RegattaCentral

Please click on this link for the Regatta Packet. 

HISTORY & VENUE 

The Iowa Chase is a USRowing Registered event hosted by the University of Iowa. This regatta was created to bring a head race back to the Iowa City area, in the spirit of the retired Head of the Iowa. That event took place at the end of October on the Iowa River, through the middle of campus.  

Due to ever changing river conditions, we moved the race to the Coralville Lake Reservoir for 2021 and 2022. We thank the Army Corps of Engineers for allowing us to hold this race on the Lake, located just 5 miles north of campus.  

With new river conditions and water plans at the Coralville Dam, we have decided to bring the Iowa Chase (Head of the Iowa – Athletics) back to the Iowa River. This venue will allow everyone to view many aspects of the racing, as well as enjoy all the Iowa City community has to offer for scenery on the river’s edge. As we look to grow this race, we will take advantage of our Boathouse and docks already in place to run an efficient regatta. 

Racing will begin upstream, just southeast of Crandic Park. The 3.3-3.5k course will wind through the Crandic Stretch, passing Iowa City Parks and Recreation Asher House and the Elks Golf Course. After a Starboard Turn the course will pass homes (port side) along Taft Speedway and City Park (starboard side). Coming into the Boathouse stretch, racing will be tight as crews battle for position on the last turn of the course. Ports will need to work hard to get a tight turn around the last bend of the race, with the boathouse and docks on the port side and City Park still along starboard. The last stretch will feature heading straight downstream through Park Road and Hancher Footbridge. Spectator viewing will be optimal along this stretch. The finish line will be at the Historic Canoe House on campus, allowing crews to paddle down prior to turning and heading back to the docks. 

Please visit Regatta Central and use the Venue Tab, and Directions Tab for more information. 

REGATTA CENTRAL 

Regatta Central will serve as the main site for information regarding the regatta. If planning to attend the regatta, add the regatta to your Regatta Central Dashboard to receive updates and additional information as we near the event. 

Registration and event schedules can be found here: The Iowa Chase - Overview (regattacentral.com) 

All boats must be registered online by the standard deadline. Late entries may be accepted by email at the discretion of the Regatta Director. An additional fee will be applied. 

Registration opens September 1. Deadline is October 14. 

Line ups are due October 14th. Payments are due at the time of Registration. 

RACE INFORMATION, RULES, PROCEDURES 

REGISTRATION PACKET PICK UP 

Each team will be responsible for picking up your Regatta Packet, including bow numbers, 2 hours prior to your first event. All packets can be picked up on site at the P. Sue Beckwith Boathouse.  

BOW NUMBERS 

Bow numbers should be securely fastened to your bow clip. We do not use bibs to save waste. 

If you lose a bow number while racing and are aware it is not on your rowing shell, notify the finish line immediately upon ending your race. Once you return to the docks, also notify your coach and follow up with the Regatta Director or Racing Official on Land. 

WAIVERS 

The University of Iowa requires two waivers to be signed to compete.  

1) USRowing Waiver 

2) Iowa Chase Release Waiver. Email to danelle-stipes@uiowa.edu. Or hand in on Race Day. 

*Athletes should PRINT their First initial, Last Name on the Top Right Corner of the Waiver. 

Both must be submitted prior to racing. Anyone racing without signed waivers will result in a team/boat disqualification. To ensure successful USRowing clearance, please make sure your athlete roster is updated through the USRowing portal, including merging, or deleting duplicate memberships for athletes.  

View the Compliance Tab on Regatta Central for more information. 

PRE-RACE MEETING

A pre-race meeting will take place in front of the P. Sue Beckwith Boathouse at 7am on race day. It will be a quick meeting to review the course and take questions. Coaches should make sure a representative is on site for you if you are not able to attend. 

DRESS CODE 

All crews should be in matching/similar attire.  

Shirts are required to be on when launching/docking, while on the racecourse, and if entering the Beckwith Boathouse area at any time.  

EVENT DEFINITIONS 

Collegiate/Open: Rowers who have graduated high school. No Youth are allowed to row or cox in this event. This group will include all collegiate crews, as well as anyone in the US Rowing master’s category AA+ choosing to race in this category. There are no handicaps for this event. 

Masters: Limited to competitors who have attained or will attain the age of 21 during the current calendar year. Handicaps are assigned based on age rounded down, using the USRowing handicap formula. Coxswains do not need to be a Master. The average of a crew, minus the coxswain will determine the average age of a crew. 

Juniors/Youth: Athletes who are (in the current calendar year) 19 or younger and are currently enrolled in Middle or High School are allowed to race in this event. Coxswains do not need to be Youth. No youth athlete may race in any other event classification, unless as a coxswain in a master's event. 

