Parent’s Guide to Regattas
Race Format
- Boats line up at the start, race 1,500m or 2,000m to the finish
- Lanes are assigned, boats race side by side
- First boat to cross the finish wins
Boat Types
| Boat | Rowers | Coxswain |
|---|---|---|
| Single (1x) | 1 | No |
| Double (2x) or Pair (2-) | 2 | No |
| Four (4+ or 4x) | 4 | Yes (4+) or No (4x) |
| Eight (8+) | 8 | Yes |
What to Watch For
- Blade timing — are all blades entering and leaving the water together?
- Boat speed between strokes — a well-rowed boat glides between strokes
- The sprint — last 500m is where races are decided
Bring a chair, sunscreen, and patience. Regattas involve a LOT of waiting between races. Your kid might race for 7 minutes after waiting 4 hours. That's rowing.