About the Race Course 

In 2007,the Head of the Connecticut Regatta introduced a new race course which was different from any course used in past Regattas. Reactions from coaches and competitors were extremely positive, and we are pleased to continue forward with our new race course. The traffic and warm-up pattern will continue to be clockwise in all locations.

Crews launching from Harbor Park will launch and immediately begin rowing upstream along the Western shore of the river. After rowing upstream past the start line, crews will marshal in the warm-up area. Any crew or competitor who rows upstream past the large red/orange buoy marking the end of the warm-up area is subject to exclusion for safety reasons. The race course begins at the Portland Fire Department picnic grounds upstream in Portland, CT. The race course proceeds downstream generally in the center of the Connecticut River. Crews will be required to pass under the first closed arch of the railroad bridge to a finish at Harbor Park in Middletown, across from the Harbor Park Restaurant.

Launch Site & Directions 

The 2008 Head of the Connecticut Regatta will feature one launch site.  The site will be located at Middletown’s Harbor Park as it has been in past years, and will feature traffic improvements and wait time reductions as seen in 2007 to ensure that competitors can get onand off the water efficiently. All crews will launch and recover with their bows pointing upstream.

In order to reach the launch site, crews arriving from the North (i.e. from I-84 or I-91) should take Rt. 9 Southbound to Exit 14 – DeKoven Drive. At the end of the exit ramp, crews should turn left on DeKoven Drive, and immediately left on Union Street. Parking near Harbor Park is on a first-come, first-served basis, and crews are cautioned that they may be asked to move their equipment if they park in a location not directly designated to them by Regatta personnel.

In 2008, additional free spectator parking will be provided in several nearby parking lots, and shuttle buses will run throughout the day. We anticipate that ample free parking will be available for all competitors and spectators.

After finishing the race, all crews will proceed downstream to the designated turning point. Crews will then turn to Starboard below the crossing buoy and proceed up the Middletown shore following the clockwise traffic pattern. After turning past the crossing buoy, crews returning to Harbor Park will marshal for landing along the Middletown shore as directed by course marshals.

There will be a required coaches’ and coxswains’ meeting at the gazebo in Middletown at 8:00AM on Regatta day.

Entries 

All competitors, including coxswains, may participate in multiple events. Competitors are responsible for allowing sufficient time to race in one event, land, re-queue, and launch in time for an additional event. Competitors will not be allowed to land or launch out of order, and there will be no hot-seating of athletes and/or boats.. The Head of the Connecticut Regatta accepts no responsibility for missed start times and will issue no refunds on that basis.

Entries will be strictly limited to the first 600 entries received.

Entries must be received with entry fee no later than Tuesday, October 7, 2008. Late entries will be subject to a $50 fee per entry.

All entries are to be submitted online. If online entry is not possible due to technical or other difficulties, please contact us via email (info@hctr.org) for assistance. No entries will be considered to be final without the complete entry fee.

Fees for Event 21, Mixed Eights:

For any team registered for at lease one other event, there will be no fee for entry into Event 21, Mixed Eights. We look forward to having many competitors take part in this new, fun event. Normal fees will apply for competitors registering only for the Mixed Eights event.

Masters competitors must submit date(s) of birth for all competitors during the entry process. Masters crews may submit complete line-ups including ages to the Head of the Connecticut Regatta no later than Thursday, October 9, 2008. Crews with missing or incomplete date of birth information will be ranked without handicap in the youngest available age category.

The Head of the Connecticut Regatta reserves the right to limit the number of entries from any one organization or limit the number of entries in any one event. The Regatta also reserves the right to cancel any event with fewer than two entries and will refund entry fees to or transfer affected crews to other suitable events without additional charge.

Confirmed entries will be posted on the web site.

Registration 

Regatta registration is located at the Harbor Park launch site. We encourage competitors launching from Middletown to park & unload at Harbor Park and to send a representative to Registration. Ample parking is available within a short distance, and shuttle bus transportation will be provided on Regatta day.

Scullers and crew representatives must report to Regatta Registration on Saturday, October 11^th from 3:00-8:00 p.m. or Sunday, October 12^th from 7:00-11:00 a.m. but not later than a minimum of two hours before any event for which no weigh-in is required.

Weigh-Ins 

Crews required to weigh-in will do so during the registration period of 3:00-8:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 11th or 8:00-11:00 a.m. on Regatta Day. Weigh-ins will be held at Registration, and competitors are encouraged to make use of the new Saturday weigh-in period. Each competitor will be issued an identifying wristband once weight has been made. Each rower or sculler competing in a lightweight event must weigh-in wearing at least their competition uniform; coxswains will not be required to weigh in.

Refunds 

The Head of the Connecticut Regatta will not refund scratches communicated to the Registrar beyond Noon, Friday, October 3, 2008.

Results 

Computerized results will be posted at the Harbor Park launch site. Until such time as the reports of the referees have been received and penalties assessed, the results will be unofficial.

Official results will be available on the Head of the Connecticut web site at www.hctr.org within 48 hours after the final race. Requests for printed results must be made in writing along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope mailed to:

Results Request

Head of the Connecticut Regatta

P.O. Box One

Middletown, CT 06457

Requests made via telephone or email will not be fulfilled.

Facilities 

Portable sanitary facilities will be located at each launch site. Crews may also use the Middletown YMCA free of charge for changing and showers. The building is available from 12:00 noon until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. 

Concessions providing food, beverages, T-shirts, posters, and programs will be located at the Harbor Park site. Crews are expected to police their areas throughout the day and clean the area completely prior to leaving. Trash receptacles are placed at convenient locations.

First Aid 

First aid and ambulance services will be available at the Harbor Park (Middletown) launch site. On the water, first aid will be provided by the Middletown police and fire departments and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. 

Participant Liability 

Coaches and participants are reminded that participation in the Regatta involves a moderate risk of injury and/or property damage. While HCTR and the Middletown Lions Club, as an agent for the sponsor, will take all reasonable measures to ensure the safety of participants, officials and volunteers, participation in the Regatta is at one’s own risk and responsibility for claims deriving from personal injury, damage, or loss. 

While the Regatta provides security for the Harbor Park launch site for the night of Saturday, October 11, 2008, this in no way guarantees the safety of the competitor’s equipment.

Practice Rowing 

There is no night rowing permitted in Middletown. No crew may launch after 6:00 p.m. Saturday, October 11, 2008. Docks will close at 7:00 p.m. when all boats must be off the water.   Violation of this rule will result in exclusion from the following day’s racing with no refund.  There will be no practice rowing allowed on Sunday, October 12, 2008.  

Due to increased barge and pleasure boat traffic on the Connecticut River, extreme caution is required during practice rows.  The Regatta assumes no responsibility for safety during practice rowing and crews are encouraged to practice accompanied by a safety or coaching launch.

Awards 

Gold medals will be awarded to the top finisher in each division.  Silver medals will be awarded in events with at least five (5) entries.  Bronze medals will be awarded in events with at least ten (10) entries.

The Mayor’s Trophy will be awarded to the time-corrected (i.e. handicapped) winners of the men’s and women’s Masters Single Sculls.

·        Award ceremony for events 1-10 will be held at 1:00 p.m. at the Harbor Park Gazebo.

·        Award ceremony for events 11- 21 will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Harbor Park Gazebo.

Any medals potentially affected by protest will be mailed; all protests will be adjudicated by USRowing officials..  All medals not awarded or retrieved by the completion of the 5:30 award ceremony will be mailed approximately 4 weeks following the event.

E-mail us: info@hctr.org