• Rowers should arrive at Camden Catholic ten minutes before the start of practice. All rowers will stretch prior to the on-water practices.
• Each rower is expected to be at every practice. Only a coach can excuse a rower from practice. If a rower cannot attend practice it is his or her responsibility to notify a coach.
• All injuries must be reported promptly to the coaches.
• Seat assignments and the race day schedule will be relayed to the rowers on Friday or Saturday before race day.

The web site for the Schuylkill Navy, www.boathouserow.org , will have the racing schedule for the current season. Camden Catholic will compete in the Manny Flick Series Regattas (March through April). Usually each school takes a bye in one of the five Flick races. A history of the Manny Flick Regattas is on the Schuylkill Navy Web Site. We will also probably be competing in other races later in the season. This website will serve to keep everyone informed as we enter races.

Race Day Menu for Rowers

Pre-race menu – water, Gaterade or juice • fruits or fruit salad • bagels • chicken • NO candy or sweets (aka "mud")

Post-race menu – burgers, hotdogs • fries, chips • anything that tastes good

Race Day Procedure

... is the reward for a dedicated, focused and challenging practice week. On the Schuylkill, the regattas start in March. The usual start time is 12:00 noon. Weather and course conditions will dictate later starts. Rowers must be at the designated area one-hour before their race time. The coaches will make a final decision about the time the day before the race. Coxswains will shove off from the dock approximately 45 minutes before race time.

... coxswains will have their crews at the up-river marshalling area 15 minutes before the race and at the start line five minutes before the start time. Once all the shells in the race are aligned at the starting line, (approximately 300 meters up river from the Strawberry Mansion Bridge) the judge raises a white flag. The starter then raises a white flag. When all crews are ready and aligned, the starter will give the command, Attention, Go. Simultaneously the starter drops a white flag. A false start occurs when a shell moves across the start line before the white flag is dropped. The boats will be realigned and restarted. If there is an equipment problem within 100 meters of the start line, the race may be stopped and restarted. Once the race is off, officials in motorized launches follow the shells down the course.

The officials observe the race for safety and fairness. They provide the official finish times and the officials in the Tower provide the place and time for all the shells in the race. If a shell veers out of its assigned lane, the official holds up a white flag as a warning and if a red flag is raised, this indicates the race is stopped.

The racecourse is 1500 meters. Usually up to six boats can race at a time. Lane 1 is closest to the shore and lane 6 is the farthest from shore. Depending on the event and weather conditions the race usually takes between four and seven minutes.

Due to the terrain along the Schuylkill, a spectator can literally follow a race down the course (on a bike). If you are located at the Canoe Club you can see the start of the race and if you are in the Grandstand you have an excellent view of the last 500 meters and the finish of the race. For more information see How to Watch a Race

Parking Passes

Directions

From Center City Philadelphia:  Take 676 east to Ben Franklin Bridge.  Follow Route 30 East to Route 70.   Follow signs for Cuthbert Road.  Take Cuthbert Road South towards the Hilton Hotel.  The race course is directly across the street.

From Cherry Hill/Marlton: Take Route 70 West.  Proceed approximately 4 miles past the 295 overpass to Cuthbert Road.  Take Cuthbert Road (2nd exit) over Route 70 (heading South) towards the Hilton Hotel.  The race course is directly across the street.

Click here for detailed directions and a map and more information about the Manny Flick races.


Back to top