Communications via GroupMe

It is really important that everyone going to the regatta has GroupMe loaded on a device and unmutes it so that you are getting updates. You also need to be sure that you are checking GroupMe regularly for updates. We will only be sending updates via GroupMe during the regatta.

Club GroupMe - https://groupme.com/join_group/43704487/XzFOWg
We will be using this as our main place to put announcements, etc. on Sunday. This includes updates on trailer arrival time for unloading.

Parent GroupMe - https://groupme.com/join_group/86464982/geVyVuvU
This is group is used for parents to coordinate Tent Crew and Food Crew including unloading after the regatta.

New Parent Regatta Notes

New parents, please read this information so you know what to expect on Sunday.

Before the regatta

• Rowers should be at trailer loading if at all possible on Thursday and loading may take additional time. Practice typically ends 15-30 mintues later than usual because it takes us a little while to get the boats loaded. All rowers are expected to stay until they are dismissed by a coach. If your rower needs to leave at a certain time on Thursday, please talk with a coach and we will see what we can do.

During the Regatta

• Please read Regattas 101 for information on what to expect during the regatta >>

• Parents are asked to volunteer to help at regattas. We can not do regattas without parent support! 

• The main place that the parents hang out is at out Team tent area.  That means if it rains, you need to have rain gear. If it is sunny, you need to bring sun block, hats, etc. You can set up chairs around the tent, but the tent is for rowers and for food.

• For middle school rowers on the Beginner Team, we do need a parent or adult to be responsible for and supervising their rower when they are not racing.

• The shell trailer/boat laydown area is for rowers and coaches only. We ask that parents steer clear of hanging out at the shell trailer/boat laydown area. We love when parents take pictures, so if you are taking pictures, that is totally fine, but please do not hover in the rower area.

• Beginner Team middle school rowers should plan to be at the shell trailer/boat laydown area for their "Prep for Launch" time. Prior to that, they should be supervised by a parent or other responsible adult. We have had too many issues with middle schoolers using the trailer as a jungle gym and/or running around the boats and other rowers while they are trying to get ready to race or move boats, etc. which is really problematic for mutiple reasons. Unfortunately, coaches do not have the bandwidth during a regatta to supervise that kind of behavior, so we ask that parents supervise their rowers before and after they race.

• After their race, the rowers will end up back at the shell trailer/boat laydown area where a coach will meet them to talk about their race. We know you are anxious to hear how your rower's race was, but please don't hover as they are carrying their boat back to the trailer, please do not help them carry their boat, and please do not hover in the shell trailer area once they are back there. We promise that we will send them to you as soon as we are done with them.

• We do need everyone to arrive at call time and stay until the end of the regatta for multiple reasons. If you need to come later or leave earlier for some reason, please talk to Coach Sue, but in general, please keep regatta days open. Head of the Rock particularly is a very long day. Just block out the entire day.

After the Regatta

• Plan to meet back at the boatyard after the regatta to unload boats. This is, hands down, the worst part of any regatta. Everyone wants to go home, but the boats need to be unloaded by EVERYONE before anyone can go home.

• Please also keep in mind that the shell trailer driver has to go put away the trailer after we are done unloading, so their job isn't done until the trailer is unloaded.

• AND any extra food or perishables on the utility trailer has to be unloaded and put away at the rowing center, so there are parents who are not done after the regatta until that is done as well. If everyone pitches in, it goes much more quickly for all of us. 

• Our last event on Sunday is around 4:15p, then both the shell trailer and the utility trailer need to be loaded at the regatta site, then we need to drive home. We are usually back at the boatyard by 6:00pm-ish. Fortunately, unloading is usually short because everyone is motivated.

• Please do not stop to eat on the way home, unless it is drive through. We will try to have food at the tent until the end of the day so that people can eat before we all head home. If everyone stops to eat, it makes it harder for the people that do go straight to the boatyard. The shell trailer driver can not stop to eat, so they are stuck waiting for everyone before they can eat.