Families of ND Rowing - REGATTAS 101

ND Men's Rowing – Regatta Survival Information

Welcome all Novice Families! The ND Men's Rowing family welcomes you!

How long is a Regatta?– A regatta typically lasts ALL DAY! Our coach will advise the team of the time of arrival. This time could be 2 hours or more before your son races. The reason for this is the team needs to assemble the boats. When trailered, the boats are disassembled for travel. Being a Team Sport, it is important for Team Unity that ALL members participate in this process.

Coxswains, why do they need to get there earlier?– ALL regattas have a Coxswain and Coaches meeting. This meeting is typically first thing in the morning and very often when it is still DARK! This is a critical meeting as COURSE RULES AND MARKINGS are discussed.

What should we bring to a Regatta?– Unlike other sports where there are bleachers and stands to sit on, those do not exist at most Regattas! Given the time of year, weather often is a variable to the comfort of spectators and rowers alike. Here are some suggested Regatta items to have: Chairs, Rain Gear, Umbrella, Blankets, Magazines, Books (anything to keep occupied), Comfortable shoes that hold up in wet conditions

Should we bring snacks and refreshments? – ND Men's Rowing has a hospitality tent at every Regatta. Given that Regattas are ALL DAY, it is important to have food and drinks available for the team as well as our ND Families. At the beginning of each season, ALL families are asked to sign up to bring a food or drink item to each Regatta. The food and refreshments are there for ALL to enjoy! We also have Breakfast and Lunch that requires sign-up for each Regatta. Typically we ask 2 Varsity and 2 Novice families to volunteer to make breakfast and lunch.

Rowing Terminology

Get up to speed with common rowing terms with our Glossary of Rowing Terms and boats.

Click Here: Glossary of Rowing Terms.

Head of the Charles, Boston

The "Super Bowl of Rowing," is the world’s largest three-day regatta, held annually in the fall on the Charles River in Boston, Massachusetts. Parents learn to navigate it before you go:

Click Here: Parents Guide to HOCR

Even if you can’t attend a regatta in person, there are still plenty of ways to lend a hand. Take a look at our sign-up sheet for the upcoming regattas—we’d love your support in any way that works for you.

Click Here: Parents Guide to HOCR

A Day in the Life of a Regatta

Following is a brief overview of a Day in the Life of a College Regatta! We hope to give parents new to rowing some basic information about how to prepare for race days. Being a new “rowing parent” can mean being a little overwhelmed. You will be: learning a lot of new terms (if you want to understand your rower); learning how to survive and enjoy a regatta; and learning to be patient with just not knowing what is happening at times.

THE FOOD TENT (Sort of like Tailgating)

This is the parents’ domain and Team HQ
There is a trailer with a Notre Dame logo containing tents, paper products, coolers, a travel stove, pots, pans, bowls, tables, etc.
The trailer is brought to each regatta and unloaded to set up the Food Tent.
The food tent is where athletes will eat between races
Food items will be designated to parents and dropped off to the tent area at each regatta.
The team uses Sign-Up Genius to supply the food offered, to collect monetary donations, and to assign volunteer opportunities at the regattas. Help is needed for set up, cooking, clean-up and break down.
The food tent should stay open until the rowers with the latest race time have had a chance to eat as all of the rowers need a chance to eat and unwind after racing.
Parents and other family members are welcome to partake of the food but should step aside and let the rowers serve themselves first.
After their race, rowers will need to debrief with their coach, de-rig their boat, and load their boat onto the trailer. This process can take up to 90 minutes. Parents will likely not be able to see their rowers until after these items are complete.

REGATTA SCHEDULE:

An e-mail is sent to you with the tentative race schedule which is always subject to change up until the morning of the races so be sure to check your emails before you leave. Some regattas are cancelled due to weather or high water. When that happens the club may try to make a last minute entry into a different regatta that weekend. It may be farther away or in a different direction as the original regatta. If you book a hotel room, you may want to book a refundable room. The coaches determine what boats will be entered and who will be in which boats in order to give all of the rowers the best chance at success. The Regatta Central app is a great resource with information on most regattas or visit https://www.regattacentral.com/.

WHERE TO FIND REGATTA DETAILS

Most regattas are listed on The Regatta Central app or visit online www.Regattacentral.com where you can find the important information such as parking, schedules, venue map, vendors and directions. Take the time to check out the website as it will give you an idea of what you might expect.

WEATHER

If the weather is just inclement, the regatta will take place. In such circumstances, it is critical that rowers dress for the weather in layers, including waterproof jackets to keep them warm and dry while they are rigging and waiting to launch and afterwards when they de-rig and reload the trailer. Rowers should avoid cotton clothing as it does not dry quickly and does not hold heat in. Rowers should layer with weather appropriate fabrics, which they can wear on the boat under their uni during the race, as well as a hat to help them retain heat. Rowers should always have a complete change of dry clothes in their bag on the day of a regatta.

AREAS OFF-LIMITS TO NON-ROWERS

Please pay attention as you walk around a regatta, and remember that the people carrying the boat have the right of way – boats weigh a lot, and they can’t dodge you! Be aware, and be prepared to hop out of the way and/or duck. Parents/families are not allowed in the area where the boat trailers are parked, where the rowers rig and de-rig the boats, or at the launch/recovery docks for safety reasons. These areas are very congested and it's easy to get whacked in the head as crews are moving their boats to and from the launching area. In addition, the coaches consider this area as their locker room. It is where they prepare the rowers before the race and debrief with them afterwards. Please support the coaches' efforts by waiting to congratulate your rower after a race until the coach has released him/her and he/she has joined you at the food tent or other designated area.

NOTES FOR PARENTS - GENERAL "RULES OF REGATTAS"

All rowers and families are expected to wait for all events to be finished and the host tent trailer packed before leaving the regattas. There will be sign-ups for specific tasks, but all hands are needed to take down the tents and pack up the trailer after regattas.

With everyone working together, race days run smoothly and it is not a lot of work for any one person.

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