Regatta schedule

Juniors - USRowing junior definitions apply: A junior is a competitor who will not attain the age of 19 in 2006, or who is and has been continuously enrolled in secondary school as a full time student seeking a diploma. A junior 16 is a competitor who will not attain the age of 17 during 2006. A competitor's age is determined as of December 31, 2006.

Masters - USRowing master definitions apply: A master is a competitor who has attained or will attain the age of 27 during 2006. A = 27-35; B = 36-42; C = 43-49; D = 50-54; E = 55-59; F = 60-64; G = 65-69; H = 70 and over. Average age of the crew determines eligibility. The age category of a masters crew shall be determined by the average age of the crew, rounded down to the highest contained integer. Time handicaps will be applied in any masters event that combines two or more categories. A competitor's age is determined as of December 31, 2006.

• The new masters AA category will not be recognized. With 82 events, we feel we provide ample opportunity for everyone to compete.

Novices - A novice is a rower who has never rowed in a rowing race prior to January 1, 2006. Specifically excluded from the "novice" category are rowers who have raced before as sweep rowers but are racing for the first time as scullers.

Mens and womens open singles will have petite finals.

Intermediate/Senior/Open - "Intermediate" and ""senior" are "classifications by skill" defined by the USRowing Rules of Racing. Basically, if you have to ask, you're probably an intermediate. Everyone is an intermediate until they win a national championship or at Canadian Henley.

Octuple Sculls - The octuples scull event is an open event. In order to encourage more participation, handicaps will be assigned by the regatta director, at his sole discretion, to all masters crews. Mixed crews will be allowed. Handicaps for junior crews will also be considered. You must notify the regatta director if you change your line-up, with names and dates of birth.

Master's Mixed Double - The Betty Shepherdson Memorial Award will be presented to the winner of the master's mixed double. The names of each year's winners will be permanently inscribed on a bronze plaque to be displayed at Malta Boat Club. Special individual awards will be presented to the winning contestants. USRowing masters age handicaps will be used in determining the event winner.

Progressions

• 2 heats: top 3 advance to finals. If only 7 boats in field, 3 advance from one heat and 2 advance from the other heat. For heats where not all competitors show up, advancement will remain as listed here: For 2 heats with 3 to advance, for example, and only 3 boats appear at the starting line, all 3 will advance, subject to maintaining racing pressure and cadence in accordance with the Rules of Rowing.
• 3 heats: top 2 advance to finals.
• 4 heats: top 3 advance to semi-finals
• 6 heats: top 2 advance to semi-finals
• Semi-finals: top 3 advance to finals

How to Enter

Entry Deadline - On-line entry at Regatta Central must be completed by Thursday, June 22. After that date, entries will be accepted at the discretion of the regatta director on a "lane available" basis and with a $10 per boat late fee. If you do not take advantage of the paperless entry system, the printed Regatta Central invoice, entry fees and competitor waivers are due on Monday, June 27, 2006. (Address below.)

Register Now!

Click here for details on how to enter at Regatta Central.

An optional completely paperless entry system: Submit all your entries and pay with your VISA credit card at Regatta Central. For USRowing members, Regatta Central maintains a database of members who have sent USRowing a signed waiver that applies to all registered regattas, including the Independence Day Regatta. With credit card payment at Regatta Central and signed waivers on file at USRowing, no paperwork is required.

Mailing Address - If not paying by credit card at Regatta Central, mail or drop off your Regatta Central invoice, entry fees and signed competitor waivers to:

Entry Fees
8	$128
4+	$75
4x	$63
2-, 2x	$39
1x	$32

Independence Day Regatta
c/o Schuylkill Navy
#4 Boathouse Row
Kelly Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19130

Fees are non-refundable after June 22, 2006. Checks must accompany the printed Regatta Central invoice. Please make checks payable to "Schuylkill Navy".

Questions - Contact Clete Graham via e-mail or via phone at 302-479-9294. E-mail will get you a faster answer.

The course

• Click on the map at right for a full-sized satellite image of the race course.
• All dash races will be 1/4 mile, starting at the top of the island.
• The disabled doubles, novice singles and all masters races will be 1000 meters.
• All other events will be 2000 meters.
• There will be stake boats at the 2000 meter starting line only.
• All crews must pass under their lane number on Strawberry Mansion Bridge. Violators may be excluded (disqualified).

