WELCOME BACK TO YEAR TWO OF THE NEW TWO-DAY HOSR!!

In the interest of conducting a safe and fair regatta for everyone, we expect every competitor and coach to read, fully understand and follow all our rules and procedures. Please read them carefully.

HOSR Rules Of Racing

1. IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF OUR TWO-DAY FORMAT

DAY 1: All High School and College events, and Open sweep events
DAY 2: All Master’s events and Open sculling events

Attention all rowers and coaches: it is our continuing goal to start all boats, in every event, on time. And NEW THIS YEAR, to create additional excitement and racing incentive to the standard head-racing format, we intend to marshal boats according to the pre-seeded order, but aligned IN PAIRS and started down the course TWO AT A TIME and SIDE by SIDE. We request your help and cooperation in achieving this. Please carefully study Section 5 of these rules for extra details.

• Two-boat side-by-side starts in all races, to boost adrenaline and add an extra dynamic of competition to the head-race format

• In all masters events the order of start for the entire event will be determined by the overall predicted speed order, not by age group, although medals will still be awarded according to performance within age-group categories

First, second AND third-place medals (gold, silver and bronze, with neck ribbons) will be presented to winners at award ceremonies held at regular intervals throughout the regatta.



2. EVENT OVERVIEW

The Head of the Schuylkill Regatta is hosted in partnership with Fairmount Park, a division of the City of Philadelphia Department of Recreation, and with the help of valued sponsors and exhibitors, whom we welcome along with all competitors, coaches, friends, families and spectators. Our goal is to provide the best possible regatta experience for all participants.

The 2009 Thomas Eakins Head of the Schuylkill Regatta will be rowed over a course of approximately 2.5 miles on the Schuylkill River in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, PA. The 2009 regatta will take place Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25.



3. COURSE

The racing course, clearly identified on both sides by buoy lines from start to finish, will be rowed DOWNRIVER IN THE CENTER. The start will be at the 2000-meter mark below the Twin Bridges and the finish will be about 200 meters below Girard Bridge. The row up to the start for boats launching from Boathouse Row is upstream along the WEST bank, keeping to the WEST of the course marker lines all the way. The row up to the start for boats launching at Angels and the Canoe Club is upstream along the EAST bank, keeping to the EAST of the course marker lines all the way. DO NOT STRAY ONTO THE RACE COURSE or you will be automatically disqualified.

The row back for Boathouse Row Starters is straight back to the boathouses from the finish. The row back for Canoe Club Starters is upstream along the WEST Bank: these boats will cross the river to get back to the Canoe Club just above Peters Island, AT THE DIRECTION OF THE MARSHALS, and will row the remaining distance to the Canoe Club upstream along the EAST Bank.

The row back for Angels Starters is upstream along the EAST Bank. Throughout both days of the regatta, racers will be rowing downstream in the racing course while other boats will be rowing upstream on both sides of it. CAREFULLY REVIEW THE COURSE MAP on this website. The map also will be available at registration.

This year there will again be one major launching site for out-of-town boats arriving by trailer. This site is on the east bank at the Angels, below Columbia Avenue Railroad Bridge, where vending, concessions and hospitality will be located. You may also launch from the Canoe Club area, but due of the continued closure and fencing off of the Canoe Club building, we strongly discourage your use of that site. HOSR regatta competitor and spectator services will be limited to careful management of access and available parking, and the provision of some temporary toilet facilities. There will be no marshals at the dock to assist with launching or retrieval of boats, and the HOSR will take no additional responsibility for the area.



4. ORDER OF EVENTS

DAY 1: All High School and College events, and Open sweep events.

DAY 2: All Master’s events and Open sculling events. Please see Appendix 1A at the end of this document for a complete review of order of events and race times. All start times are approximate.

The masters and veterans divisions have age categories of 30-39, 40-49 and 50-59 (no handicap) and 60+ (with handicap) in the relevant events. Undersubscribed events may be combined.


5. LAUNCHING, MARSHALING AND STARTING

Unless otherwise officially informed by the chief referee or regatta control, all boats should assume that the regatta is running on time and in accordance with the pre-published schedule of start times. Ignore all rumors to the contrary!

Accordingly, all boats, from whatever launching site, must launch in time to report to the marshals above the start line, and to be marshaled by them, no later than 10 minutes before the scheduled start time for their event. We recommend launching no later than 40 minutes from start time if you launch from Boathouse Row, 30 minutes if launching from Angels and 20 minutes from the Canoe Club. If you start within your event but out of order, you will be at risk of incurring up to a 30 second penalty.

