MRRA Regattas
The MRRA and its partners host the following regattas:
Festival Regatta
Textile River Regatta
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MRRA
Festival Regatta
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Festival Regatta
Dear Competitors,
This is the home page for our Festival Regatta. Stay tuned to this space for regatta details. Registration is NOW OPEN at regattacentral.com.
With regrets, the 2024 Festival Regatta is cancelled.
Dottie Semonian Festival Regatta Chair
festival@merrimackrowing.org
Hello Festival Regatta Competitors,
The MRRA Festival Regatta is ON SCHEDULE for this year, so please mark your calendar for Sunday, June 26th 2022. This year's regatta will feature over 30 events in Masters, Open and Youth categories and all events will be 1,000m long and 6 lanes wide. We hope you'll be able to attend - registration is OPEN at Regatta Central.
UPDATES
- ALL RACES are 1,000m.
- NO BEACH LAUNCHING. All launching for all events takes place at the Boathouse docks.
- All races are FINALS ONLY (no heats).
- Events must have 2 or more competitors to race.
We look forward to seeing local rowers in the New England area for our annual Festival Regatta on the Merrimack River in Lowell, MA. All races will be 1,000m in a wide variety of ages and boat classes. Registration will be open soon on Regatta Central.
Dottie Semonian Festival Regatta Chair
festival@merrimackrowing.org
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GENERAL NOTES & FAQ
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>> General Notes & Frequently Asked Questions <<
GENERAL NOTES
- SINGLES AND DOUBLES DROP-OFF EITHER SIDE OF THE BOATHOUSE. Follow these steps: CHECK WITH FESTIVAL REPS IN BRIGHT YELLOW HATS >>> DROP-OFF BOAT >>> THEN PARK YOUR CAR IN THE PARKING LOT.
- COACHES AND COXSWAINS MEETING AT 7:05 AM AT THE BOATHOUSE.
- Waivers are required for each athlete that is competing. Click on Festival Regatta Waiver link on Regatta Central to access Online waivers. (Note: USRowing online waivers will not be accepted for this regatta.) If you do not have an online waiver at registration/checkin, you will need to use your smartphone device to login to the online waiver link to do your online waiver. No paper waivers will be accepted.
- No late registrations will be accepted beyond late registration deadline date posted on Regatta Central.
- Please launch at least thirty (30) minutes prior to your scheduled race time. Boats launching have priority over boats docking. If you are hot-seating or sharing equipment, notify the dock master and have all equipment and rowers ready to switch quickly. All boats will launch at the boathouse dock.
- NOTICE that the travel lane to the START is on the launch side of the river. Use caution when rowing to the start line or from the finish line and stay to the side of the river away from the racing lanes. There is no need to cross the river or the race course. Be safe!
- All races are FINALS ONLY (no heats). All races are 2000m in length except for Masters, Seniors, Veterans, Junior 1x/2x and Recreation categories which are 1000m. NOTE that the finish line will be the same for all races. Refer to course map for more details.
- Motor boats may travel the travel lane between races at head way speed. Please no wake! Your cooperation is greatly appreciated by the competitors.
- Bow Markers - Please bring your own bow markers. Thank You!
FAQ
- What is the schedule? - The schedule is posted on Regatta Central. Depending on the final subscription of an event, some events will be cancelled and or moved. Check the final schedule 2 days prior to the regatta.
- Is Check-In required? – YES -- CHECK-IN IS REQUIRED AT THE BOATHOUSE PRIOR TO RACING. The desk will be open from 6:00am through 1:30pm on Race Day.
- Is there food available during the day? The MRRA Concessions Committee may have small snacks and beverages available for sale in front of the boat bays - please do not rely on this for all your dietary needs. There's a Dunkin Donuts across the street from the boathouse.
- I have two races scheduled too closely. Can I change my heat times? No, sorry.
- Are there medals? Yes, medals are awarded for 1st place.
- Who won? Please see the Race Results Board outside the boathouse or check the web site on Monday.
- Where are the finish times posted? Please see the Race Results Board.
- Where do I go to find if there are any spare Coxswains? The Registration Desk.
- What are the updated finals times? Are there last minute changes? See Events Schedule Board on the side of the boathouse.
- Can I get a copy of the full race results? Yes, the final race results will be posted online at Regatta Central.
- Where are the restrooms? In the boathouse near registration.
- Will jet-skis and power boats be a problem? No, We have Environmental Police boats at the Start and Finish areas to limit and control boat traffic.
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HEAT SHEET & ONLINE WAIVER
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HEAT SHEET at REGATTA CENTRAL
ATHELETE/EVENT report at REGATTA CENTRAL (for hot-seating)
ONLINE WAIVER at REGATTA CENTRAL
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EVENT SCHEDULE & REGISTRATION
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>> Festival Regatta Registration & Event Schedule <<
The schedule that WAS here is no longer here. For accurate start times, check back here a few days before the regatta for a link to the Heat Sheet PDF. look at the Heat Sheet (PDF from Regatta Central).
Already registered? Sign the ONLINE WAIVER now.