• Races will be held in the order listed. There will be no exceptions to this.
• Racing will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Friday and 8:00 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday unless large numbers of heats necessitate an earlier start time.
• Races will not be delayed for crews that are late to the line for any reason. Crews should be in their lanes and, for 2000 meter races, locked onto the stake boat two minutes before the start of their race.
• The safest and fairest way to run 250 races in July heat is to keep the regatta on schedule. We will be ruthless in starting races on time and will not hold races for any reason.

Weigh-ins

Weigh-ins will be held from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. on Friday and 6:30 to 10:00 on Saturday and Sunday at the Canoe Club. Competitors must weigh in each day they compete. Only one weigh-in per day is required. Coxswains do not weigh in.

Per the recommendations of the USRowing Sports Medicine Committee, athletes must be within two pounds of the required weight on the first try, or they will not be allowed to weigh-in again. If they are within two pounds they are allowed to return up to two additional times.

All races will be timed with our high speed, high resolution FinishLynx camera.

Results will be processed and distributed by RaceDay software. Results will be uploaded to our web site within minutes of each race's completion. Results will also be printed at the Canoe Club for visiting crews within minutes of race completion.

Awards - Schuylkill Navy wristwatches will awarded to winners in all events.

Directions to the race course

Parking will be challenging. There will be significant restrictions throughout the regatta. Please read this. We do not use the Three Angels for this regatta; all out-of-town boats launch from the Canoe Club. Download and print a parking pass.

Volunteers - We need volunteers. If you have a few hours between races, come to the regatta HQ tent at the Canoe Club and offer your services.

• Motorboat drivers - We pay $5 an hour, minimum half day shift, with free lunch for people working all day. Contact Dona File.
• Stakeboat holders - We pay $5 an hour, minimum half day shift, with free lunch for people working all day. Contact Anne Miller.
• Other positions - Administrative, finish tower, dockmasters, starters assistants, go-fers. We need 'em all. Contact Clete Graham.

If fewer than three entries are received or if all the entries are from the same club, the event will be scratched and the clubs will be notified.

No competitor may represent two different clubs in the regatta. Boats composed of members from various clubs should register as composite crews on their entry form.

Waiver forms - Every competitor must complete a waiver form and return it to Schuylkill Navy by Monday, June 26, 2006. No competitor will be allowed to race without a signed waiver on file. Individual USRowing members now may sign a waiver only once per year for all USRowing-registered regattas, including the Independence Day Regatta. Regatta Central will confirm waiver compliance by verifying each entrant's USRowing membership number with USRowing.

Athletes are encouraged to fax their annual waiver to USRowing and ensure that their USRowing member number is included with their roster record in RegattaCentral. Coaches who submit entries for their athletes are encouraged to update their rosters and make sure each athlete's USRowing member number is included in the roster.

Bow numbers & bow balls - No shell may launch without a bow ball and no shell may race without its appropriate lane number affixed to its bow. It's the only way we can tell who you are as you cross the finish line. Any crew reporting to the starting line without a bow number will be assessed a warning ("false start"). A second warning will result in exclusion from the race. Each crew must supply its own bow numbers. Bow numbers will not be provided; however, bow numbers will be available for sale at the Regatta Headquarters tent at the Canoe Club, $12 for a set of 6.

Uniforms - All crews must wear matching shirts. "Matching" means identical in style, color, and detail, including any insignia. No crew will be permitted to race in violation of this rule.

Bow-coxed boats - Bow-coxed boats must adhere to USRowing rules governing the size of the opening, i.e., minimum 2.3 foot long longitudinally, minimum 1.64 foot length as wide as inner hull, inner surface smooth and free of obstacles.

Vendors/Advertising - All manufacturers, clubs, and sellers of rowing related equipment and goods are welcome to apply for vendor space. For more information, please contact Anne Miller.

We'll have a vendor's tent at the Canoe Club again this year. Please support our vendors and make a visit. Buy an official Independence Day Regatta t-shirt!