To help achieve this result, all boats leaving the Angels Docks for each race shall launch in bow number order. So if you are standing in line at the dock to launch with a higher bow number than a boat behind you, please let it pass.

Starting at Strawberry Mansion Bridge and up to a point below Twin Bridges, marshals will hold boats with higher bow numbers to let boats with lower bow numbers go up-river. If you decide to launch from the Canoe Club (not recommended), you must go through Strawberry Mansion Bridge on the East bank, but only when told to move by a marshal.

NEW THIS YEAR: Our goal is that by the time boats for each race have turned at the top of the river and are in the starting chute, they will not only be in the pre-seeded order for their event, but will also be aligned side by side and in pairs, so that they can be started down the course simultaneously, EVEN bow numbers to the WEST (Kelly Drive) (port) side of the course, and ODD bow numbers to the EAST (starboard) side.

Once an event has started (e.g. Event 11, High School Quads), no boats from previous events (e.g. Event 10, Open Fours w/cox) that are late to the start line will be permitted to start, and they will not be timed down the course. Moreover, they will have to wait at the top of the river until they are told by a marshal or referee that it is safe to proceed down the entire racecourse to return to the launching dock.



6. SAFETY

We have two requirements to enhance race day safety. First, if a boat capsizes, the crew will be given a medical examination and will not race in that race. Second, any high school, freshman or novice crew must be accompanied by a responsible adult who will sign a form at registration warranting that the athletes have appropriate boat-handling and racing skills for participating in a major regatta.


7. EQUIPMENT

7.1 All boats racing in our regatta must have their assigned bow marker firmly fixed to the bow so that the entire marker is clearly visible on both sides. All boats must also be equipped with a protective bow ball.

7.2. If a boat is fitted with shoes, it must have, in working order, a device on each shoe that facilitates the quick release of the athlete’s foot in an emergency.

7.3. A boat in which the body of the coxswain is enclosed or partially enclosed within the hull of the boat shall conform to the following requirements:

7.3.1. The opening through which the coxswain enters and exits shall be at least 2.30 feet (70 cm.) long when measured along the longitudinal axis of the boat. For a length of at least 1.64 feet (50 cm.), the opening shall be as wide as the inner hull of the boat itself.

7.3.2. The inner surface within which the coxswain’s body rests shall be smooth and free of any obstacles, devices, or other structures that would hinder quick exit.

7.4. Classification of Recreational Singles. Class 1 boats are 19 ft. 0 in. maximum length, 40 lbs. Minimum weight. Example: Alden Ocean Shell. Class 2 boats are 22 ft. 0 in. maximum length, 38 lbs. Minimum weights. Examples: Maas Aero, Martin Trainer, Alden Star. Class 3 boats are 25 ft. 2 in. maximum length, 38 lbs. Minimum weight. Examples: Maas 24, Vespoli Comp. A single shell that is longer than 25 ft. 2 in. or that weighs less than 38 lbs. is not considered recreational. Length is measured bow to stern, along the deck, excluding the bow ball, if fitted. Weight is measured on a dry, fully rigged boat, excluding electronics, safety and personal gear.



8. HOW TO ENTER

We accept all entries on a first-come, first-served basis. You must enter online via www.roninracing.com. Entries made online with Ronin Racing will be treated as conditional until Ronin Racing confirms that you have paid all applicable entry fees in US dollars on-line by credit card or by check. Remember, Ronin must receive your complete entry and your payment before our strict entry deadline.

8.1. Our entry deadline is at 12:00 midnight, Thursday, October 1, 2009. Events fill quickly, so please apply right away. After October 1, 2009, waitlist registrations may be accepted at double the registration fee based upon availability.

8.2. All entries must be submitted through www.roninracing.com. All athletes are required to sign a waiver prior to competing. No boats will be scheduled unless the online or paper waivers have been received by www.rowingwaiver.com by Thursday, October 8, 2009. Do you need to arrange to send a paper waiver to us? Please contact the registrar directly at registrar@hosr.org to receive requirements on how to submit these forms.

8.3. Select the event(s) you wish to enter (see Section 6, ORDER OF EVENTS.) Excluding coxswains, individuals may only race in one high school or collegiate event at our regatta. Open, master and veteran rowers and scullers may row in any number of events. Recreational rowers may compete in additional events for which they are eligible.

