Kings Head XXXIV Regatta on the Schuylkill

  • Hosted By: Upper Merion Boat Club
  • 2021 Registered Regatta
  • Cancelled

CLASSES OF PARTICIPANTS

1.  HIGH SCHOOL / YOUTH: Participants must on the day of the Regatta be enrolled in High School. Club and Composite crews are permitted.  Individual rowers/crews or coxswains cannot participate in any event with college crews. Jr/JV events are for non-varsity teams/rowers.  If a JV/JR boat includes Seniors, those teams must also be entering a Varsity or Youth boat.  It is understood that the Varsity or Youth boat will be entered as the faster of the two boats.

2. NOVICE SINGLES: Must not have competed in any singles event prior to January 1, or won a single sculling race prior to August 1st, year of regatta.

3.  MASTERS SINGLES: At least 27, but not 45, year of Regatta..***

4.  SENIOR MASTER SINGLES: At least 45, but not 55, year of Regatta.***

5.  VETERAN SINGLES: At least 55, but not 70, year of Regatta.***

6.  SUPER VETERAN SINGLES: At least 70, year of Regatta.***

7.  MASTERS' CREWS: Crews with all rowers minimum age 27 with no individuals except coxswains below age 27.***

8.  SENIOR MASTERS' CREWS: Crews whose minimum average age is 45 with no individuals below age 27. ***

9.  TIME HANDICAPPED EVENTS (THCE): See Masters, Senior Masters, Veteran, Super Veteran age categories above. This event uses the USRA Handicap Algorithm. A course length or multiplier of 4.6 is used. SPECIAL Time Handicapped Event for Parent/Child Doubles: (6 sec/yr under 18, 3 sec/yr over 45) *** 

10.  CLUB/Individuals or Crews: Club Crews are composed of persons who, in the current calendar year did not finish in the top 6 places in any class or event at the EARC, EAWRC, Western Sprints, the IRA, Dad Vail, Independence Day Regatta, or in any year finished in the top 6 places in an Elite or Open event at a National Rowing Championship, or National Team Trials. Individuals or members of 'Club Crew' entries may not have competed in any event above the 'Intermediate' class in any of the events, in any year, as outlined above.  Not open to High School Crews.

11.  Open Events: Open to all except High School Crews.

12.  ***All age averages will be rounded down to the whole integer.  Rowers rowing down in a lower age group will have their handicap capped at the Upper age limit for the event.

13.  Lightweight Events: 

       Adult Rules:

  • Male rowers weighing 165 lbs. or less
  • Female rowers weighing 135 lbs. or less

       Youth Rules:

  • Male rowers weighing 150 lbs. or less
  • Female rowers weighing 130 lbs. or less

COURSE INFORMATION

1.  2.8 mile (4500m) Course :  The course begins at Port Indian and proceeds down middle 3rd of the river to the top of Barbadoes Island and then along the island riverbank (portside) to the Finish Line. Crews should be aware of fallen trees on the island riverbank. From the Start, Crews navigate a course through the line of large, orange-colored buoys marking the course to the Finish. Each Crew is responsible for steering a safe line. There are two bridges: (#1) Boats should pass through lane 1, 2, or 3 at the first (Railroad) Bridge and (#2) through arch 1, and portside half of arch 2, of the second (Highway) Bridge. A red buoy marks a sunken hazard in the center of arch 2 at the Highway Bridge. The Finish Line is 30 meters after the second (Highway) Bridge. Just beyond the Finish Line, Crews proceed another 100 meters and wait there for clearance from the Dockmaster to land at the Recovery end of the Dock. Caution: There is a dam approx 200 meters beyond the Finish Line. Water Safety Boats will be positioned there. Crews stay well above the dam and the Water Safety Boats while waiting to dock.  After Finishing: Individuals and crews will be disqualified if they row past the Recovery dock and head upriver to 'cool down.'

2.  Start: Each entrant is responsible for arriving at the starting line queue five (5) minutes prior to their Event's announced assembly time. All Boats launch from the Upper Merion Boathouse and proceed along the Upper Merion riverbank (portside), through the first arches of both bridges defined by the buoy line. Proceed with extreme caution going upriver, staying well clear of the racing lanes and competitors who may have rowed off course. Shoals and hazards will be marked with yellow caution buoys and red hazard buoys. Individuals and crews should proceed with normal caution on unfamiliar water. All Crews and Coxswains are responsible for knowing the course and passing rules and for checking the course map before leaving the dock. Crews proceeding above the Start line holding area do so at their own risk. A Coaches/Coxswains meeting will be held at the corner of the Boathouse at 8am. 

