Recovery Dock - Head of the Hooch

H E A D O F T H E H O O C H- 2011 -Coach & Coxswain’s Meeting© Warren-McLelland Aerial Photography 110/30111 – R2

H E A D O F T H E H O O C HSponsors and VendorsWe want to express our thanks to all our sponsors and volunteers whohave made this regatta possible.Please visit the vendor shopping area.Also take time to enjoy a meal at one of the many restaurants in Chattanooga.This year our Sponsors are:2

Welcome to the31 st Hooch• Thank you making last year’s Hooch a great success• 10% increase in boats registered• We have about 1,260 boats on Saturday and over 700 onSunday• We do need your full support to make everything runsmoothly and on time• Please pay particular attention to the launch times andlaunch sequence and dock operating procedures, that areposted at the Registration Tent•Thank you for your continued participation and support!3

Team TentsIMPORTANT INFORMATIONTeam tents can be set up on the grass behind the concreteseating areas. Here are some rules to follow:• Tent width of side facing the river may not exceed 20 feet.• Tent stakes cannot exceed four inches to prevent damage towater lines and power conduits.• By request of the Chattanooga Fire Department, cooking andrunning generators will not be permitted in this viewing area.• Cooking is permitted across the street on the grass areabetween the aquarium buildings. No cooking trailers or mobilegenerators may be driven on the grass, only portable units arepermissible. Teams with cooking gear must bring a fireextinguisher for use in the event of a fire emergency6

ROW FOR THE CURE ®The following races are Row For The Cure events:# 5 - Women's Masters 8+#30 - Women's Youth 4+#35 - Women's Masters 2x#37 - Women's Championship 4+To differentiate these races, special T-shirts areincluded in your registration package. The whole boatshould wear them for these races, and these racesonly7

Launch Times• The final race schedule shows the race times for each race but it also has acolumn with launch times.• This is the time your crew needs to be at the bottom of either the concrete rampor the aluminum ramp, ready to walk onto the launch dock• To be able to run the regatta on time, it is IMPERATIVE that you are at the launchdock at the times indicated in the schedule.• In the morning, we will use the Recovery Dock to launch boats in certainraces. The latest schedule shows which races should go to the Recovery Dock forlaunching. The boats in these races shall use the grass ramp to access theRecovery Dock. (see next slide)• The final schedule has been posted on the result board. There are also copiesavailable here tonight and at the Registration Tent (one per team please!!)8

Launch Times9

Race Calls• It will take between 45 and 60 minutes to row from the launch dockto the staging area at the start line. All boats must be in the start areaat least 10 minutes before the scheduled start time• Some races have a high number of entries, therefore we need tostart launching them earlier, and we will call those races in blocks of15 to 20 bow numbers• The Dock master will call all races ONLY ONCE• We have hand outs with specific instructions for coxswains andteam captains. Please take one before leaving the C&C Meeting10

Race Calls•The aluminum ramp is steep and we recommend that all 8+ shoulduse the concrete ramp• It is the coach’s call to make sure that his/her crews are comfortablewalking down the steeper aluminum ramp• All crew or support team members coming to or onto the dockshould be wearing shoes. Flip flops are not safe11

On Land Traffic Pattern12

Race Operations• The Race Operations’ tent is on the grassy area close tothe launch dock• Safety check (bow balls & foot gear) will be done at thetop of either ramp• Any boat that has been checked either on Friday,Saturday or Sunday may still be subject to spot checking• Make sure your bow number is secured and will not falloff!13

Launching AreaLaunch dock area.© Warren-McLelland Aerial Photography14

Launching• Bring oars onto grass above launch area before scheduled launch time• Approach either aluminum or concrete ramp BOW first with Coxswainleading the BOW of the boat – Coxswain should stay with the bow.• Dock volunteer will watch the stern for you• Walk down the ramp BOW first - stay close to the boat in front of you• Dock staff will let boats onto the launch dock alternately• Follow instructions of dock staff15

Launching• Do not leave shoes or attire on dock• “Crew helpers” must leave launch dock using side egress• No repairs on launch dock• Tie in once you have left the dock and passed under the bridge andheading up-stream•No launching will be permitted less than 30 minutes before scheduledrace timeNO LAUNCHING PERMITTED FROM UTC OR FROM LOOKOUT RC(except for the Adaptive Rowing races)16

