RegattaCentral

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 in the 1990’s through 2012.  

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 decided to bring the Iowa Chase (Head of the Iowa) back to the Iowa River in 2023. 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.  

Racing will begin upstream, just southeast of Crandic Park. The 3.3-3.5k course will begin 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 along Taft Speedway and begin to view the banks of City Park. 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 the bridges, and competitors will race downstream through Park Road and Hancher Footbridge. Spectator viewing will be optimal along this stretch. The finish line will be at the historic Lagoon Shelter House on campus, allowing crews to paddle down prior to turning and heading back to the docks.