RegattaCentral

The course is 1850 meters long running upstream. It can accommodate up to 7 lanes.

ENTRIES

All competitors may participate in multiple events. Competitors are responsible for allowing sufficient time to race in one event, land, re-queue, and launch in time for an additional event.

Competitors will not be allowed to land or launch out of order and hot-seating of athletes and/or boats is discouraged. The Regatta Committee accepts no responsibility for missed start times and will issue no refunds on that basis.

Entries must be received with entry fee no later than Friday, June 18, 2009 at midnight.

Entries are to be submitted online via RegattaCentral. Online registration is open from Monday, March 15 to Friday, June 18. Late entries can be requested and, if accepted, are subject to a $10 fee per entry.

Masters competitors must submit date(s) of birth for all competitors during the entry process. Crews with missing or incomplete date of birth information will race as a 27-year-old rower.

Clubs entering more than one boat for an event, please identify single scullers by name and crews by the stroke's initials. They will be listed that way on the regatta schedule. Depending upon the number of entries, the eight events may be split into separate club and open events according to the competitive level of the crews. Please honestly designate as such on the entry form. We want the competition to be fair.

The Regatta Committee reserves the right to limit the number of entries in any one event. Events with less than three entries may be scratched. Events with large numbers of entries may be split into separate events if appropriate. Confirmed entries will be posted on the RegattaCentral website.

Entry fees for Saturday's races (The Grand Regatta) are:

1x = $20          2x/- = $30        4x/+ = $40       8+ = $50
($500 cap/club)

Entry fees for the Friday night events (State Games of Michigan) are:

4+ = $20    8+ = $30
with a maximum of 1 shell per event per club

CHECK-IN

Scullers and crew representatives must report to the Headquarters tent at one of two times:

Friday, June 25 from 2 - 6 PM or Saturday, June 26 from 7 - 10 AM

The registration desk will be at the regatta headquarters tent, near the main dock. All scratches must be reported at least one (1) hour prior to an event and no later than 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. Scheduling issues must be brought to the attention of the Regatta Chairperson prior to the Coaches & Coxswains meeting.

Additionally, for Michigan athletes checking in with the State Games, check-in and t-shirt pick up will take place in downtown Grand Rapids at the Van Andel Arena, 130 W. Fulton, all day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. A State Games schedule is available here.

COACHES AND COXSWAINS MEETING

TBD

BOW MARKERS

Bow markers will be distributed from a desk at the launch area. Bow markers must be returned at the conclusion of racing. A $10.00 charge will be assessed if the bow markers are not returned. All shells must have bow clips to race.

CLASSIFICATIONS

The following definitions are used at this regatta:

Novice: Persons who have not competed in a rowing event prior to 6/25/2009.
Junior: Maximum age is 18 and in high school as of spring 2010.
Collegiate: Currently enrolled as a full-time student in a college or university.
Open: Unrestricted.
Master: Minimum age for all rowers is 27. 
Senior: Minimum age for all rowers is 55.
Mixed: An equal number of women and men in the crew. 
Rec: Recreational rowers, no more than one coached practice/week.

SAFETY

All shells must be equipped with a bow ball. Each set of shoes within the shell must be equipped with properly-secured heel tie-downs.

All crews must follow the instructions of the official Aligner upon reaching the starting line area. The Marshall tracks crew arrivals and pre-aligns boats for each race. A floating start is used and there are no lane markers. Be alert!!!

Do not plan on hot seating rowers or equipment unless there is a minimum of 3 races between events. Races are at 5 minute centers. Notify the dockmaster if you plan to hot seat at least an hour before your event. If the dockmaster approves, they will give you a bright green "hot seat" card. When you have finished your race, hold up the card up for the finish line official. The finish official and launch area official will make every effort to give you priority docking, but safety and fairness are their primary responsibilities. Move quickly and make sure the hot-seating crew is ready in the launch area to take your boat.

Recreational single shells must be less than 22 feet in length and at least 18 inches in width. Single shells longer than 22 feet and/or narrower than 18 inches wide may not be rowed in recreation events.

REFUNDS

Except for special circumstances, the regatta committee cannot refund scratches communicated to the regatta beyond the June 18 entry close date.

RESULTS

Results will be posted as they occur at the headquarters tent. Results will be unofficial until such time as the reports of the referees have been received and penalties assessed.

After the race, official results will be available on RegattaCentral, the Grand Rapids Rowing Association's web site at www.grrowing.org, as well as other rowing websites.