Make sure your rower gets a good night’s rest and has a nutritious meal to give them the energy they will need to take on the rigors of race day. Pasta is a great choice and protein.

Particulars of the race venue will be shared prior to race day in email, sign-ups, or coach/rower communications.

It helps to pack your bag before going to sleep to make it a smooth morning. Eat something light the day of, but NOT within two hours of race time.

On to packing…

As you know, spring weather can be wild so you want to be prepared for anything from freezing, wet weather to blistering heat and bugs. Keep a big duffel with the following:

• UNI or tank/trou

• cold gear (under armor, long sleeves)

• sweat pants or cold gear bottom

• extra socks

• slides or Crocs

• hat or beanie for cold

• hat or cap for heat and/or rain

• rain gear: jacket/pants

• rainboots

• sneakers

• towel

• water bottle

• dry clothes

• sunscreen

• bug spray

• lip balm

• garbage bag for wet items

There can be a lot of hurry up and wait at regattas, since they are weather dependent. So, to have a comfortable experience we recommend the following:

• folding camp chair

• cash for parking fees

• binoculars

• rain gear, boots, umbrella

• stadium blanket or throw

• toilet paper/sanitizer

• garbage bags for wet/muddy stuff

• something to read

• first-aid kit

The team will have a tent and team benches at the shell trailer area—this area is off limits to parents and spectators.

The chuckwagon wil have the food tent, where the team and parents gather for meals. Venues will have viewing areas where you may choose to take your chair or if there is room, you may keep it near the food tent.

Meals from breakfast – dinner will be available at the food tent, depending on the times of all races. There is a fee for each person eating, which will generally cover all meals needed for our race day.

• When do we have to arrive? General rule of thumb is to arrive at least 2 hours prior to the start of your race.

• Where do we go? You can look up most regattas on regattacentral.com where there should be links to the host club, maps, and directions. Each venue will have a drop off area for rowers, and they go to the shell trailer.

• Where do parents go? Each venue differs, but you will need to park or take a shuttle (States) to the venue. Find the Lourdes Crew food tent, grab a coffee, plant yourself there or the viewing areas until your race is on.

• When will the race start? For most all races we attend, we try to post a schedule at the food tent. You may also go to regattacentral.com and look up the regatta and check out all the lineups, etc.

• Where is my kid, I want to leave? It is standard practice to wait until all rowers have completed all races and all boats have been loaded back on to the shell trailer before anyone leaves. This takes a while, please be patient. They may also be hungry after all this, so we will have food waiting at the food tent for them. While you are waiting for your rower, you can help pack up the chuckwagon and pack food to go. If anyone has to leave early, they MUST inform their coach ahead of time.