Traffic PatternOn the Water17

Traffic PatternOn the Water18© Warren-McLelland Aerial Photography

Staging and Start Area• As you come up to the start area,don’t stop at the start line, keepgoing• There are three yellow, squaremarker buoys, numbered 1 to 3• Referees in launches will tell youto which marker buoy you need toproceed• Further instructions will be givenby officials in the staging area• Once you are in the start chute,you must be at race pace!• DON’T stop rowing in the chute! 20

Staging and Start Area21© Warren-McLelland Aerial Photography

Race Course© Warren-McLelland Aerial Photography 22

Recovery Dock Approach• Once past finish line, keep rowing!• Row past Recovery Dock and red buoys on port side• After passing the last red buoy, look for and follow the instructions ofthe referee/marshals on the water• If you are hot seating, show your hot seat card to the referee• They will tell you how far you need to row before turning around• Each recovery dock has two Flag Men, each flag is of a different color• Referee will tell you towards which flag to row23

Recovery Dock ApproachFlag Procedure24

Recovery Dock Approach• Approach dock following flag instruction• Be aware of current• If you are approaching the dock on the “up-stream side”,aim up-steam to counteract the effect of the current• If you are approaching the dock on the “down-stream side”,aim closer to the dock to counteract the effect of the current• The smaller recovery dock “2” is much less affected bycurrent25

Recovery Dock Approach26

Recovery Dock• Dock crews will help you move the boat down the dock• Please follow dock master’s instructions• Please leave dock immediately• Take all belongings• Watch for boat traffic around Recovery Dock• Walk up grass ramp27

Protests• All protests must be made to an Official on the waterimmediately following the finish of the race• If not reported to an Official on the water, all rights to protestare waived after crew returns to Recovery Dock• After boat has been returned to trailer, a formal Protest mustbe filed with Race Operations no later than 30 minutes afterfinish of race in question. Detailed instructions on how to filea protest can be found on our web site under “Rules ofRacing”• If no protest has been made on the water, followed byformal filing at Race Operations, results will be final28

Hot SeatingProcedures• No Hot Seating permitted on the water or at the recovery dock• If Hot Seating is required, Coach or Coxswain must obtain GreenHot Seating Card from Dock Master at launch dock before launchingfor the first race• Green Hot Seating Card to be carried by Coxswain in first race• While leaving Recovery Dock, show the GREEN Hot Seating Card toOfficials• Proceed with boat toward Launching Dock where second crew mustlaunch immediately. Make sure that the second crew is ready, there isno room to leave your boat in this area29

Hot Seating Procedures30

PenaltiesTo be able to launch and recover over 1,900 boat in a day and ahalf, we need to be very efficient on the launch and recoverydock. Therefore we are maintaining the penalties for delaying thelaunching or recovering on the docks. We know that you will allcooperate and get off the dock ASAP so that we don’t have toimpose this penaltyA 30 second penalty will be assessed to crews that exceed theallowed dock times:• 3.5 minutes for Novice 8+• 3.0 minutes for all other 8+• 2.5 minutes for Novice 4+• 2 minutes for all other31

PenaltiesAll other penalties have remained the same:• 10 second penalty for passing a buoy on the wrong side• 10 second penalty for failing to follow Officials’ instructions• 20 second penalty for interfering with start staging• 30 second penalty for failing to yield to crew with right-of-way• 60 second penalty for crossing the starting line without itsrequired bow number.• Crews observed urinating in the Tennessee River will bedisqualified from racing.ON TIME STARTING WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCEDLATE STARTS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED32

Medals & TrophiesAs in past years, all Hooch sponsors have a trophy in their name.This year, due to logistical issues the Hooch will not be holdingaward presentation ceremonies.All Medals and Trophies will be available for pick up after the raceresults are official.There will be a podium for photo-ops. Please check at the Awardsand Medals Tent for more information33

Last Reminders• The Hooch is your regatta and we need your cooperation to makethis year another fun, safe and enjoyable regatta!• We have a very busy schedule, especially on Saturday• Be ready to launch at the scheduled launch time, with oars alreadyclose to the launch dock and your crew ready to go•Don’t waste time on the launch dock or the recovery dock• KEEP MOVING•Don’t row up to the start by pairs or fours, it takes 45 to 60 minutes toget to the start area, more if you don’t row with a full crew•Don’t forget to take the Instructions sheet for Cox and Crews34

Thank you for coming to the2011 Head of the Hoochin Chattanooga!AndGood luck in all your races!35