RegattaCentral

Event Information Updates

• Team Tents & Spectators will be on the GAR property

Race Updates

• 11/13/2023 - Event added for Mens U17 4+

• 11/17/2023 - Lightweight Youth 1x (mens and womens)

• 11/17/2023 - Novice 1x available (mens and womens)

• 11/17/2023 - Mens Masters 4+ added

• 11/18/2023 - Mens Open 4+ added

Welcome to Gator Head 2023. 

This one-day race has been running since 1996 and is held on Newnans Lake, 7400 East University Avenue, Gainesville, Florida.

Racing/Competitor Information:

COURSE:

The race is run over a 5k stretch that starts at the south side of the lake, loops around the west side before finishing on the straight in line with the GAR boathouse.

Coaches and Coxswain meeting. 

The middle school events will take place on a shortened stretch ranging approximately 2k but also finishing in line with the GAR boathouse.. 

A course map is available on ‘Regatta Central’ and will be covered in the coxes and coaches meeting that will take place at the beginning of the day. Please ensure all coaches, coxswains and steersmen/women are familiar with the course.

WARM UP:

Crews are welcome to do whatever warm up they like within a few parameters. Crews should never be stationary for more than a minute unless they have a medical or equipment emergency. In either of these instances, the nearest official should be alerted immediately. The only other exception is when they are waiting to be called by the start official(s).

Once near the start, crews are welcome to circulate in both directions, provided they follow the instructions of the officials and are not putting either themselves or other crews in danger. Crews are expected to report to the start line no later than 5 minutes before their event with an accurate bow/bib number. Any crew that is late or not displaying a number may be subject to a penalty.

EVENTS:

In an attempt to streamline the day and make the racing schedule more efficient, certain events that were previously offered have been removed from the preliminary schedule. However, if any prospective team would like to see an event offered that isn’t currently on the schedule, please do not hesitate to contact the regatta to request it. Contact details can be found at the bottom of this document.

CLASSIFICATION & ELIGIBILITY:

(a) Junior/Youth: A Junior/Youth is a competitor who in the current calendar year does not attain the age of 19, or who is and has been continuously enrolled in secondary school as a full-time student seeking a diploma. A competitor thus ceases to be a Junior after December 31 of the year of his or her 18th birthday, or of the year in which he or she completes the 12th grade of secondary school, having been a full-time student, whichever is later. 

(b) Novice: A Novice is a competitor who in the current calendar year does not attain the age of 19, or who is and has been continuously enrolled in secondary school as a full-time student seeking a diploma. Additionally, a competitor must be in their first year of competition at the High School level, regardless of age. 

(c) Master: A Master is a competitor who has attained or will attain the age of 21 during the current calendar year. A competitor’s age is determined as of December 31 of the current calendar year, rounded down to the highest contained integer. A competitor thus becomes a Master on January 1 of the year of his or her 21st birthday. A Masters crew shall be comprised exclusively of Masters rowers, but the coxswain need not be a Master. 

(d) Masters crews shall be classified by age according to the following categories: (AA) 21 to 26 years, (A) 27 to 35 years, (B) 36 to 42 years, (C) 43 to 49 years, (D) 50 to 54 years, (E) 55 to 59 years, (F) 60 to 64 years, (G) 65 to 69 years, (H) 70 to 74 years, (I) 75 to 79 years, (J) 80 and over. The age category of a Masters crew shall be determined by the average age of the rowers in the crew, rounded to the nearest integer. The age of a coxswain shall not be counted. The ages of individual rowers need not fall within the age category, so long as each rower is a Master and so long as the average age of the crew falls within the applicable category.

Mixed crews are expected to have at least 25% of each gender in 4s and 8s (i.e. 2 minimum in an 8+ and 1 minimum in a 4x/+/-) not including the cox. For those competing in mixed 2-/xs, crew members must be of the opposite gender.

Athletes must have a waiver on file. We are using the FSRA waiver. Your athletes or guardians may access the waiver here.

REGISTRATION:

Registration should be completed online through ‘RegattaCentral’. 

WEIGH-INS:

Coxwains: There is no required minimum weight for coxes. However, coaches are expected to only boat coxswains of an appropriate age, weight and experience level so that they are capable of handling their boat efficiently.

Lightweights: Male lightweights are not to exceed 160lbs and female athletes should not exceed 130lbs.

OFFICIALS, PENALTIES AND APPEALS:

There will be officials stretched across the entire course as well as marshalling the dock. Penalties may be awarded to crews for a range of infractions which can include the use of profanity, causing danger or harm to other athletes or officials, exceeding the limits of the race course etc. Penalties will be applied to a crew’s time upon completing the course. Protests must be made known while a crew is still on the water. In the instance of any issues or appeals, please report to our head referee. They will consider all complaints and appeals but the referee reserves the right to respond how they see fit. Please respect whatever decision is reached. Teams are to pay a $50 cash fee in order to file an appeal.

Spectator Information:

TENTS:

Every team will be assigned a space for a team tent. Gator Head requests that teams use this as a congregation/changing space and that no team brings a grill.

PARKING:

All Boat trailers should be parked at the University of Florida Boathouse under the direction of parking officials. Saturday morning beginning at 6:00am. All other spectators, parents and volunteers follow signage to adjacent parking. Please follow signs and directions of the volunteers. There will be a $10 donation for all vehicles parked with the exception of trailers/towing vehicles and officials’ cars.

Contact details:

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact any of the following:

Gretchen Loyd, Gator Head Director

[email protected]

(720) 226-8178

Anne Mathews, GAR President

[email protected]

Schedule will be finalized after registration closes. Current race times are approximate and subject to change based on registrations. Please reach out to Bob Van Twyver or Gretchen Loyd with any questions.