�2026 Pre-Regatta Meeting

Welcome to the Nineteenth Annual River City Rebellion!

Thank you for entering, and we hope you and your athletes have a great regatta!

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If you have any questions please drop them in the chat to be answered at the end.

Event Parking

1. MINIMAL athlete/coach/spectator parking is available at the Port/RCRC Boathouse.
2. Free street parking is along both sides of Halyard Dr., Del Monte St, Shore St, Terminal St, & Boatman Ave in West Sacramento. NO parking in any parking lots.
3. Park, then walk to the boathouse. See map in regatta packet
4. Trailers and cartoppers: fill out the Trailer/Cartopper RSVP form by 6/1/2026 so we know to reserve a space for you. Trailers and car toppers may arrive on Friday between 5 and 7 p.m. or by 6 a.m. on race day/s.
5. See the information packet for additional information and maps.

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Spectators

1. The race course cannot be seen from the RCRC Boathouse area, however a wide gravel/dirt trail runs the length of the 1K race course.
2. Spectators can access the trail, to view the regatta, at two locations:
1. The Barge Canal Access , Port of West Sacramento Parking Lot to access the levee trail at ~1,200m east of the finish line
2. The dirt pullout on the west side of Lake Washington Blvd at the bottom of the south side of the bridge to access the levee trail at ~200m East of the finish line
3. Additional parking is in the shopping areas on Lake Washington Blvd and walk or bike ½ mile to the 200m dirt pull out area, at Industrial Blvd/Lake Washington Blvd Bridge

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***IMPORTANT!  DO NOT cross the road over Industrial Blvd/Lake Washington Blvd either on the bridge or on the road. It is very dangerous, and the West Sacramento Police Department may issue citations. You can use the levee path under the bridge.

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Registration and Communications

1. Registration is open from 5:30 to 7:00 AM near the RCRC Boathouse
2. Registration Packets with Time Trial bow and bib numbers are organized by Team & registrant’s email or by 1X’s name (unless included in a Team packet)
3. All athletes must meet US Rowing compliance requirements. Packets may be withheld until all included athletes meet compliance
4. Email RCRC at rebellion@rivercityrowing.com with any scratches or line up changes ASAP. On race day, fill out a Change Form at Registration
5. See Crewtimer.com for the final schedule and results
6. Regatta Stoppage: if the regatta must be stopped for the safety of competitors, each safety launch driver will sound a three horn blast with their megaphone or air horn, signaling all crews to immediately stop and attend to the instructions of the nearest safety launch driver.
7. The Regatta will use the WhatsApp application to make regatta announcements. Join using the QR code in the regatta packet or this link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/E9oqEROovXnIY5DDf1109q

JG

Equipment

1. There is no control commission. Each club/competitor is responsible to ensure their equipment meets the USRowing safety standards.
2. Every shell must have:
• A protective ball on the bow of the boat
• Heel ties attached to the foot stretchers in a way that allows for quick exit in case of emergency
• A coxswain opening that meets minimum width requirements
3. No sharing equipment with other competitors.
4. Ensure bow numbers match the stroke name & the bib number and are securely inserted into the boat’s bow number clip
5. Pin bib numbers to the back of the bow person. Keep the bib numbers on for all 3 rounds of racing.
6. Pick up bow numbers for Rounds 2 & 3 at the Registration Desk as soon as the next round seeding has been posted on CrewTimer.com.

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Docks

1. 6:45 a.m.: docks open for launching.
2. Be prepared to launch prior to heading to the dock.
3. Follow Dock Masters’ instructions
4. Launching boats have the right of way over returning boats
5. Row slowly in the dock areas
6. Be quick on and off the docks

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To The Start

1. You may launch up to 45 min. prior to your race
2. Allow 30 Minutes to row to the start line.
3. Additional warm up in the turning basin
4. Line up boats in bow number order in the locks east of the Start Line. Round 1 - Sequential 1, 2 , 3… and Rounds 2 & 3 Alphanumeric, ie B1, B2, B3, B4, A1, A2…
5. Do not cross the yellow buoy lines
6. Follow the Start Marshal’s commands

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At The Start

Round 1 - Time Trial

1. Like a head race, start by bow number order, 10 seconds apart.

Rounds 2 & 3 Heats and Finals

1. Staggered starts by reverse handicaps. The boat with the largest handicap in each race goes first. Start times are shown in the “Adjust” column on CrewTimer.
2. Start procedure: prior to beginning the starting commands, the Starter will review start times by lane. When the boats are aligned, the Starter will indicate, “We have alignment” and “Attention”. After a brief and variable pause, the start horn will sound then the Starter will commence counting up in seconds. Subsequent boats will start upon hearing the horn sound on their start time.

