RegattaCentral

News from Wednesday Evening

Coaches and Cox's Meeting is at 6:30AM at Regatta Head Quarters Tent

B and B 2011 Schedule V.4.pdf  (this is changed as of 9:20 Wednesday due to an error in the statedprogression of the boys 2x. It is the top 4 TIMES that move on)

New park map is available here: http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Portals/2/parkmaps/huestonwoodsparkmap.pdf

Oddly,the Beach doesn't show up on the map but is labeled inside the park.Remember the Park Loop Rd is closed at the campground area near thecreeks.  

News from Tuesday Evening

Participants and Volunteers,

Thanks for attending this year?s 2011 Blue and Burgundy Regatta hosted by the Great Miami Rowing Center, Hamilton OH at Acton Lake in Hueston Woods State Park. We appreciate everyone?s patience with the changes to this event. Given the fact that many other Midwest courses are currently unrowable we feel fortunate to have a place to run racing on May 7^th.  Acton lake is rowable but it is certainly out of its banks and does have a current. There is plenty of land left remaining for staging of team tents and trailers. Please read the below carefully, as it does include some changes to our original plans for a river based Henley style Blue and Burgundy. We are trying very hard to provide racing of any sort on Saturday.

1)      Directions to the Beach at Acton Lake.

The regatta will be staged from the Beach area at Acton Lake in Hueston Woods State Park. By following signs to the Park Office, Marina and eventually the Beach you will find the staging grounds.  Some roads in the park are flooded and Miami University's commencement is taking place in Oxford on May 7th.

The address for the Park Office is 6301 Park Office Road, College Corner OH.This is the address provided by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.  However, when using GoogleMaps to map your trip, we suggest you use the Heuston Woods Lodge Heliport as a destination as it is adjacent to the beach.

HeliportLocation in Google Maps

Early in the morning of May 7^th the best route to the lake is linked below from the south:

From the south via I-75 and/or Hwy 129

1.    Take exit 24 for Ohio 129 W toward Hamilton     1.2 mi
2.    Merge onto OH-129 W/Butler County Veterans Hwy    11.5 mi
3.    Continue onto Hamilton Richmond Rd/Main St     2.1 mi
4.    Turn left onto OH-130 W/Old Oxford Rd     4.7 mi
5.    Turn right onto US-27 N/Millville Oxford Rd    5.3 mi
6.    Turn left onto E High St     0.8 mi
7.    Turn right onto N College Ave     0.3 mi
8.    Continue onto Brown Rd     4.0 mi
9.    Turn left onto Main Loop Rd

We discourage anyone from traveling through Oxford on the way home due to graduation traffic, so we suggest going around the lake (please note the north side of Main Loop Road is closed). We realize this link below is an odd route but we believe it will be the best way to get to FROM the park on Saturday.

Directions out of Heuston Woods to I75, skipping Oxford

1.    Head southeast on Main Loop Rd     4.9 mi
2.    Keep right at the fork     0.6 mi
3.    Turn left onto OH-732 N     0.6 mi
4.    Take the 1st right onto OH-177 S/Hamilton Richmond Rd    15.7 mi
5.    Continue onto OH-129 E/High St

Directions out of Heuston Woods to I70, skipping Oxford
1.    Head southeast on Main Loop Rd     4.9 mi
2.    Keep right at the fork     0.6 mi
3.    Turn left onto OH-732 N     0.6 mi
4.    Continue onto Oxford Germantown Rd     2.9 mi
5.    Turn right onto the US-127 ramp     0.1 mi
6.    Turn left onto US-127 N     18.9 mi
7.    Turn right to merge onto I-70 E

2)     Wet launching and Landing. 

Unfortunately we have to wet launch and land all crews on Saturday.  We have tried in earnest to get some dock tothe lake but it is just not feasible. PLEASE bring plenty of extra socks and warm clothes for rowers between races.  Please bring water shoes in order to wet launch safely. We are launching from a sandy beach but wearing shoes of some kind would be best.

3)     Four Lane Heats and Finals.

Since we are now running this regatta from Acton Lake we have the option to add more lanes.While we?d like to keep the regatta similar to what was originally designed fora two lane Henley style course on the Great Miami River, due to weather forecasts and wet launching conditions we are adding more lanes in order toincrease our likelihood of completing our schedule within a reasonable time frame. The schedules will be posted on Regatta Central by Wednesday May 4^that 5PM.  GMRC dutifully made 150 bow numbers for our original event. However, they are all 1?s and 2?s! Please bring bow numbers.

Other notes:

• There are plenty of space on paved parking lots for staging of team tents and trailer. Crews will be able to row off their trailers in the area south of the Beach bathhouse.
• Tentatively, Team Tents will be positioned in the southern most section of the parking lot north of the Beach bathhouse.
• Regatta Headquarters/Control Commission will be situation adjacent to the Beach bathhouses.
• Tentatively, Spectator and Volunteer Parking will be in the lot to the north of the Beach bathhouses.
• Please keep tents and cars off the grass. There is plenty of room on the nice (dry?!) pavement.
• GMRC will provide a light concession stand for breakfast and snacks. Our regular sponsor Richards Pizza will not be available. Please come prepared to provide your crews with food throughout the day.
• GMRC will is also planning on having regatta gear and rowing shirts available for sale at the lake.
• Heads up! Cell phone service at the lake is unreliable.
• Volunteers and Refs need to report to the Regatta Headquarters for assignments Saturday morning.

Thanks again for attending the 2011 Blue and Burgundy. We appreciate your continued patience. Please contact Regatta Director, Brian Clark 513.207.7525