SUNDAY MARCH 18TH, 2012

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Contact Information & Details: regatta@falsecreekrowingclub.ca

Financial Support for this event: while we appreciate all the entrance fees paid by competitors, we would also like to send a particular thank you to those who have provided grants, materials and items to assist us in offering this event. First of all, we would like to acknowledge the grants made by the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation through the Community Sport Hosting Grant program. Without their support, it would have been unlikely that we could offer this event again. RBC Royal Bank has been able to provide some (non-cash) gifts for the first 300 volunteers and attendees.

Results! 2012 03 18

Photos! 2012 03 18

2011 Results here!

2011 Pictures here! 

(Pictures courtesy of John Litherland.)

REGISTRATION IS THROUGH REGATTA CENTRAL FOR 2012

Entries are here.

Suggested Trailer Routes here!

Please note: overnight security at the regatta site will be provided by the Commissionaires of BC.

Volunteer Opportunities: if you are in a position to assist with putting on the regatta as a volunteer please contact regatta@falsecreekrowingclub.ca. We can certainly use parking lot marshals, shoe and bow ball checkers, photographers, and people to help marshal boats on the water.

Food providers: we are having the White Spot Triple O’s On The Go - they are able to provide both hot and cold drinks, and a variety of breakfast and meal options…

Drinking Water is available from Vancouver City sources at the boat launch site, but you may wish to bring your own filled water bottles or purchase meals with your drinks at the food provider above. It may also be coming from the skies overhead so please wear appropriate clothing.

Weather: assume it is going to be cold, wet and windy. If it’s not: we’ll all be happier, but please keep your health and safety at the top of your mind when dressing for the day.

Accommodation is available at the Granville Island Hotel – please contact them directly at the link to the left or at 604-683-7373. Parking is available all day and luggage can be stored after their 12 noon checkout as needed.

Price:

• $20 per person (excluding those who are only coxing)

• $3 per person for Rowing BC fee (includes coxswains)

• there is no “per boat” fee this year.

Entry form:

• please enter online at Regatta Central

• all boat enries require boat average age. We will use the boat average age to determine racing category.

• questions to  regatta@falsecreekrowingclub.ca

• In the event that the regatta receives more  entries than the organizers believe can be safely accommodated, the organizing committee reserves the right to limit the entries as they see fit, either in terms of boat types or in order of receipt of entries.

• Closing date for entries is midnight (Pacific time) March 4th, 2012. Entries received after that date and time may not be accommodated, and will be subject to double fees if they are accepted.

• All competitors must be members of Rowing Canada Aviron or US Rowing.

• Please note: there are no 4– or 2– events.

Scratch Fees are equal to entry fees.

Course Notes

• Length: 5 km

• The course is not closed to non-rowing traffic. We are working with the operators of the ferries in False Creek (Aquabus and False Creek Ferries) to provide a safe event, but you will need to watch your course for steering “opportunities”.

• We are working with the Vancouver Police Department (Marine Division) and the Coast Guard with respect to having the navigation channel in the eastern end of False Creek cleared of anchored boats for the regatta.

• Please note: the Eastern end of False Creek is not a big area to turn a rowing shell at speed. It is wider than the northern end of the Delta Deas slough, and comparable to the north western corner of Elk Lake. You will need to work as a crew to turn your boats.

• Link to course here: Google Maps

• Wet Launch from the Vanier Boat Ramps in Vanier Park, Vancouver BC.

• Boats may be marshalled towards but not into Alder Bay (South of the East end of Granville Island) prior to the start.

Unofficial Course Map - Head Up The Creek 2011: subject to change

Getting here: directions from points south (Oak Street, Highway 99, I-5) here (it looks goofy, but it might be easier than this).

• Please avoid parking in Kits Point residential areas.

• There is ample pay parking available.

• Trailer parking is free and located in the south lot of the Vanier Park boat ramp/launch parking lot.

• Trailer delivery route suggestions are here.

• Security will be provided overnight for rowing shells on the trailers.

• Transit service is available to Cornwall at Cypress, Vancouver BC via Translink.

Useful mobile applications:

• SpeedCoach Mobile

• RitmoTime Stroke Monitor

Schedule

Meeting  7:30 am: 1 meeting for all flights. Coaches, bow rowers and coxes must attend.

Flight One start 8:45am (launch after 7:45 am – and no launching before 7:45 am and no dilly dallying)

• Boys/Mens 8+, 4x, 4x+, 4+

• Girls/Womens 2x, 1x

Flight Two start 10:30am (launch at 9:45)

• Girls/Womens 8+, 4x, 4x+, 4+

• Boys/Mens 2x, 1x

 Flight Three start 12:15 (launch at 11:45)

• Mixed 8+, 4x, 4x+, 4+, 2x

Please note that there was an error on this website (corrected March 4, 2012) where the events listed here did not match those shown on Regatta Central - thank you to Delta Deas for pointing this out. I apologize for any difficulty that this may cause. In the event that this causes any problems for you, please contact regatta@falsecreekrowingclub.ca Simon

Services:

• Emergency First Response to be provided by St John’s Ambulance community volunteer services.

• Washrooms are available at the Burrard Civic Marina and are open to the public. Wheelchair accessible portopotties will be available: hurray!

• Changing rooms, while not spacious, you could change in the Burrard Civic Marina bathrooms, but they aren’t that big. I would suggest bringing a beach towel and changing in someone’s car.

