Go early and plan to stay all day
Parking is often limited at regatta sites so you want to arrive early to find space. Be prepared to walk longer distances if you arrive later in the day. If you are a chaperone, you must plan to stay all day as rowers are expected to be there when the boats arrive and stay until the boats are loaded at the end of the day.
Dress for everything
No matter the time of year, a long regatta day can have all types of weather. The better you prepare, the more you’ll enjoy the day. Mornings are almost always chilly and sometimes it’s a long day in the rain. Take plenty of layers and warm socks. A change of clothes or shoes are often needed if it’s raining. There is often mud even without rain. Bring a hat and a good pair of sunglasses – if the sun does come out you’ll be looking at water and the reflection can be very strong. You can never bring too many clothes (at least the first time).
Bring anything you might need
At most regattas there is no store nearby. Bring whatever personal items you might need, including bug spray, sunscreen, chairs, umbrella, something to read…whatever items that make you comfortable during the long event. Our food tent is for both the rowers and the parents, but plan on bringing any of your favorite foods and drinks. Binoculars are also recommended as the rowers are often a long distance away from the spectator area during most of the event. Bring a camera with good zoom lens if you hope to capture pictures of the action, your camera phone usually won’t take good distance photos.
What to do the rest of the day
Regattas are almost always very long days. The best way to pass the time is to volunteer and socialize with other parents. We need help with set-up and tear down, with food prep and service, and there is cleaning up all day long. Sometimes parents are needed to run errands (pick up coffee, sandwiches, etc.). Bring a chair, a blanket and even a book or computer to pass the time. At some locations there are great trails and paths for walking, running or biking.
Keeping yourself nourished
We provide food for rowers and usually for chaperones. Regattas are not usually in areas with stores so bring enough food and drink for a full day if you are not eating at the tent. Bringing your own full water bottle is always a good idea.
Transporting your gear
A fold up wagon is the best way to transport all your gear from the car to the regatta HQ. Like stated above, parking may be a long way from the tent, and lugging all the day’s gear without a wagon is a real pain the back.
Other things to know
The boat area can get very congested. It is meant for coaches and rowers who are rigging or derigging boats and getting ready for races. Use caution if you need to go through this area. Most large regattas sell T-shirts and other rowing gear. If you’re interested, buy early as they run out of sizes by the afternoon. It’s good to bring extra cash with you for vendors and parking as there won’t be ATMs nearby. It’s a good idea to pack and load the car the night before. Help your rower prepare the first time but encourage them to be independent in their sport. Mark all their clothes, especially their unis, with their names. They should only carry one bag with their things – with 100’s of rowers it can get very chaotic and personal items often get lost.