C&C Notes for 2023, (v 20230927.01.00)

INTROS (1 min)

Birthday People - See Dockmaster on Sunday morning for your free T-Shirt coupon:

Zoom poll

Attendance Roll Call

SOCIAL MEDIA:  (1 min)

  1. FIRST CALL, LAST CALL and maybe STARTS will be on X/Twitter @textilerr and we’ve started #textilerr so that others can Tweet to this central location. (Invite teams to post pictures, family-friendly comments @textilerr).
  2. All-day Zoom call is a possibility; with a camera pointing at docks.  Use Chat for Q&A with our knowledgeable announcer(s).

Weather and Water: (1 min)

  1. Forecast for Oct 1st:  What’s that big orange thing up in the sky?

  1. Water:  Good water levels, ~44’ and low flow.  Looks like 1-2 kt current in your favor.  Mother rock and 1700m rock are always an issue but are clearly marked on the map in your event program.

  2. Wind: N6 mph means a light breeze from the boathouse side, a slight crosswind that is nudging you to the port side in the basin.  Above the power lines, the course is better protected.

  3. SAFETY:  If winds kick to 12 mph and E we will start canceling events.  We don’t anticipate this on Sunday.
  4. SAFETY: NOTE EVACUATION LOCATIONS ON MAP IN EVENT PROGRAM (Lyssa can elaborate on procedures in the event of lightning/storm in his segment).

SCHEDULE: (3 min)

  1. NO SCHEDULE CHANGES AT THIS POINT.  EVENTS WILL RUN IN THE ORDER SHOWN IN THE PROGRAM.
  2. START WILL START AN EVENT WHEN ALL BOATS ARE READY, but will observe event separations when indicated.  We will not wait for late arrivals, but you’ll row for time at our discretion.
  3. HOT SEATING.  Allow 60 min to 90 max minutes between events.  Let the Dockmasters know if you need fast tracking into the docks.  Textile might assign you a concierge for complicated maneuvers.  
  4. LAUNCH CALLS ARE ROUGHLY BASED ON A COMFORTABLE ROW FROM THE MAIN DOCKS TO THE START.  Don’t panic if you hear the last call, but you should be launching in the near future.
  5. LAUNCH CALLS ARE MADE IN 30 MINUTE BATCHES. In general terms this means we make the first call about 90 minutes prior to ALL the races that will go off in a 30-minute span.  E.g., for events starting at 9:00am to 9:30am, first call will be at 7:30am and final call at 8:00am.  Batches are shown on the schedule in the event program.
  6. Add 15 minutes if you are launching from the BEACH location.
  7. PATIENCE.  There should be no need to bum rush the docks for an early launch.  If you believe you are running late, catch the attention of the dockmaster for expedited handling.  Bow numbers run from 1 to 500+ across the entire day, so make note of your bow number relative to those launching around you before deciding whether you are too late or too early.  Caution: EARLYBIRDS - We have limited room at the Start Area.  Boats ahead of their launch order will be  held up/stopped on the way upstream.  Please attempt to launch roughly in bow number order to help prevent congestion at start.
  8. The 2023 schedule continues our attempt from last year to improve the action on the water. Events are more often grouped by boat class with streaming starts. For example:
  1. Early-morning Men’s and Women’s Masters singles all start at the same time and are ordered by traditional age subcategories
  2. Men’s and Women’s Junior Novice 8+ stream with Junior 8+ “B” to put  Novice boats in play with “B” races.  Same with 4+ events.

LAUNCHING (4 min)

  1. SLINGS - BYO slings if you have a long walk up to the boathouse or down to the Beach!  There will LIKELY be waits around the front of the boathouse but be aware that we are making the “J” queue a priority.
  2. At the BOATHOUSE DOCKS, STERN FIRST.  COXSWAIN LEADS THE BOAT.  Stop at the bullhorn for safety inspection.  Queued into 1 of 5 runways.  (“W” along the wall - likely deprecated in 2023 because it’s too crowded; 1,2,3 from the trailer lot; “J” from the front of the boathouse).  Note the grassy knoll next to the tree for early morning 1x masters.