RULES AND INFORMATION

US Rowing's "The Rules of Rowing 2021 Edition" are applicable - Section II: The Rules of Racing

https://usrowing.org/documents/2021/3/26//Rules_Of_Rowing_2021_032521_1_.pdf?id=2564

Penalties: Where buoys mark the boundaries of the course, and in particular mark turns on the course, a Crew will be penalized 10 seconds for each buoy that the crew passes incorrectly.  A Crew passes a buoy incorrectly when any part of the hull passes on the wrong side of the buoy.

Bow Numbers: Bow numbers have been assigned in the order entries were received in the Events.The numbers should be securely attached to the boat's bow clip before arriving at the staging and inspection area. Boats without a bow clipped number may not be credited with racing. The Start will be supervised by officials on shore or on water. Boats will be started in Bow Number order at 10-second intervals as instructed by the Referee at the starting line . 

Passing Rules: Any boat being overtaken must move to port (away from the buoy line).  Overtaking crews should pass on the starboard side (along the buoy side) of slower crews. There is a 'No Passing Zone' beginning 100 meters above the Railroad Bridge through 50 meters past the Railroad Bridge.  Upon approaching the Railroad Bridge crews must point and align their boats to Lane 1, 2, or 3 and shout their commitment, "LANE X" three times upon entering the No Passing Zone. An overtaking crew committed to the same lane must follow at a distance of at least one boat length until safely clear of the bridge.

Prizes: Medals awarded to each individual of a winning crew finishing 1st or 2nd in Event after results are official. 

REGISTRATION

1. All entrants are required to submit entries through www.regattacentral.com on-line with credit card payment.  Athletes representing US-based organizations must have at least a Basic membership and Waiver on file. Unaffiliated athletes must have a Basic PLUS or Championship membership and Waiver on file. A Club 'Release of Liability' for all participant's must be submitted at Registration on Race Day for Crews that have not submitted the online Waiver. All Crew members must have a current US Rowing Membership and Waiver onfile with US Rowing.

2. Complete entries will include: Name of competitor(s), Age year of Regatta (if required), and payment in-full for all entries.   All participating schools/colleges/organizations must be Organizational members of USRowing.  

3.  Events with only one entry will be scheduled. Participants can confirm entries by phone at 484-883-7720, 3-6 P.M. Saturday September 25.  Questions about entries can be forwarded by email to [email protected]

4.  ENTRY FEES: Due and payable by credit card on-line with 'Complete Entries' on/before the deadlines posted on Regatta Central. Event Late Registration Fee applies to all on-line entries after the Regular (standard) deadline.  Note: Late Entries are accepted at Regatta discretion and are subject to then-available capacity.

Entry Fees:       Singles            $40.00 / 50.00                        Doubles            $55.00 / 65.00

                        Fours/Quads   $70.00 / 80.00                         Eights             $95.00 / 105.00

Questions may be directed to 

KHR Registrar  Cell: 610-715-5356 or  email: "[email protected]"

Check-in: Check-in on Race Day at the Upper Merion Boathouse from 730-10am and at the adjacent Bandshell after 10am. All crews must check-in to clear any outstanding items and receive their Bow Numbers. Check-in will close at 12 Noon.

5.  Boat Storage: Overnight storage will be available at the Upper Merion Boathouse at your own risk. Overnight camping is not permitted and alcoholic beverages are not permitted at the Upper Merion Boathouse site.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Overnight Lodging: There are motel/hotel units available in all price ranges within a five mile radius of the race course. For updates and cooperating lodging sponsors of the King's Head Regatta check for news, updates and links at www.regattacentral.com and www.uppermerionboatclub.com.  

Directions: Launch Site/Finish is located at Boathouse that is behind  96 DeKalb Street, Bridgeport, PA, 19405, on the Schuylkill River about 5 miles north of the junction of the PA Turnpike (I-276), the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76), and U.S. Route 202 in King of Prussia.

For detailed directions use the above address in Mapquest or Google Maps.