Entry Categories: Officially: the categories of entry are listed below. In practicality, offering all the potential options in combination with all the potential boat types would lead to substantially fewer than 1 entry per category. That’s no fun, and there isn’t enough money to buy cakes for all the winners. Categories will be aggregated as we see fit once entries close.

• Juniors: Under 19, Under 17, Under 15, Novice

• Senior: Under 23, Open, Novice

• Masters: AA (aged 21 to 26) and the usual A through I, Novice

  • AA average age: 21 years or more

  • A average age: 27 years or more

  • B average age: 36 years or more

  • C average age: 43 years or more

  • D average age: 50 years or more

  • E average age: 55 years or more

  • F average age: 60 years or more

  • G average age: 65 years or more

  • H average age: 70 years or more

  • I average age: 75 years or more

  • J average age: 80 years or more

Weight Categories (note changes to this article reflecting that the proposed changes to the RCA Rules of Racing were not passed, and as a result, the Lightweight definitions remain unchanged as at 2011 – 01 – 30). There will be no differentiation of crews by weight at this year’s regatta.

• Open Weight

• Lightweight (honour system – there is no weigh in prior to the race but your competitors will judge you at the finish)

  • No female rower identifying themselves as a lightweight shall weigh more than 59 kg [about 130 lbs].

  • No male rower identifying themselves as a lightweight shall weigh more than 72.5 kg [about 160 lbs].

  • There is no minimum weight requirement for coxes (as per RCA Rules of Racing exceptions listed below).

Height Categories: we will not be used for this regatta, but they may return in the future.

• all members of the crew under 165 cm (5 foot 5 inches)

• all members of the crew under 180 cm (5 foot 11 inches)

• Open Height (default)

Insurance & Safety

• Note that at the Rowing Canada Aviron 2010 AGM held in Richmond at the end of January, the following rule took effect: ”the maximum allowable heel elevation before the heel retention device activates is 7 cm.”, the instead of the previous 7.5 cm (3 inches). (added to website 2011 - 01 - 31)

• Event insurance is provided through the Rowing Canada Aviron policy. Questions around that policy may be answered here.

• The 2011 Safety Plan submitted to Transport Canada’s Office of Boating Safety is available here. It will be updated shortly.

• The 2011 Emergency Plan submitted to Transport Canada’s Office of Boating Safety is available here. It will be updated shortly.

• Competitors and crews participate in the race entirely at their own risk.  The decision to race is that of the competing crew alone.  The organizers will not accept any liability for material damage, personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with, or during or after the event.

• If you retire or choose not to complete the course for any reason, please advise the nearest safety or umpire boat.

Rules of Racing Notes and Exceptions:

• The regatta will be run under the Rowing Canada Aviron Rules of Racing in effect at the time of the event.

• No weighing in (honour system).

• Masters age categories amended to include AA (under 27).

• Novice category for rowers with less than 24 months rowing experience.

• Additional category of competition for rowers identifying height as a category.

• No “coaching from the shore” rule waived to allow GPS tracking of event.

Awards

• Fastest Men’s Boat

• Fastest Women’s Boat

• Fastest Mixed Boat

• Fastest Girl’s Boat (average crew age under 19)

• Fastest Boy’s Boat (average crew age under 19)

• Ribbons for Competitors of Special Note: as a new regatta, we don’t know how many boats will be participating – competitors may be grouped in natural groups and prizes awarded appropriately.

Penalties and Behaviour:

• Regatta course markers will be placed at the Eastern end of False Creek to delineate the eastern turn in the course. Failure to round all buoys at the turn will result in disqualification.

• Crossing the midline of the course from the Start area to the Eastern turn is dangerous. Failure to maintain a safe course will result in disqualification.

• Hitting the shore, a bridge or navigation channel marker is not subject to penalty or disqualification, but if you need to be fished out and the ferry operators arrive before the regatta safety boats they may levy a finders fee.

• Slower crews not giving way (by taking the longer course) will be subject to appropriate reprimand or action by the regatta organizer or Umpire.

• The proximity of the race course to the shore and spectators located there results in them being able to hear conversations amongst and between crews. Please use cordial language when discussing course corrections or providing advice to others on the water and note that you are extremely visible from the shore at almost every point in the course.

• As you row east, passing by the Eastern end of Granville Island as you approach the start, please keep in mind that the floating homes of “Sea Village” will be directly off of your starboard side. Please be considerate of them.

Final Notes:

• The Vanier Park boat ramp will be used to launch outrigger canoes at 9 am, 10:30 am and 12 noon. The outrigger canoe launch times times coordinate with our start times, but only if you have have launched with sufficient time to be at the start in time for your event.  Please work with them to ensure that the relationship is cordial and professional. Thank you.

• Information on the tide can be found here. Racing will be held during the morning’s relatively slow moving tide.

• In March of 2000, the wind picked up and swells from English Bay resulted in water being splashed into the boats in later flights. To counteract this, the start is being moved to more protected waters. It would be a wise idea to bring a sponge with you in your boat in order to remove any water before you start - just in case.

• Do not stand under the big tree near the boat launch ramp. There is an eagle’s nest high up and let’s just say: it’s a big bird.

From Cambie Bridge Looking East - False Creek Regatta 2001

This Event is Supported or Assisted By:

Announcements of other organizations providing support are pending.

Vancouver College Rowing

Jericho Sailing Centre

Kitsilano Yacht Club