    (    http://www.textileriverregatta.org/?id=maps)
     

  3. SAFETY: CLEAN BOATS.  BIB goes on the BACK OF BOW PERSON. Bring a boat that will pass heel tie and bow ball inspection, otherwise we will Tweet your fail.  This means all heel ties must be attached to the footstretcher and the bowball should be firmly fixed to the bow.  We will have Zip Ties (free) and bow balls ($1,000 each) and a couple of tools for quick repairs.
  4. OAR CADDIES ARE PART OF THE CREW and should be right on top of a boat with oars once it has put in. Bring slings for the heavy events in case there is a wait.
  5. ADVANCE TO MID-DOCK WHEN ASKED; Dockmaster will have your table waiting within 30 seconds of arriving at mid-dock.
  6. OUR JOB is to put you on the dock in 3 minutes or less. YOUR JOB is to put the boat in the water and be off the docks in 60 seconds.  Load the oars and crew, shove off and tie up on the water.  Don’t bring unnecessary team members onto the dock without dock master permission.  No family photos without explicit dockmaster permission.  We will accommodate but we have to know your intentions otherwise we may be bullhorn-rude.
  7. COACHES: We love your pets, but the dock is not the right place for them. It’s too busy down there.
  8. AT THE START:  Be in the marshaling area 10 minutes before race time and follow the instructions of marshals and starters for spacing and queueing
  1. NOTE NEARBY BOW NUMBERS FOR APPROXIMATE SEQUENCING.  ALL ELSE EQUAL, YIELD TO BOATS WITH LOWER BOW NUMBERS
  2. WHEN ON THE WATER - DO NOT stop perpendicular to the race course/this blocks boats attempting to reach the start, stop and remain parallel to the course and attempt to stay out of the way of boats approaching the start
  1. A neat and orderly Trailer Lot is a beautiful thing to behold.
    (https://www.textileriverregatta.org/album/trr_2008_heli/REGATTA10200808100529.JPG)

START LINE (Lyssa)

  1. (http://www.textileriverregatta.org/?id=maps)
  2. “Biggest frustration at the start area is watching as the marshals yell at the rowers and can't get their attention. Please tell them to keep quiet and listen for instructions as they approach the start area. And then stay aware of the marshal's instructions as they prepare to turn towards the start gate”.  Heed the marshals and avoid an exclusion because you’ve disregarded safety or sportsmanship.
  3. The starting line is 3500m from the boathouse.  It will take 30 min at least to get to the start so please follow the launch recommendations.
  4. The river flow rate is nominal right now and the river is generally calm.
  5. You know you are in the start area when you have rowed 3500m and see the long white dock on the North (starboard as you row up) shore.  
  6. This is the queuing area.  Cox's and rowers should remain between this white dock and the bottom of the island and do your pre-race prep - get your clothing situated, any last minute things the crew needs to do. Stay hydrated.
  7. This white dock area is also the emergency evacuation point.  Along this shore is a sandy beach and you can safely get to shore. The homeowners know about the regatta and have offered to be an emergency evac site.  In the event of a medical emergency, alert the USRowing referee and/or any marshall in the area and this is where medical professionals can meet a person in need.  In the event of T-storms (not forecasted now) you would go to shore here and find cover under the trees or the gazebo.

  8. While here, do your best to start lining up in numerical order.  

  9. You will be called to the start area where you will have to turn your boat around and get ready to race.  This is about 200m upriver from the white dock area. Be quick about turning your boat around and again, look for the boats that have bow numbers near yours and try to get in numerical order.  

  10. There is a certain flow rate, so please be aware of where you are floating and DO NOT float across the starting line.  This will be marked by a chute with large orange buoys.  Keep your crews backing water or if necessary, turn around and go up river again if there is congestion and you cannot safely back.

  11. You will be called across the line by the Start Referee and will be able to bring it up to power.  Again, please listen to the referee and keep spacing of approximately 20 seconds between the boat in front of you. FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE START REFEREE AND MARSHALS. DO NOT pass boats in the starting chute. You have 4500m to pass someone, take it easy at the start and remember to be safe and demonstrate good sportsmanship.

  12. For all but the High School teams, if you get to the start very early and want to keep warming up, you can go past the start and proceed upriver.  There is a “mother” rock on the starboard side, painted yellow, so take care approaching the corner.  You are responsible to get back in time for your race. We do not look for boats upriver and there is no marshall boat above the start.  And be aware that the mother rock has children lurking just below the water line.

