Head of the Housatonic Regatta -- Saturday, October 8, 2016

 

A Few Regatta Reminders (September 26)

 

We're getting very excited to host thousands of athletes and guests again this year. To make the experience safe and enjoyable for all, please take note of these important regatta rules:

  • There is NO regatta parking for the general public at Indian Well State Park.  The ONLY vehicles permitted into the park are boat trailers, team buses, and cars that have authorized 2016 regatta parking passes.  ALL OTHER VEHICLES MUST PARK AT OUR OFFSITE LOCATION AND USE OUR FREE SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE TO GET TO INDIAN WELL STATE PARK. NO DROP-OFFS ARE PERMITTED AT INDIAN WELL STATE PARK FOR SAFETY REASONS.  Details about parking are on the regatta website.

 

  • Dogs are NOT permitted on the shuttle buses.  Leave Fido at home.

 

  • For safety reasons we do NOT permit the use of drones at the regatta.  Any program found using a drone will be barred from the regatta in future years.

 

Thanks for following these few guidelines.  It will make for a safer and smoother regatta experience.  See you soon!

Meet 2016 Olympic Silver Medal Winner Gevvie Stone at the Head of the Housatonic!

Great news.  2016 Olympic Silver Medalist Gevvie Stone will race at the Head of the Housatonic (1x Open Women, 10:00 a.m.) and will meet with athletes, coaches and families for photos and autographs.  Please come to the Registration Tent between 12:30 - 1:00 p.m. to meet Gevvie and learn more about her amazing row to Silver in Rio.  This is an incredible opportunity to learn from a world-class rower and inspirational athlete.  We are honored to welcome Gevvie to the Head of the Housatonic.

 

Head of the Housatonic Visitors Guide

Welcome to the Head of the Housatonic Regatta!  Whether you are a competitor, a family member or friend, or just someone interested in rowing, we hope you have a great time at the regatta. For first-time regatta attendees, here are a few tips to help you make the most of your visit.

 Racing

Crew is a physically demanding sport that also requires a high degree of technical skill. Athletes sit in a boat called a crew shell, facing the stern, which means they are unable to see the race course in front of them. Some rowers compete holding two oars each (sculling), and some hold one oar each (sweep rowing). Some sweep boats also have a coxswain who steers the shell and motivates the rowers. Shells range in size from one rower (single scull) all the way up to eight rowers.  At this regatta, we have events for almost every type of boat, and for every age athlete from ninth-graders up to octogenarians.

The Racecourse

The Head of the Housatonic is a 2.7-mile race. The starting line is a half-mile to the right (downstream) of Indian Well State Park, from where you will watch the regatta.  The finish line is at the New Haven RC boathouse, some two miles to the left (upstream) of the park. At the point the shells are passing the park, the rowers have already been racing for 3-5 minutes. The very fastest crews (college men) will finish the race in about 13 minutes, while some of the older single scullers can take up to 20 minutes to complete the course (or longer if there is a headwind).

Each boat is identified by a unique bow number.  It's a good idea to bring binoculars so you can more easily find the boats from your team as they pass by. Yelling to encourage your favorite crew is encouraged!  The athletes can hear you clearly under all but the most adverse weather conditions.

Indian Well State Park

While you are at the park, we hope you will take advantage of our vendor tents.  Regatta t-shirts or other rowing souvenirs make a great gift for yourself, or for the athlete you are here to cheer for.  We also have vendors selling food and beverages for spectators. Many rowing programs set up their own tents for their supporters.

There are permanent rest rooms in the central building just north of the main parking lot at Indian Well State Park. Port-a-Potties are also available at numerous locations throughout the park.

Race Results

Cell phone service in the Park can be challenging at times, but preliminary racing results are posted online approximately 20 minutes after the conclusion of each race.  A paper copy of the preliminary results is posted near the Registration Tent as well.

Questions

If you have any questions or need any assistance from regatta staff, please make your way to the Registration Tent and we will be happy to help you. Thanks for joining us!



^ Top


Next page: Heat Sheets