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Rowing team with oars and boats at a regatta

Beginner’s Guide to Regattas

Rowing, Regattas, and the food that Hickory Crew is known for!

This guide gives new rowing families a simple overview of how race days work and what to
expect. Rowing has its own language and rhythm. You will learn it quickly, especially if you
show up and stay involved.

Attend Regattas

Go to the regattas. It helps you understand the sport, and it shows your rower that you support
them. You will drop your athlete off early, so you should plan to arrive early yourself and stay
most of the day.


Pay close attention leading up to race day, coach and/or whoever is providing logistics will
provide a wealth of information about the event! You will find schedules, directions, parking,
and updates. Check it often because details can change at the last minute!


Respect coach arrival times. Late athletes can delay an entire lineup and add stress for the team.
Parking is tight at most venues, so arrive early and bring cash for parking fees. Plan for a full
day, including rigging, racing, cheering, de rigging, trailer loading, and returning equipment to
the boathouse. Coaches release athletes at the end of the day. Being part of the team includes
helping load all boats onto the trailer and unloading them back at the boathouse. If your athlete
cannot stay through boat unload, please have them speak with the coach ahead of time.

Fall vs Spring Racing

Fall: Head Races

Five-thousand-meter races. Boats start one by one, and the times determine the results. You
cannot always tell who wins until the results are posted.

Spring: Sprint Races

Fifteen hundred-meter races. Sometimes two thousand at select venues. Boats line up and start
together. You can see the finish in real time. Spring racing is fast and easy for families to follow.
 

To learn more, visit USRowing’s Rowing 101:
https://www.usrowing.org/About/Rowing101.aspx

What to Expect at a Regatta
Watch for Boats

Give athletes carrying shells the right of way. Boats are long and heavy. Be aware of oars as well.
Often, you will hear rowers yell, “HEADS!” or “HEADS UP!” Please watch yourselves,
otherwise you WILL get hit by a boat!

Dress for the Weather

Layer up. Water sites are windy, cold in the morning, warm by midday, and sometimes muddy.
Bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen, even on overcast mornings.

What to Bring

  • Binoculars

  • Folding chairs

  • Warm extras for cold days

  • A blanket or sleeping bag if the weather turns rough

  • Comfortable walking shoes

  • A small backpack for snacks and essentials


Photos on the water are tough without a long lens. Candid shots around the team area work well
so snap away with your cell phone or camera!

Understanding the Schedule

Rowing events can be listed in different ways, depending on the venue:

  • WV8+ Women’s Varsity 8

  • MN4+ Men’s Novice 4

  • M1V8+ Men’s 1st Varsity 8

  • M2V8+ Men’s 2nd Varsity 8

  • M3V8+ Men’s 3rd Varsity 8

  • WLt4+ Women’s Light weight 4

  • WN4+ Women’s Novice 4

  • MY8+ Men’s Youth 8

  • WY8+ Women’s Youth 8

  • WY2x Women’s Double

  • MY4+ Men’s Youth 4

  • WY4+ Women’s Youth 4

 

The plus sign means the boat has a coxswain. “Jr.” often indicates high school crews. “Novice” refers to athletes in their first 12 months of rowing. The “x” means that the boat is sculling vs.

sweeping.

Food and the Team Tent

Each family contributes food to the food tent. The tent feeds athletes and their families
throughout a long race day and provides a place for families to gather.


You will receive a notification in the team app a few days before race day from the food tent
coordinators with the food plan for regatta day. An attached food signup sheet will be provided.
Please go in and sign up for a food item or two to contribute to the cause. Drop items off at the
designated food drop-off time. It is usually at boatload. The food coordinator will announce
when he/she wants the item(s). You do not need to bring it personally. You are more than
welcome to send it with your rower.


Please stay to help break down the tent at the end of the day. It goes faster when everyone helps.

Helping Your Rower Prepare

Put race dates on your calendar and make sure uniforms are clean days before! Encourage your
rower to pack extra layers, extra socks, sunscreen, bug spray, a towel, and a flashlight (for those
early mornings).

Why Boat Lineups Change

Coaches adjust lineups throughout the week based on performance and attendance. It is normal
for athletes to receive their boat assignments only a few days before an event. It is not personal.
Coaches place athletes where the crew is fastest.

Learn More

Rowing 101
Basics, glossary, race watching tips
https://www.usrowing.org/About/Rowing101.aspx

RegattaCentral
Event info, schedules, venue links
https://www.regattacentral.com

row2k
Results, photos, regatta coverage
https://www.row2k.com/

OarSpotter
Boat and oar designs for identifying teams
https://www.oarspotter.com

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