Regatta Committee Introductions!

Yes, this year we have a committee! Karen Bush did an outstanding job for the past 3 years but, sadly, her daughter Brooke has graduated. In order to be able to handle ALL that she did, we decided we needed a committee! It’s a huge job and one we hope to successfully accomplish in a fashion worthy of Karen’s legacy!

We thought it would be helpful to send out an email early in the school year giving everyone a heads-up on what to expect in the spring in terms of Camp Cooper, out-of-town regattas and transportation. Once the season gets underway, it proceeds at a furious pace…forms to complete, checks to write, hotels to book, schedules to juggle, etc. We believe Knowledge is Power particularly when it comes to freshman and novice families. So, please take note of the dates and the estimates we have made for the regatta fees. Please keep in mind that the Club does not make a profit on any of the regattas. We merely add up all the expenses (hotels, transportation and, sometimes, a dinner for the rowers and chaperones) and divide the total among the participating rowers. We do our best to find the best deals available.

In addition to notices in the weekly newsletters, we have this “Regatta Roundup” page on the website where you can easily access information. We will update it regularly so everyone gets the same information in a timely manner.

Camp Cooper Spring Break Training: The entire team will be heading to Summerton, SC to attend training camp during Spring Break (tentative dates are March 27-April 2). They will be staying at the R.M. Cooper 4-H Leadership Center (http://www.clemson.edu/yli). The kids/chaperones will travel via a coach bus. The cost per rower last year was $450, which covered transportation, meals, lodging, and instruction.  We realize this can mess up plans for family vacations but, based on feedback from our rowers, it is one of the HIGHLIGHTS of the season.

Out of Town Regattas: We will participate in part, or as the entire team (depending on practice attendance and boat performance during the regular season), in 3 out-of-town regattas. Blocks of hotel rooms have already been booked. Since the season is a long way off and we are all in the dark in terms of which boats will be participating, we have no idea whether or not we have too many or too few rooms. If you want to be very proactive, feel free to book a room on your own in case we do not have enough for parents other than for our designated chaperones. The exception to this is the SRAA Nationals in Saratoga Springs where we know for CERTAIN that it would be a good idea to book your own room now (see further explanation below)! However, make sure you can cancel the room in case your child doesn’t end up going!

• ISA Lake Mercer Sprints - West Windsor, NJ – April 16, 17    http://www.rowpnra.org/mercersuper.html
  Rowers will leave on a Friday morning and return Saturday evening. A small block of rooms for rowers/chaperones has been tentatively booked at the Hyatt Regency in Princeton, NJ. (www.princeton.hyatt.com). Cost per rower in 2009 was $250.
  
  
• 84^th Annual Stotesbury Regatta – Philadelphia – May 14-15    www.boathouserow.org
  This is an incredibly exciting Regatta…the most prestigious high school regatta in the United States. Rowers will leave Thursday morning and return Saturday evening. A large block of rooms has been booked at the Crowne Plaza – Philadelphia Downtown (www.cpphiladelphia.com) that will cover rowers, coaches, chaperones and a number of parents. Cost per rower in 2009 was $355. Also, keep in mind that we will probably run into conflicts with AP Testing but we factor that into the itinerary.
  
  
• SRAA Championship Regatta – Saratoga Springs, NY – May 28-29    http://www.sraa.net      http://www.saratogarowing.com
  Participation in this regatta will depend on how each boat performs at States (VSRC Championship Regatta in Occoquan on May 8).
  Rowers will leave Thursday morning and return Saturday late. A block of rooms has been booked at the Courtyard Marriott (www.courtyardsaratoga.com). Rooms are already very scarce in Saratoga Springs and it is doubtful we will have additional rooms available for parents (other than chaperones). NOTE: To be safe, you may want to consider reserving a room NOW at this hotel or at one nearby.  Cost per rower in 2009 was $300. Again, keep in mind that we will probably run into conflicts with SOL testing.
  
  
• Canadian Championships – St. Catharines, Ontario – June 4-6    http://www.cssrarowing.ca
  There is a chance that a select number of varsity boats may compete at this regatta.  No further details at this time.

Chaperones: If you are available to chaperone at any of these events, please contact Laura Warren and she will forward the information to the appropriate committee member. We will need one chaperone for approximately every nine rowers.

Chaperoning at Camp Cooper is a little different from the out-of-town regattas. The chaperone responsibilities are more mellow at spring break. There is no pressure to get an entire boat to a racecourse on time at the crack of dawn. When the kids are on the water, you can use your down time to read a book, sit in the sun, ride in the launch with the coaches (invitation only!). It is a unique chance to learn about the sport and observe the coaches and the rowers from a “fly on the wall” vantage point. You will have time to get to know your rower’s boat mates and the rest of the team in a way that is not afforded during the regular competitive season. The Club rewards your personal sacrifice by paying for all of your expenses including food.  We need at least 5 chaperones for Camp Cooper…so far, we have Laura Warren, Chris Parker, Terri Harper and Kent Arnold. Again, let Laura Warren know if you are interested in attending Camp Cooper.

Spring Daily Practice Transportation:  These details will be addressed again in the spring, but a few things are worth mentioning now. Assuming the weather cooperates, the adjustment to on the water practice in the spring will be a smooth transition.  The debut of the spring season (scheduled for March 1, 2010) means the winter practice schedule no longer applies.  Kids will be transported to Thompsons Boat Center by a chartered bus (or they can drive their own car) every day leaving from MHS and returning to MHS. Weather conditions dictate if we will have on the water practice.  The coaches make the decision by 10 am the day of.  Why 10am?  If we cancel bus service by 10 am, the bus company credits us for the day.  This does not mean that practice is canceled - it just means that the water is unsafe and that practice will probably be held at the trailers.  To find out if we have on the water practice, check your morning emails for practice alerts, our website, the bulletin board at the activities office, and announcements regarding after-school activities. Finally, if the bus is in front of the school after dismissal – your child should get on it because it means we have practice!

We realize this is a lot of information and we hope you find it helpful!

If you have any questions, please ask us now or at any point in the year. We are more than happy to do our best in answering them!   We are looking forward to a great year of rowing!