8.4. Consistent with normal procedure, masters and veterans should enter their selected event(s) as usual, i.e. according to the appropriate age-group category of the athlete(s} in each boat. However, the order of start in all masters events will be according to the predicted speed order of each boat entered, regardless of the age(s) of its occupant(s). After each masters race has been rowed, its results will be computed according to the age group of each boat, and medals will be awarded in the usual way: according to performance within age categories.



9. ENTRY FEES

Singles: $50.00

Doubles and Pairs: $80.00

Fours and Quads: $120.00

Eights: $180.00
.

Fees must be paid in U.S. dollars. If you do not send proof of insurance coverage at the time of your entry via email (a copy of your certificate of insurance will do) the regatta will provide insurance coverage at a charge of $5.00 per seat.


10. ENTRY RULES

10.1. The first five finishers in each of last year’s events will be comparably seeded in the event IF each finisher submits a complete and accurate entry form on time. This provision applies to organizations and single rowers only, not to composite crews.

10.2. At the entry closing date, we will fill each event in the order described above. We reserve the right to limit the number of boats that we accept in any event to a number we feel we can safely and prudently handle on the course. In events with subcategories that are oversubscribed, we will determine the number of boats in each subcategory in proportion to the total entries received. We will return the entry fee of any entry we are unable to accept because of oversubscription.


11. RELEASE AND WAIVER FORMS

11.1. Each competitor must execute an official Rowing Release and Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk and Indemnity Agreement (the “Waiver”) in order to row in our regatta. Among other things, the Waiver releases the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta from all liability claims, damages and losses. Team waivers can be completed at www.rowingwaiver.com.

11.2. At registration, if not already submitted to Ronin Racing, the regatta committee must receive an executed Waiver Form from www.rowingwaiver.com for each participating competitor in every entered boat. We will not accept “blanket” waivers intended to cover one or multiple entries.

11.3. Please also note that all competitors who are minors (under 18) must have their Waiver executed by their parent and/or legal guardian. No exceptions.


12. SCRATCHES, SWITCHES, SUBSTITUTIONS AND NO-SHOWS

12.1. We will refund the entry fee, less any refund charges, of any entry scratched in writing before the entry-closing deadline of 12 midnight on Thursday, October 1, 2009. We will not refund the entry fee for any entry withdrawn after this date.

12.2. We regard any entry scratched after Friday, October 2, 2009 as a complete withdrawal from the regatta for all individual competitors who would have rowed in that boat. Whatever the reason, if you withdraw from one event, you cannot row in another.

12.3. After the Initial Entry Deadline (October 1, 2009), no boat will be allowed to switch its event or subcategory.

12.4. No substitution is allowed for single boats. No substitution exceeding fifty percent (50%) of the rowers is permitted for any other boats. The names of all substitute rowers, accompanied by Waiver Forms, must be submitted in writing to the regatta committee prior to racing.

12.5. Entrants who do not show up on race day may be prohibited from participating in our regatta the following year.


13. CLASSIFICATION RULES

13.1. High school. A high school rower, sculler or coxswain is one who will not be more than 20 years old by December 31, 2009 and who is enrolled full time at a high school or equivalent entity (such as a private secondary school.)

13.2. College Freshman/Novice. A college freshman rower is one who is enrolled full time in his/her first year of undergraduate study at a college or university. A college novice rower is one who is enrolled full time in undergraduate study at a college or university and who, on regatta day, has not been rowing competitively for more than 12 months.

13.3. Club. The club category is limited to persons (including coxswains) who in any sculling or sweep-oared event (master and veteran events excepted) meet the following criteria. Did not finish high enough to earn a medal in the preceding year’s Head of the Schuylkill Regatta. During the current calendar year did not compete beyond the quarter finals of the Henley Royal Regatta. Did not finish among the top six places in the San Diego Crew Classic, Dad Vail, EARC or EAWRC Sprints, Pacific Coast Rowing Championships, NCAA Championships, IRA, or Canadian Henley. Did not finish among the top six places in any major international regatta such as Lucerne-Rotsee, any national, international or world championships or any national team selection trials.

13.4. Masters and Veterans. Age as of December 31, 2009, rounded down to the highest contained integer, governs, as applicable, both the age-group category and the time adjustment of a given boat in our Veterans events. All Masters competitors must be at least 30 years old and Veterans Singles scullers (events 4e and 4f) must be at least 60. In crews, however, the average age of the rowers will determine the crew’s maximum age-group classification and, for Veterans, its time adjustment in relation to other crews. A Masters or Veterans single sculler or crew may compete in a lower (younger) age category. No Masters single sculler or crew may compete in a higher (older) age category.