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PHOTOS & RESULTS - 2022
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Coming soon, on or after regatta date.>> FESTIVAL REGATTA 2018 FINAL RESULTS <<
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PHOTOS & RESULTS - Prior Years
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>> FESTIVAL REGATTA 2019 FINAL RESULTS <<
Link to 2019 Google Pictures taken at the Docks (add your photos here)
>> FESTIVAL REGATTA 2018 FINAL RESULTS <<
Link to 2018 Google Pictures taken at the Docks
>> FESTIVAL REGATTA 2017 FINAL RESULTS <<
Some 2017 Google Pictures taken at the Docks
Pictures from 2016 at Row2k are here.
>> FESTIVAL REGATTA 2016 FINAL RESULTS <<
>> FESTIVAL REGATTA 2015 FINAL RESULTS <<
>> FESTIVAL REGATTA 2014 FINAL RESULTS <<
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REGISTRATION
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Register at REGATTA CENTRAL.
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REGATTA PACKET - 2016
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1x and 2x car-top drop-off either side of boathouse. Check with regatta reps for placement, then park your car in the lot.
Download the 2016 Festival Regatta Packet
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COURSE & VENUE MAPS
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NOTE: All races are 1km and start at the "1000m START" shown on the map below. That starting line is between the bridge and the boathouse and visible to all spectators near the boathouse.
Click an image for a larger version.
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VENDORS
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Vendors are also welcome to set up a tent at the Festival Regatta. We provide 10'x10' or 10'x20' space for your tent. Price for the day is $125. Pay for your Vendor Tent reservation here using PayPal or a major credit card. Once payment is made, we will be in touch with you to ask for your preferred tent size.Note! Deadline for vendors is Thursday June 23, 2022.
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TENT RESERVATIONS
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Reserve Team Tent space so that you have a known rally point for your team and boosters. Choose from one of three central locations and we'll stake out 10'x10' or 10'x20' space (you provide the tent).
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ACCOMMODATIONS
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If you're planning to stay overnight, it's worth your while to visit the Hotels page on this site where our partners at the Greater Merrimack Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau have compiled a list of area hotels that are offering special rates for visitors to the regattas. How to get to the regattas? Visit the Directions and Parking page.
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RULES & REGS
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>> Festival Regatta Rules & Regulations <<
Race Category Definitions:
Age is age in current calendar year per USRowing rules.
- Junior rower: 18 years old or less or enrolled in secondary school
- Master rower – 23 years or older for team boats
- Master: 27 or older for singles
- Master Team boats – master rowers only. Boat age is average of rowers age
- Junior Team boats – junior rowers only
Mixed events: equal number of male and female rowers in boat, coxswain either gender
Rules & Regulations for Coxswains & Strokes
Before The Race:
Launch & Warm-up:
- Check in with dock master or control commission; if there is a problem, report it at once and write down the official's name to which you reported the delay.
- Recheck bow number one last time; make sure bow ball is O.K.
- Carefully follow normal warm-up pattern. Be familiar with race lanes and traffic pattern. Do NOT cross racing lanes. Caution: If you are entered in the first 1000m event following a 2000m event, do not enter race lane until instructed to do so by an official.
- It is the competitor’s responsibility to get to the start on time; races may stat without out late boats.
- Be very conscious of races on the course; stop to let them pass if you are near them to avoid a warning
- Follow traffic pattern religiously
- All boats must launch from boathouse main dock (Beach launch site is closed)
The Race:
At the Start:
- Be at the starting area 5-8 minutes before race if possible; do not play mind games at the start--get there with time to spare and focus
- If possible, listen to starter's voice and cadence for previous race to get a sense of how he will call yours.
- Know the various starting commands.
- Check in with referee or marshal; identity yourself and race; this is very important in large regattas;
- Races will utilize a floating start and may use a quick start format.
- Get your point and target; compensate for wind or current in keeping point; if there is a long delay, know where to keep your point to compensate for winds
- Know that "hands" are not recognized during a quick start nor after the crews have been announced or polled.
- Check position of your rudder especially after you have backed in
- Know exactly how to scull bow around; check on where you want blades depending on current/wind
- Acknowledge any warnings from starter
- Remember, the movement of the flag starts the race not the voice of the starter
Lateness & False Starts & Breakage:
- If you are late and permission has been given, don't panic your team on getting to the line
- False starts: kinds of alignments; misleading other crews; backing down and your rudder
- Not ready at the start
- Breakage time or buoys
- The regatta will utilize a 20 second breakage rule. (USRowing Racing R. 2-310 (c))
The Body of the Race:
- Lanes: know your own lane and others. For 2000m events, know which bridge arch and which side of the arch to pass through. (2 lanes pass through each arch).
- Do not interfere with other boats in their lane.
- Referee commands and flags: white and red flags.
The Finish of the Race:
- Make dead sure you have crossed the finish line before you stop rowing. Look for finish line flag.
- What five things the referees need to do at the finish: safety, weights, time, look for protests, certify race with white flag.
- Checking your athletes health; lying down in the boat
- Knowing when to leave the finish
- Filing a protest on the water
- Withdrawing a protest
- Meaning of the flags
After The Race:
Filing a Protest:
- The protest procedure is as stated in USRowing Racing Rules 2-604, 2-605, and 2-606.
Download the Festival Regatta Rules & Regulations (PDF).
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 15 May 2024 12:16 |
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