age of 17 year of regatta.  Club and composite crews are permitted.

3.  YOUTH: Persons not attaining age 20, year of the regatta.

4.  NOVICE SINGLES: Must not have competed in any singles event prior to January 1, or won a single sculling race prior to August 1, year of regatta.

5.  MASTERS SINGLES: At least 30, but not 45, year of regatta. Handicap will be four (4) seconds a year, age 31 and over.

6.  SENIOR MASTER SINGLES: At least 45, but not 55, year of regatta. Handicap will be five (5) seconds a year, age 46 and over.

7.  VETERAN SINGLES: At least 55, but not 70, year of regatta. Handicap will be six (6) seconds a year, age 56 and over.

8.  SUPER VETERAN SINGLES: At least 70, year of regatta. Handicap will be seven (7) seconds a year, age 71 and over.

9.  MASTER'S CREWS: Crews with all rowers minimum age 30 with no individuals except coxswains below age 30. Crew average age 31 and over, (6) seconds a year, up to a maximum of 210 seconds.  Note: Additional Senior Master's age categories will be created if there are at least two average age 30 and two average age 50 and over entries in any Master's event.***

10.     SENIOR MASTER'S CREWS: Crews whose minimum average age is 50 with no individuals below age 30. Crew average age 51 and over, (7) seconds a year, up to a maximum of 210 seconds. ***

11.     TIME HANDICAPPED EVENTS (THCE): Crew average age 30 and under, no handicap. Crew average age 31 and over, six (6) seconds a year, up to a maximum of 210 seconds. ***

12.     RECREATIONAL/ALDEN: Open to all participants. Recreation Singles must be at least 18 inches wide and no more than 24 feet long. Entries should include age of entrant, boat model and manufacturer, width and length. New competitive categories will be created if adequate entries are received.

13.     CLUB/Individuals or Crews: Club crews are composed of persons who, in the current calendar year did not finish in the top six places in any class or event at the EARC, EAWRC, Western Sprints, the IRA, Dad Vail, Cincinnati College Championships, Independence Day Regatta, or in any year finished in the top six places in any elite or open event at any national rowing championship, or national team trials. Individuals or members of "Club Crew" Entries may never have competed in any event above the "Intermediate" class in any of the events, in any year, as outlined above.

14.     Open Events: Open to all except high school crews.

15.     ***All age averages shall be rounded down to the whole integer.

COURSE INFORMATION

1.  The 3.0 mile Course :  The course begins at Port Indian and proceeds down the approximate middle third of the river to the top of Barbadoes Island and then along the island bank (portside) to the finish line. Crews should take caution of the fallen trees on the island bank. Crews must pass through the large orange colored course buoys and are responsible for steering a safe and predictable line on the course. There are two bridges: Boats should pass through lanes 1, 2, and 3 of the first (railroad) bridge and arch 1 and the portside half of arch 2, of the second (highway) bridge. There is a buoy marked sunken hazard in the center of arch 2 of the highway bridge. The finish line is 50 meters after the second bridge. Just after the finish line crews shall proceed for 100 meters and wait for clearance from the dockmaster before coming about to the recovery end of the dock in front of the boathouse. Caution: There is a dam approximately 200 meters beyond the finish line. All crews should take care to stay well above the dam while waiting to dock.  After Finishing: Individuals and crews will be disqualified if they row past the recovery dock upriver to "cool down." 

2.  Start: Each entrant will be responsible for arriving at the starting line five (5) minutes prior to their scheduled starting time. All Boats will launch from the Upper Merion Boathouse and should proceed along the Upper Merion bank (portside), through the first arch of both bridges and proceed with extreme caution upriver staying well clear of the racing lanes and competitors who may row off the course.  Shoals and hazards will generally be marked and individuals and crews should proceed with normal caution on unfamiliar waters. All Crews and Coxswains are responsible for knowing the course and passing rules and for checking the course map before leaving the dock. Crews proceeding more than 300 meters above the start line will do so at their own risk.

RULES AND INFORMATION

1.  Bow Numbers: Bow numbers have been assigned in the order entries were received. The start will be supervised by officials on shore and on the water. Boats will be started at 10 second intervals in Bow Number order.   Crews utilizing the course for practice must be completely off the course by 9:20a.m.

