RACE INFORMATION 

REGISTRATION PACKET PICK UP 

Each team will be responsible for picking up your Registration Packet, including bow numbers, 2 hours prior to your first event. All packets will be available at the Registration Tent in City Park beginning at 6:30am.  

BOW NUMBERS 

Bow numbers should be securely fastened to your bow clip. We do not use bibs to save waste. 

If you lose a bow number while racing and are aware it is not on your rowing shell, notify the finish line immediately upon ending your race. Once you return to the docks, also notify your coach and follow up with the Regatta Director or Racing Official on Land. 

WAIVERS 

The University of Iowa requires two waivers to be signed to compete.  

1) USRowing Waiver  

2) Iowa Chase Release Waiver. Email to [email protected]. Or hand in on Race Day. 

*Athletes should PRINT their First Initial and Last Name on the Top Right Corner of the Waiver. 

Both must be submitted prior to racing. Anyone racing without signed waivers will result in a team/boat disqualification. To ensure successful USRowing clearance, please make sure your athlete roster is updated through the USRowing portal, including merging, or deleting duplicate memberships for athletes.  

*Use the Compliance Tab in Regatta Central. 

PRE-RACE MEETING 

We will have an in-person meeting at 7:45am at City Park for Coaches. We realize crews may still be traveling in and will be sure to communicate with each team upon arrival. 

DRESS CODE 

All crews should be in matching/similar attire.  

Shirts must be on when launching/docking and on the racecourse.  

EVENT DEFINITIONS 

Collegiate/Open: Rowers who have graduated high school. No Youth can row or cox in this event. This group will include all collegiate crews, as well as anyone in the US Rowing master’s category AA+ choosing to race in this category. There are no handicaps for this event. 

Masters: Limited to competitors who have attained or will attain 21 during the current calendar year. Handicaps are assigned based on age rounded down, using the USRowing handicap formula. Coxswains do not need to be a Master. The average of a crew, minus the coxswain will determine the average age of a crew. 

Juniors/Youth: Athletes who are (in the current calendar year) 19 or younger and currently enrolled in Middle or High School can race in this event. Coxswains do not need to be Youth. No youth athlete may race in any other event classification, unless as a coxswain in a master's event. 

Mixed Events:  Must have 50/50 ratio of men and women, or a ratio of more women rowers than men. 

Novice: First year rowing.  

USRowing Gender Policy: Per USRowing, to participate in an event hosted or sanctioned by USRowing, an athlete must be registered with USRowing as the gender in which the athlete wants to compete. An athlete may always register as the athlete’s birth gender.  

For more information regarding the policy, please click here. 

DOCKING – LAUNCH & RETRIEVAL 

We will one dock for launching and returning crews from City Park.  

University of Iowa programs - Iowa Rowing and Hawkeye Community Rowing will only use the P. Sue Beckwith Boathouse dock. No other crews will use this area. 

There is not a lot of water warm up room to the start, crews are encouraged to utilize land warmups going into their first race of the day. 

Only two coaches/athletes allowed on the dock per crew. There will be volunteers to assist as needed. 

Crews will have 2 minutes once their boat is in the water on the dock to get in and shove off. Do not tie in or adjust until you have pulled away from the dock and have moved upstream. Pull over immediately if adjustments must be made to allow other crews to pass. 

Please keep the dock clear of shoes and other equipment. 

Oar staging area – oars will have a staging area near the docks for easy access.  

Launch Schedule: Announcements will be made for launch. 1st call, 2nd call. There is no last call. To keep the race on schedule, we want to keep all events launching together.  

Hot Seating: If hot seating for a race, either personnel or boat, please 1) Notify the Regatta Director prior to the race 2) Notify the Dock Master.  

You will receive a “hot seating card” that must be put in the air by the coxswain (or rower) upon return to the dock. This card will alert regatta staff that your boat needs to get in. Any rowers/equipment making an exchange needs to be ready to switch with returning crew. You are still required to be at the start on time. No exceptions. Pay attention to the race schedule.  

Return Instructions: Upon crossing the finish line, immediately paddle and drop out rowers if needed to slow boat speed. Keep moving. If you are hot seating, notify safety launch at the end of your race. You may immediately spin if all is clear to return to the dock. All crews should spin prior to the IMU (Iowa Memorial Union) Footbridge.  

