River City Rowing Club�SPRINTS�Coaches & Coxswains Meeting

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

Event Parking

1. Some athlete/coach parking WILL be available in the Upper Parking Lot at RCRC, as all trailers will be in the lots below. Please tell families to CARPOOL so more families can park here. You may also drop off athletes in the upper lot. Drive SLOWLY and CAREFULLY
2. Free street parking is along both sides of Halyard Dr., Del Monte St, Shore St, Terminal St, & Boatman Ave in West Sacramento. Park, walk to the boathouse. NO SHUTTLE
3. For trailers, cartoppers, handicap parking, and hospitality drop-off follow instructions in RegattaPacket
4. See the information packet for additional information and maps.

Spectators

1. The race course cannot be seen from the RCRC Boathouse area, however a wide gravel/dirt trail runs the length of the 2K 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 ~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 ~500m west of the finish line
3. Additional parking is in the shopping areas on Lake Washington Blvd and walk or bike ½ mile to the 1500m dirt pull out area, at Industrial Blvd/Lake Washington Blvd Bridge
4. ***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/Check In is open from 6:00 AM – 7:00 AM AM near the RCRC Boathouse
2. Bring your bow numbers! You will need 1-4
3. All athletes must meet US Rowing compliance requirements. Check In may be withheld until all included athletes meet compliance
4. Email RCRC at sprints@rivercityrowing.com with any scratches or line up changes ASAP, or on race day, fill out a Change Form at Registration
5. See Crewtimer.com for the final schedule and results
6. The Regatta will use the WhatsApp application to make regatta announcements. See the information packet or posted QR codes for the link.

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:
• Protective ball on the bow
• Heel ties attached to the foot stretchers in a way that allows for quick exit in case of emergency
• Coxswain opening that meets minimum width requirements
3. Ensure bow numbers are securely inserted into the boat’s bow number clip

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Race Stoppage

• Race Stoppage: 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, 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 while crews are on the water.

The race course is part of an active shipping port and recreational water way. Should a ship arrive or need to depart the emergency response plan will be activated, and racing paused. If a recreational boat or other previously unknown obstacle presents itself in the course of the race the official will call out “Obstacle!” and direct the crews to avoid, and may for safety stop the race.

Any race stopped on the course for safety may be reraced.

Regatta Communications

Three ways to contact Regatta Staff

• Each Dock Master has a radio to contact the Regatta Director and First Aid; if you are near a dock, tell the Dock Master the concern and they will radio the appropriate person (Regatta Director, First Aid)

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• Message the Regatta Director through the Sprints WhatsApp channel

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• Regatta Staff will most frequently be stationed in the Regatta HQ, the two storey sailinghouse next to the RCRC Boathouse.

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First Aid: the first aid tent is near the RCRC Boathouse, alongside the Registration Tent and will be staffed throughout the day. If you cannot bring your athlete to the tent, use the WhatsApp group to ask for assistance, or alert a Dock Master. For emergencies, call 911 and alert Regatta Staff through one of the three methods above so we can implement our ERP and ensure services reach you promptly.

Docks

1. Be prepared to launch prior to heading to the dock.
2. Follow Dock Masters’ instructions
3. Launching boats have the right of way over returning boats
4. Row slowly approaching the dock areas. Plan for wind
5. Be quick on and off the docks

Race Course

1. Counterclockwise traffic pattern.
2. Do not cross the center line of the river or yellow buoy lines
3. Bridge @ 450M to go: Only race through the large middle bridge span. Only return single file through the narrow northern bridge span
4. THREE LANES through the middle span. Trailing crew must yield

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Start Line

1. For Hot Seating: minimum time to row to the start line (no warm-up) is 10 minutes. Minimum time back from Finish Line is 15-20 minutes.

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• After Warm-up, move to staging area, between the ‘Wires’ and the Start Line.

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• Line boats up in lanes: lane 1 along shore, lane 4 closest to center of waterway.

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• Pay attention to the wind. If wind is blowing to starboard, set up a lane out from shore. If wind is blowing to Port, all lanes tuck in towards shore.

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• Follow the Start Marshal’s commands

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Finish Line

1. The Horn will mark each boat crossing the line. There will be a flag as a visual. The flag timing is off of the Horn
2. Row through the line at least 15 paddle strokes. Ensure the way behind you is clear, then spin and pull towards the North shore.
3. Exit the locks single file along the North shore, through the North, narrow, span of the bridge and stay single file past the pier, to the Basin. Then aim for the docks across the basin.

Results

1. Results will be posted on Crewtimer.com
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. Progression:
• 1-4 entries: lanes reassigned for Round 2
• 5 entries: winners of Round 1 are Flight 1 in Round 2, other 3 are Flight 2
• 6-8 entries: 1st and 2nd place in both heats move to Round 1, 3rd and 4th move to Round 2
• 9 - 11 entries: 1st place to flight 1, 2nd place to flight 2, all others to flight 3
4. No awards this year - get ready for 2027!