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Race Course

1. Clockwise traffic pattern.
2. For Round 1, overtaking boats have the right of way to the most favorable line. Yield away from the South shore
3. Watch out for weeds along the South shore.
4. Do not pinch another boat into the weeds.
5. For Rounds 2 & 3, stay in your lane and do not cut in front of another lane.
6. Stay on the south side of the pier.
7. Obstructing another boat may result in exclusion or relegation.
8. Keep rowing until you hear a finish horn and continue beyond the finish line.

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Timeliness

1. Please be on time for all your races.
2. If you are running late for the Time Trial, alert the Start Marshal stationed at the bridge and your boat may be able to join at the end of the queue.
3. If you arrive at the time trial start after the last boat has started, your boat will be excluded from the Tournament.
4. If you miss the start of a Round 2 Heat, your boat may be relegated to last place and able to race in Round 3 as exhibition, but you will not be eligible for placing or an award.
5. If you miss the start of a Round 3 Final, your racing is done.

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Safety - Race Course

1. There are three US Rowing Referees that will be stationed along the course at approximately 500 M intervals for your safety.
2. If a crew experiences any issues either on the warm-up out to the start or during the race, alert the closest safety launch. LOC safety launches in the locks, as Start Marshall at the bridge, and in the Basin between the race course and the docks
3. The course is part of an active shipping water way. While the racing has not been paused due to traffic, pay attention to referee instructions should a ship come into the Port to safely yield.
4. RCRC’s emergency response plan includes a ‘race stoppage’ alert; in any situation where the regatta director and Chief Referee determine that the regatta should stop for the safety of participants, all safety launch drivers will sound a three horn blast. All crews must immediately stop racing/warm-up and attend to the nearest launch driver. Depending on conditions, the safety launches will direct crews whether to hold until conditions improve or immediately return to the dock. Safety launches will remain on the water.

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Safety - Venue

1. Each dock master has a radio to contact Regatta Staff and/or First Aid.
2. The First Aid tent is set up on the peninsula, alongside the Regatta Headquarters building and will be staffed throughout the day.
3. Ice water and electrolytes are available for all participants at the First Aid tent, and near each dock (please do bring your own - but help yourself if you run out or this supply is more appealing!).

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Results and Awards

1. Results will be posted on the Sailing House behind Registration and on Crewtimer.com as soon as possible
2. If you notice any results discrepancies, please notify Results staff who are located on the 2^nd floor of the Sailing House as soon as possible.
3. Awards Ceremonies will occur approx ½ hour after the end of racing for the Tournament Champions perpetual trophies and medals for 1st, 2nd & 3rd places. Also, in the Small Boat Tournament, there are Medals for the fastest Junior or Open/Masters (combined) raw time in each boat class in the final round.
4. Winners of each Round 3 Final and 4th place in The A Final may pick up pins at Registration after results have been posted.

JG

Food, Beer Tent and Regatta Shirts

1. Join the Rebellion potluck on Saturday at the end of racing! RCRC provides a burger (hamburger or veggie) and RCRCers bring the sides.
1. All competitors are invited (Small and Big Boat Tournaments) and additional dishes are welcome but not required. Non-competitors welcome for a donation.
2. RSVP! With the larger event, help us prepare food for the right number of people. TEAM RSVP added to trailer form.
2. Beer Tent: a beer tent will be serving beer from Rebellion sponsor Bike Dog brewing. $8 cash or Apple/Google pay
3. Regatta Shirts: pick up your shirt at the gear tent by the end of racing

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To Do!

Make sure your team does these things to be ready for race day:

1. Be USRowing compliant by June 3.
2. By 6/1, email rebellion@rivercityrowing.org your trailer or cartopper arrival time and phone number of driver, PLUS potluck headcount
3. Notify Registration of any scratches.
4. Share the driving and spectator information with all parents and athletes
5. Get the WhatsApp

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Questions?!

Thanks!