  13. If you are late to the start, alert the first marshall you see in the area.  The marshals will give you instructions on whether to turn your boat or to keep going upstream.  Everyone showing up at the start with a rowable boat and crew that they are able to safely and respectfully navigate down the course will be able to go down the course and get timed - whether or not your time can be considered part of the official results is up to us and USRowing.  So don’t get your crew all freaked-out if you’re running late; short of towing your boat to the start, we will try to help you out.

  14. Enjoy your race and we look forward to seeing you at the finish line!

RACING/SAFETY (Lyssa). (4 min)

  1. Coxswains - help your crews get on the water quicker by making sure all of the heel ties are secure, the bowball is on, and the bowperson has their bib attached on the back.  You’ll get through control commission faster this way.
  2. Nominal 20 seconds separation between boats across the Start.
  3. SAFETY: Mother Rock is out of play - but use care if going up that far for warm-up.
  4. Safety: No passing in the chute. Add a pause if you need to.
  5. Safety: You must yield to a crew when they are within 1 length of open water.  For most boats, this means in 3-6 seconds they will be on your stern and you need to take action early.
  6. SAFETY: WHEN BEING PASSED, yield based on the preference of the passing boat.  Depending on where you are on the course, this might be to starboard or port. Be safe - know which other crews are around you and don’t yield into another crew’s line.
  7. RED BUOYS on port separate racing and travel lanes.
  8. SAFETY: FLIPPED BOAT:  Move directly to the closest shore;  a marshal boat will move to meet you if you need assistance.
  9. EVENT GAPS NOT PERFECT:  We have done our best to separate events especially those with different boat classes.  Just the same, a fast 1x could overrun a slow 4+.   Yield as described.
  10. SAFETY: ROW THROUGH THE FINISH, do not stop to pose for pictures… Steve from SportGraphics isn’t at the finish line. But don’t row too far past the Finish. Note the map: Warning!! There are falls shortly downstream from the Finish. 
  11. We have referees stationed along the course to monitor for safety and fairness.
  12. If there are issues during your race, don’t stop at the finish line, continue back to your launch point.  Speak to an official on land.  Find us @registration.
  13. Be safe, be fair and be kind.  No taunting other crews, no disrespectful comments about other crews and don’t cut the line coming back to the docks unless you have previously let us know of a hot-seating situation.

MISC

Questions? (10 min)

If you’ve read through these talking points and already have a question, email it to info@textileriverregatta.org before the meeting.

Q: Ltwt weigh-in?  

A: Ltwt weigh-in is on the honor system this year.

Q: Where can the C&C Meeting Video be accessed after this is over?

A: On the homepage of the website around 9pm tonight.  The 2021 Coxswain Clinic by Mark Lewis is on the homepage now.

Q: What’s gold standard for how long before race time to launch

A: If there is a long wait, I would join when you see bow numbers that are similar. Otherwise about 40 minutes.  You really can’t sprint up to the start line, but you’ll have stretches where you can add a little speed.

Q: Medals?

A: Gold, Silver, Bronze for top 3; masters are handicapped; medals picked up at medals tent after race is official.  If there are 3 or fewer boats in your race, congratulations, you win a medal by showing up.

Q: Who do we tell if we need a hot seat?

A: info@textileriverregatta.org until 5pm on Saturday.  On Sunday, alert the Times Square dockmaster(s) and the low dockmasters down on the docks.  You may be assigned a Textile Concierge to help you at both ends of the exchange.

Q: Starboard is the south side shore?

A: Carl: Yes, starboard is south shore of course when racing - but north side of river while in travel lane.

Q: Do top three medal?

A: Yes. Gold, Silver, Bronze for top 3; masters are handicapped; medals picked up at medals tent after race is official.

Q: Total distance of course ?

A: 4500m

Q: Is there a last time you want to see trailers pull in on Saturday? Is it 4pm?

A: 5p is when staff will leave the venue. So anything later than that will be on your own but the lot will likely be full by then.  Do not be the first trailer into the lot without seeing Carl or Jess because we want to manage the space and setting up the first two trailers is critical.   DO NOT BRING YOUR TRAILER INTO THE LOT IF THE SAWHORSES ARE BLOCKING THE ENTRANCE - that means the lot is full.  It may not look full to your eye, but be assured that we need open space for rigging and dock operations, and we’re not interested in removing your trailer on Sunday morning to reclaim our space.