REGATTA DAYS
Regattas are a great opportunity to bring the rowing club together and for rowers to put what they have learned in training into age and skill appropriate racing conditions. Regatta days can be hectic and demanding, there is always a lot going on at the sheds, at the racecourse and on the pontoons and conditions can change quickly. The best source of information for regatta day will be the MCCRC website and your son’s Year Manager.
There is a lot of information to be communicated before a regatta. The committee will endeavour to circulate this information as early as possible. The club is often not able to release information until after the race schedule has been released by Rowing ACT. In some cases, information may not be circulated until the night before a regatta.
The Rowing ACT website provides the 2024/2025 Season Calendar.
ACT REGATTA'S - START TIMES & LOCATION
ACT Regatta's are held on Lake Burley Griffin (Weston Park) and boats are rowed from the Marist College Canberra Yarralumla shed to the starting position.
On regatta day, rowers will have different start times and start locations depending on their race times and boat allocation. It is important to know where rowers are required to be and when. Failure to be at the right place at the right time can have significant impact, for example, a rower showing up to the racecourse instead of the MCCRC Boat Shed will leave a crew short a rower to row a boat to the racecourse.
WHERE TO FIND REGATTA INFORMATION
The “Marist Rowing Spreadsheet” is the critical document to understand where each rower needs to be and when. The spreadsheet is released a day or two before the regatta and can change at short notice. A new spreadsheet is created for each regatta. The spreadsheet is a comprehensive list of the following important information for every rower in MCCRC and includes each rower’s:
- race number
- race time
- race lane allocation
- heat/final number
- crew names
- coxswain
- boat name
- pick up and return location of the boat
A copy of the Marist Rowing Spreadsheet will be linked to this page and a copy will be at the MCCRC tent at each regatta, it will be updated through the day as the regatta progresses. Coaches and Year Managers should also keep a copy with them on regatta days to assist in managing rowers.
We strongly recommend that rowers write their race numbers rae times and lane numbers on their arms or legs to ensure they remember where they need to be and when.
The Rowing ACT website will contain up-to-date race times, finals allocations and results (however, this does not include information relevant to Marist rowers - ie boat allocations etc, hence why the Marist Rowing Spreadsheet is important).
ROWER RESPONSIBILITIES
Rowers will have responsibilities on regatta days which extend beyond simply showing up to race. Rowers may be expected to arrive at the regatta well ahead of their race time to perform the following tasks help the club get prepared for the regatta:
- setting up slings at the Boat Shed
- rigging boats at the Boat Shed
- rowing boats to the racecourse
- rowing boats from the racecourse back to the Boat Shed after the regatta
- cleaning boats
- un-rigging boats
- packing up slings
- general boat shed clean up
REGATTA UNIFORM
All rowers are required to wear the approved MCCRC uniform at training and regattas, both on and off the water. This is required for safety reasons and also encourages a sense of pride as a rowing squad and school. The uniform is compulsory and students are noy permitted to wear anything other than what is listed. Failure to comply with the uniform requirements may result in a rower being unable to row at a regatta.
Approved regatta uniform includes:
- MCCRC zootie
- MCCRC long sleeve rash shirt
- MCCRC cap (White cap with MCCRC logo – available for purchase from the rowing club)
- MCCRC long sleeve rugby jumper or Marist PE jacket
- MCCRC sports socks
- Sports shoes for running warm ups
- Sunglasses (optional but highly recommended)
- Slides (optionsl for getting in and out of boats on the pontoons)
All rowers are required to wear their Marist PE uniform (not house shirts) to and from the regatta and whilst on shore at the regatta (not when rowing). Rowers should bring a hat, water, sunscreen, food and warm clothing as regatta day can be very demanding and conditions can changq quickly.
Rowers should check with their coaches prior to the regatta, which direction of traffic flow is in effect on the water.