FAQ
What do I wear to row?
Rowing attire should be water resistant and form fitting.
For material, the less cotton, the better. Remember, you will be on the water so spandex and polyester tend to be good materials as they flick away water.
Long shirts or loose fitting shorts can also get stuck in the tracks of the boat and make it hard to row, so try something that fits well.
For shoes, the team loves crocs and sandals as they are easy to slip off when getting in the boat.
Take a look at our News posts and Photo Wall to get a sense of what the team wears on the water.
How can I support my athlete and the team at the regatta?
Regattas can range from a day to a weekend long event. Occasionally, parents will offer to grill or bring premade food to the event. If you would like to do this, please contact your athlete in order to coordinate plans. We also appreciate your presence as we know some of the regattas are away from home.
I’m really interested, but I’m not sure if I have time.
If you are interested in the team, you will have time. A large portion of the team majors in CEAS and DAAP, so we understand what it is like to have a heavy workload . Many athletes have found ways to work, study, be social, and row throughout the semester. Others row in the morning and go to their co-op jobs afterwards. If you need any advice for time management, older members and coaches will be more than willing to help.
How do I see race results?
The website HereNOW gives race results. Under each race category, the boat will have the bow number, stroke seat’s name, and team. Your category can be found by race type (Open/Collegiate/Novice) and boat type (# of seats and “+” or “x”). For example a quad is 4x and a four is listed as 4+.
What are the different boats called?
The nomenclature of boats are determined by the number of seats and the type of rigging in the boat. "Sweeping" boats have one oar per rower and are called by a numerical value. For example, an 8-seated sweeping boat is called an "eight". sweeping boats can be called an "eight", a "four", and a "pair". "Sculling" boats have two oars per rower and are called "quads", "doubles", or a "single". Generally, sculling boats of 8 seats or "octuples" are not commonly used.
What are head and sprint races?
A head race occurs in the fall season and is typically 4-6 km long. Boats get a moving start on the water and begin one after another. In a sprint race, boats are lined up side by side and race all at once or in larger regattas, in heats. Sprint races are 2 km and occur in the spring season.
Should I bring anything to a regatta?
Weather at regattas can be unpredictable so dress for anything. Regatta sites are also rather large so bring footwear that is comfortable and that you do not mind getting dirty. For viewing it will helpful but not necessary to have binoculars as some venues are more user friendly than others. Other than that it is just like any other sporting event, you can bring your own food and water or stop by the tents and see what different things are at each race.
How do I find my athlete at a regatta site?
Regatta sites can very greatly in size and are hard to navigate if you are not sure what you are looking for. A few places that your athlete may be is the trailer, the vendor village, the food tent or the finish line. Our trailer acts as a home base for the athletes on race day and is a good place to start looking. Our trailer is a large black trailer with our team name on the side and will have an oar strapped to the top with a C-paw flag proudly flying from it.
How do I find out information about regattas?
Most information about regattas can be found on Regatta Central. From this website you can search for the race you would like more information on page will come up showing you race times, venue addresses, parking information, and much more. If you are unable to find what you are looking on Regatta Central, we recommend searching the name of the race as some races, Head of the Hooch and Dad Vail, have their own website independent of Regatta Central. If all else fails reach out to our Vice President of Operations and they will answer your questions.
What kinds of foods are good for regattas?
Food needs for every regatta are different and we do have a few athletes with allergies. The best way to figure out what food to bring is to reach out to your athlete, contact either your athletes coach or the president of the club. All of these email address can be found on the Contact page.
Port? Starboard?
Port and Starboard are the sides of a boat. From the perspective of the rower, port is on the right and starboard is on the left. From the perspective of the coxswains and spectators, port is on the left and starboard is on the right.
What is a coxswain?
A coxswain is the leader of the boat and the only person facing the actual direction of travel. A person in this position is in charge of steering and keeping the crew motivated and updated while in the boat.
Do I need experience to join the team?
No experience is necessary to join and excel with UCRC. A majority of our athletes join the team with no prior knowledge of the sport.
How long is the season for rowing?
Rowing is a year-round sport. In the fall we compete in head race style racing and in the spring we compete in the classic side by side sprint racing. During the cold months we take shelter inside and train on our ergs for the upcoming spring season.
I want to try rowing but I am not sure if I will like it
We understand that it a big time and energy commitment and want you to enjoy being on the team. To help with this we allow new members to have a 2 week trial period before asking that they pay dues.
Are there fees associated with joining the team?
Yes, although we receive some funding from the university we require dues from our athletes in order to pay for items such as race fees, hotels, travel arrangements, equipment, our extremely experienced coaching staff and much more. To offset this, we have group fundraising events called Rent-a-Rowers (RARs) where the athlete can sign up to do yard work or moving for money.