RegattaCentral

THE 5 KM COURSE (revised from previous years see attached map):

   The race course is laid out on the Martindale Pond at St. Catharines and this year will cover ONE lap only for all categories over a 5 km course that includes parts of the Canadian Henley Course and the Back Bay areas of the Martindale Pond behind Henley Island.  The start will be at the 1000 meter mark heading towards the finish line in Lanes 1, 2 & 3 for approx 750m, where the scullers will then turn towards port side around buoys located at the 1800 meter mark. Then they will proceed up the Back Bay towards the bridge opening, staying in a straight line under and through the island bridge (this is new), for another approx 300m past the bridge before making another port side turn around red buoys marking the turn.

Caution:  Due to the narrow waterway at the Island Bridge, only one rowing shell can pass through the bridge safely at a time.  The sculler reaching a set of buoys before the bridge will have the right of way for going first through the bridge.  An official posted at this location will determine and call out as to which competitor has the right of way.  The following competitors must ease down and not try to pass until all are through the bridge. Once through the bridge the standard passing rules apply (see PASSING BELOW).

 Once through the bridge, and around this portside turn, they will proceed approx 400m along the top of the bay towards the race course, then make a starboard turn around the land point back onto the course warm-up area heading for the starting gates. Caution:  Keep the yellow (green) buoy markers around the point on your starboard side to avoid weeds around the point.

 Proceed up the warm-up area for approx 400m between the two rows of buoys that mark the warm up area heading towards the Henley Course starting gates. The sculler will then turn towards portside around 3 buoys located before the gates at approximately the 100 meter mark and continue diagonally across the  course lanes towards lanes 5, 6,7or,8 while staying to the outside of the lane 4 middle course red buoys.

 Caution: the water current can be significant; do not cut too close to these buoys!  Scullers that fail to turn on the proper side of these turning buoys may be disqualified from the race, or given a 1 minute penalty per buoy. The last 1800m of the race are straight down the Henley course in lanes 5, 6, 7 or 8 stopping after the finish line

  THE 4 KM COASTAL RACE:

This new event will feature a MASS START  at the 1000m line at the specified Start Time. The coast boats will follow the same course as the first race around the same buoys around the Back Bay up to the starting gate buoys and finish at the 1000m line. (as opposed to the bottom finish line).