When turning the boat. Immediately hold water on Starboard side. Row across the river prior to completing your turn. Do NOT turn into oncoming traffic. 

RACECOURSE 

The Iowa River is a narrow body of water that offers beautiful scenery, along with an exciting course. Ports get ready! This race is – a lot – you! The fall foliage will be peaking.  

Warm-up crews should proceed to the start while following to the Left/Port side of the racecourse buoy line. Do not cross the line and be aware of racers who may get off course. The bank of the river can get shallow. There is enough room for 2 lanes to travel to the start. If along the shoreline, make sure you allow room for other crews to pass you without getting in a bad situation. 

When arriving at the starting area, proceed above the start line and pass the Marshall launch to enter the staging area. Please be at the start 2-5 minutes prior to your race. The starting area is tight. Pay attention to directions. Make quick adjustments as a crew. All crews should know your bow number, as well as the crew immediately ahead and behind you in the starting order. Line up in sequential order, increasing numerically.  

The race officials will call you to the start. When you pass the start line, you should be at full pressure. The officials will say “Mark” once you cross the start. 

Crews will be called to the start at 10 second intervals. Be ready to move once instructed to do so. 

Once you are on the course, look ahead to find your point.  

Communicate clearly as a coxswain or bow seat with other crews if needed in the event of overtaking or course adjustments. 

The inside turns have an advantage on this course. Crews being overtaken should move – safely and quickly – to the outside lanes (port shoreline) for racing. Be careful not to cross into the buoy line. Crews overtaking, you must be aware of your course and make sure you do not interfere or push another crew across the race buoy line. Use good judgement and caution as you maneuver. 

Below is the racecourse and area layout.   

The finish line will be at the Lagoon Shelter House, which is noted by the small square box directly under downstream on the racecourse on the starboard shoreline.  

All crews will spin prior to the IMU Footbridge. There will be buoys you must go around prior to returning to the dock. 

PENALTIES 

1:00 Hull crossing the buoy line at any time. There is little room for passing in the warm-up, and at least 2 lanes for passing while racing.  

:30 Interference with another crew resulting in a boat collision or their crossing the buoy line. (Not all clashing of oars, or accidental interference will result in a penalty. A malicious and irresponsible interference will be penalized.) 

:15 Not yielding to overtaking crew. 

Any crew or coach displaying unsportsmanlike conduct will result in a crew and/or team being disqualified; to include disregard for safety, disrespectful behavior toward regatta staff, race officials and/or competitors. 

The Race Officials reserve the right to penalize any other violation as deemed necessary and appropriate.

MEDALS 

Race medals will be awarded once all results have been finalized and released. Coaches and/or their representatives should collect their program’s medals.  First and Second place medals will be awarded for each race. 

FIRST AID & SAFETY 

First Aid will be available at the Registration Pavilion area. We encourage all teams to plan for weather, clothing, hydration and first aid/athletic training needs for your teams.  

The Iowa City Fire Department Water Rescue Team will be near the finish at the IMU bridge. They will make sure crews spin prior to that bridge, as well as can help with any medical issue at the end of the race. 

If you need assistance, immediately notify a race official, volunteer or the Regatta Directors. 

The P. Sue Beckwith Boathouse and City Park has an AED machine on-site. The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Emergency Room is 5 minutes away.  

DRIVING DIRECTIONS & TRAILER INFORMATION 

From I-80 

Take Exit 244 for Dubuque Street. Head South on Dubuque St. toward the University of Iowa Campus. You will pass the P. Sue Beckwith Boathouse and proceed to Park Road. Turn Right onto Park Road. Upon crossing the bridge, the entrance to City Park will be on your immediate right.  

Trailers  

You will need to use both lanes to make the right turn into City Park.  

Parking Areas 

Follow signage to the parking areas.  

GENERAL EVENT STAGING AREA INFORMATION 

All spectators must park and stay on the west side of the of the river and view racing from the Hancher or City Park areas. These spaces have ample vantage points, plenty of green space, and over river viewing on Park Rd Bridge sidewalks and Hancher Footbridge.  

Spectators will NOT be allowed in the Terrill Mill/Beckwith Boathouse areas or near any of the launching docks or trailer areas. We appreciate your help to keep our athletes and equipment moving safely and efficiently. 

Accessible Parking for Spectators is available in both Hancher and City Park lots. There are paved paths for easy access. If you have questions, please contact us.