2.  Passing Rules: Any boat being overtaken must move toward the Upper Merion bank of the river.  Overtaking crews must pull out and around and pass on the port side of slower crews.  There is a "No Passing Zone" beginning 100 meters above the railroad bridge through 50 meters past the railroad bridge.   Upon approaching the Railroad Bridge crews must point and align their boats to Lane 1, 2, or 3 and shout their commitment, "LANE X," three times upon entering the "No Passing Zone."  An overtaking crew committed to the same lane must follow at a distance of at least one boat length until safely clear of the bridge.

3.  Prizes: Specially commissioned King's Head Medals will be awarded to each individual of the winning crews when race results are confirmed and official.  First and 2^nd place medals will be awarded in races having at least four entries.   First place medals only in races with a minimum of two entries.  No medals will be awarded in races with only one entry.

REGISTRATION

1. All entrants will be required to submit entries on printed official USRA entry forms mailed with checks or through www.regattacentral.com on-line with credit card payment.   A club "Release of Liability," executed by all participant's will be required to be submitted on Race Day for Unaffiliated crews.   An "Individual Release of Liability" from rowers under the age of 18 on the day of regatta, signed by a parent or guardian, will also be required to be submitted on Race Day before bow numbers will be distributed.

2. Complete entries will include Names of competitors, Age year of regatta (if required), and payment in full for all entries.   All participating schools/colleges/organizations must be Organizational members of USRowing.   All competitors of unaffiliated crews must be individual members of USRowing and include USRowing membership numbers on entry Release of Liability forms.

3.  Events with only one entry will be scheduled. Participants can confirm entries by phone at 610-666-7828, 3-6 P.M. on September 24.  Questions about entries can be forwarded by email to [email protected]. 

4.  ENTRY FEES: Due and payable with "Complete Entries" postmarked on or before September 19, 2008.  Mailed entries without checks or on-line entries without credit card payment will not be accepted.  There will be a $10.00 late fee for each late on-line entry received after September 19 and each mailed entry postmarked later then September 19.   Only On-line entries with credit card payment in full will be accepted after midnight on September 19, 2008.  Note: Entries will not be accepted, in any form, after September 24, at 6:00 P.M.

Entry Fees:    Singles              $25.00                         Doubles            $40.00

                        Fours/Quads    $55.00                         Eights               $75.00

*** Checks should be made payable to UMBCCRR and mailed to:

UMBCCRR, c/o Tom Pappanastasiou

738 Hidden Valley Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406

Day Phone (610) 666-7828                  email: [email protected]

Check-in: Check-in will be held at the Upper Merion Boathouse on Sunday, September 28, 2008 only, from 7:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M.   All crews must check-in to pick up bow numbers. Check-in will close promptly at 11:30 A.M and all unclaimed entrant packages will be discarded.

5.  Boat Storage: Security patrolled, overnight storage will be available at the Upper Merion Boathouse. Overnight camping is not permitted and alcoholic beverages are not permitted at the Upper Merion Boathouse site.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Overnight Lodging: There are motel/hotel units available in all price ranges within a five mile radius of the race course. For updates and cooperating lodging sponsors of the King's Head Regatta check for news, updates and links at www.regattacentral.com and www.uppermerionboatclub.com.  

1. Directions: Main Launch Site/Finish Line is located at Upper Merion Boathouse, near 1 Dekalb Street, Bridgeport, PA, 19405, on the Schuylkill River about 5 miles north of the junction of the PA Turnpike (I-276), the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76), and U.S. Route 202 in King of Prussia.

2. From this point: Proceed North on Route 202 to Business 202, "DeKalb St. Bridgeport,' bear right and travel about 1/2 mile to PA Route 23 make a right and follow detour signs to regatta site. From I-95 North: Take I-476 North to "Conshohocken Route 23" exit, take PA Route 23 West to Mill St. in Bridgeport and make a right turn two blocks to Front Street and make a left turn to regatta site at 1 Dekalb Street, Bridgeport, PA, 19405. From I-76 East/West: Exit at "Conshohocken Route 23", take PA Route 23 West to Mill St. in Bridgeport and make a right turn two blocks to Front Street and make a left turn to regatta site at 1 Dekalb Street, Bridgeport, PA, 19405

3. For detailed directions go to www.mapquest.com.

4. Detour Note:  the U.S. Route 202 DeKalb St bridge over the railroad tracks between PA Rte 23 north to 2^nd Street in Bridgeport is closed.