13.5. Time Adjustment (or "Handicap"). Only Veterans events are time-adjusted. A table showing the time adjustments for any given age is available on our website RIGHT HERE.

13.6. Lightweights. Lightweight men singles scullers must not weigh more than 160 lbs. Lightweight men’s crews must average 160 lbs. and must not contain any individual rower or sculler over 165 lbs. Lightweight women rowers and scullers must not weigh more than 135 lbs, nor contain an individual over 140 lbs. For weigh-in information, see Section 15.3 below.


14. . ELIGIBILITY AND LINE-UP RULES

14.1. High School Eligibility. To protect their future collegiate athletic eligibility, athletes representing a high school or equivalent entity (as defined in Section 11.1 above) may only participate in high school events. High school events are closed to all other athletes.

14.2. General Eligibility. All non-high school and college athletes are eligible for any event for which they are otherwise qualified.

14.3. Masters, Veterans and Singles entries must identify the boat captain (stroke and coxswain) on the registration form. No substitutions may be made in Masters or Veterans events after the entry deadline of October 1, 2009. No substitutions may be made in Singles events at any time. All athletes must complete their waivers via www.rowingwaiver.com.

14.4. Except for Masters, Veterans and Singles events, the line-up of individual crewmembers need not be identified on an entry form when it is originally submitted, but it must be confirmed at registration. All athletes must complete their waivers via www.rowingwaiver.com.


15. ON-SITE RACE PACKAGE PICK-UP & LIGHTWEIGHT WEIGH IN

15.1. You must weigh in if necessary (see 15.3 below), and pick-up the race package(s) for your boats no later than three hours before the published start time of your event(s). Location for weigh in and registration pick up packet (Saturday and Sunday) still TBD.

15.2. Scullers and crew representatives may pick-up race package(s) at the following hours and locations: Location for weigh in and registration pick up packet (Saturday and Sunday) still TBD.



HOURS:

Friday, October 23, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at LLOYD HALL, or

Saturday, October 24, 6:30 - 9:30 a.m. at LLOYD HALL

Saturday, October 24, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at University Barge Club, 7-8 Kelly Drive

Sunday, October 25, 6:30 – 9:30 a.m. University Barge Club, 7-8 Kelly Drive

15.3. Lightweight competitors must weigh in before picking-up race packages, but may do so at the same hours, same locations. For late package pick up or weigh in (after 10:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25) report to Regatta headquarters at the Finish Line. A late pick up/weigh-in fee of double the entry fee per boat will be charged.

15.4. Traffic and Parking. For your safety and protection, all participants must observe the traffic and parking regulations instituted by the Philadelphia Police and the regatta organizing committee on the day before, and the day of, the regatta, including at registration and weigh in. Please do not park in locations marked as NO PARKING.


16. REGATTA CANCELLATION

In the event the regatta has to be cancelled, or terminated before all races are rowed, there will be NO REFUNDS and no credits for future HOSR Regattas.


17. RESULTS AND AWARDS

17.1 NEW THIS YEAR – First, second AND third-place medals (gold, silver and bronze, with neck ribbons) will be presented to winners at award ceremonies held at regular intervals throughout the regatta.

17.2 At its sole discretion, the regatta committee reserves the right to combine, reshuffle or cancel events or subcategories that are undersubscribed.

17.3 As soon as possible after each event, we will post results at the Angels Village and at the vendors’ tent on Boathouse Row. Results will become official as soon as all investigations of infractions and disputes have been resolved.

17.4 The schedule of award ceremonies for Saturday events will be as follows:

The schedule of award ceremonies for Sunday events will be as follows:

17.5 As a courtesy to the regatta’s valued sponsors, many of whom have sponsored particular races and look forward to personally meeting the winners and presenting their medals, ALL members of medal-winning boats, and their coaches, are urged to make every effort to attend the designated ceremony for their event in person, or at the very least, to send an appropriate representative to receive their medals on their behalf. Any medals that are not presented at the appointed award ceremony due to unavoidable circumstances may be obtained at Regatta Headquarters (Angels) upon presentation of satisfactory personal identification and signing of an official receipt.

17.6 Any awards not collected at the regatta will be sent afterwards to each boat’s coach or personal representative of record for distribution to the relevant athlete(s).




18. Appendix 1A (Order of Events in Detail)

HOSR 2009 SATURDAY EVENTS

HOSR 2009 SUNDAY EVENTS