HOCR – Timing Website

This website has been created to:

• Give you an overview of the Computer Timing Committee

• Define the Roles and Responsibilities of each of the Computer Timing Roles

• Provide Training on How to perform each of the Roles

• Provide the location and setup of each Timing Station

• Prepare you for your Shift at one of the Computer Timing Stations during the race.

Please take the time to review the information on these pages before you arrive for your shift, Thank You for volunteering!

The Computer Timing Committee

This committee is responsible for capturing the START, SPLIT, and FINISH times for all competitors that participate in the regatta.  We have one of the most important roles of the whole regatta after safety of the competitors and attendees.  Our times determine the official race times and medals for the Regatta, along with generating qualifying information for future years.

• Times are captured using computers and cameras at each of the “stations” on the race course. The station names are:

  • Start – DeWolfe Boston University Boathouse

  • Riverside – Riverside Boat Club

  • Weld – Harvard University Radcliffe Weld Boathouse

  • CBC – Cambridge Boat Club

  • Finish – Trailer located at the race finish line

• Each station team is managed by a Station Lead who coordinates a group of approximately six to eight volunteers at the station. This year there will also be representatives from HereNow, our timing system vendor, at each station. They will be working with the Station Leads and timing volunteers to train them on using their system and time the race.

• Volunteer responsibilities include, but are not limited to;

  • Set up of the timing station

  • Spotting and identifying boats on the course

  • Logging the order that boats go by the station

  • Capturing times with a plunger connected to the computer

  • Marking boats (assigning a time to a boat) on the computer

  • Packing up the timing station each night

Communication is the key to successfully timing an event like the Head of the Charles. Please communicate immediately with your Station Lead on any problems or concerns that might arise.

For all questions please email: timing@hocr.org