Mixed Events:  Must have 50/50 ratio of men and women, or a ratio of more women rowers than men. 

Novice: First year rowing.  

Adaptive/Para: Any experienced adaptive rower that is training with a program in an adaptive program or is classified through USRowing.  

USRowing Gender Policy: Per USRowing, to participate in an event hosted or sanctioned by USRowing, an athlete must be registered with USRowing as the gender in which the athlete wants to compete. An athlete may always register as the athlete’s birth gender.  

For more information regarding the policy, please click here. 

DOCKING – LAUNCH & RETRIEVAL 

We will have one dock – extended and wide- for launching and returning crews.  

Only two coaches/athletes allowed on the dock per crew. This is for the safety of all athletes, as well as to speed the process of crews on and off the water. There will be volunteers to assist as needed. 

Crews will have 2 minutes once their boat is in the water on the dock to get in and shove off. Do not tie in or adjust until you have pulled away from the dock and have moved upstream. Pull over immediately if adjustments must be made to allow other crews to pass. 

Oar staging area – oars will have a staging area near the docks for easy access.  

Launch Schedule: Announcements will be made for launch. 1st call, 2nd call. There is no last call. To keep the race on schedule, we want to keep all events launching together. We have made improvements to our announcing platform and speaker system for this coming year. 

Hot Seating: if hot seating for a race, either personnel or boat, please 1) Notify the Regatta Director prior to the race 2) Notify the Dock Master. You will receive a “hot seating card” that must be put in the air by the coxswain (or rower) upon return to the dock. This card will alert regatta staff that your boat needs to get in. Any rowers/equipment making an exchange needs to be ready to switch with returning crew. You are still required to be at the start on time. No exceptions. Pay attention to the race schedule.  

Return Instructions: Upon crossing the finish line, immediately paddle and drop out rowers if needed to slow boat speed. Keep moving. If you are hot seating, notify safety launch at the end of your race. You may immediately spin if all is clear to return to the dock. All crews should spin prior to the IMU Footbridge.  

When turning the boat. Immediately hold water on Port side. Row across the river prior to completing your turn. Do NOT turn into oncoming traffic. 

RACECOURSE 

The Iowa River is a narrow body of water that offers beautiful scenery, along with an exciting course. Ports get ready! This race is – a lot – you! The fall foliage will be peaking.  

Warm-up crews should proceed to the start while following to the Right/Starboard side of the racecourse buoy line. Do not cross the line and be aware of racers who may get off course. The bank of the river can get shallow. There is enough room for 2 lanes to travel to the start. If along the shoreline, make sure that you are allowing room for other crews to pass you. 

When arriving at the starting area, proceed above the start line and pass the Marshall launch to enter the staging area. Please be at the start 2-5 minutes prior to your race. The starting area is tight. Pay attention to directions. Make quick adjustments as a crew. All crews should know your bow number, as well as the crew immediately ahead and behind you in the starting order. Line up in sequential order, increasing numerically.  

The race officials will call you to the start. When you pass the start line, you should be at full pressure. The officials will say “Mark” once you cross the start. 

Crews will be called to the start at 10 second intervals. Be ready to move once instructed to do so. 

Once you are on the course, look ahead to find your point.  

Communicate clearly as a coxswain or bow seat with other crews if needed in the event of overtaking or course adjustments. 

The inside turns have an advantage on this course. Crews being overtaken should move – safely and quickly – to the outside lanes for racing. Be careful not to cross into the buoy line. Crews overtaking, you must be aware of your course and make sure you do not interfere or push another crew across the finish line. Use good judgement and caution as you maneuver. 

PENALTIES 

1:00 Hull crossing the buoy line at any time. There is little room for passing in the warm-up, and at least 2 lanes for passing while racing.  

:30 Interference with another crew resulting in a boat collision or their crossing the buoy line. (Not all clashing of oars, or accidental interference will result in a penalty. A malicious and irresponsible interference will be penalized.) 

:15 Not yielding to overtaking crew. 

Any crew or coach displaying unsportsmanlike conduct will result in a crew and/or team being disqualified; to include disregard for safety, disrespectful behavior toward regatta staff, race officials and/or competitors. 

The Race Officials reserve the right to penalize any other violation as deemed necessary and appropriate. 

MEDALS 

Race medals will be awarded once all results have been finalized and released. Coaches and/or their representatives should collect their program’s medals.  First and Second place medals will be awarded for each race. 

FIRST AID & SAFETY 

First Aid will be available at the Registration Pavilion area. We encourage all teams to plan for weather, clothing, hydration and first aid/athletic training needs for your teams.  

If you need assistance, immediately notify a race official, volunteer or the Regatta Directors. 

The P. Sue Beckwith Boathouse has an AED machine on-site. The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Emergency Room is 5 minutes away.