REGATTA 101: Sandy Run Regattas
OUR TEAM WORKS HARD ALL WINTER SO THEY CAN GIVE THEIR ALL DURING REGATTA SEASON —
HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR REGATTA DAY, SO THE REGATTA-WATCHING EXPERIENCE IS AS GREAT FOR FAMILIES & FANS AS BEING ON THE WATER IS FOR OUR ATHLETES.
Some important things to keep in mind:
The weather may change significantly over the course of the day, so be prepared and dress in layers and comfortable walking shoes
FOR UP-TO-THE-MINUTE WEATHER CONDITIONS, CHECK OUT WEATHER UNDERGROUND'S SANDY RUN FINISH LINE STATION
If your athlete’s boat makes the finals, you may be at the river for several hours
Parking is very limited, and all spectators (non-athletes, coaches, volunteers, or officials) must park off-site and take a shuttle bus to get to Sandy Run (which requires $15 cash roundtrip). For complete PARKING & SHUTTLE INFORMATION, click here.
Once the shuttle drops you off at Sandy Run, there is a ~1/2 mile hilly walk through the woods to get to the grandstand to watch the races. (Alternatively, an additional shuttle is available for $5 one-way that gets you much closer.)
A good rule of thumb is to plan to arrive at the remote parking lot 1-1.5 hours before your athlete’s race in order to make it to the grandstand in time to see their race.
Cell service at Sandy Run on regatta days is not very reliable. It’s a good idea to print out a heat sheet just before you leave and bring it with you to follow the action. Then take advantage of an opportunity to unplug and enjoy a day outside.
Don't worry - we'll bring the boats.
WHAT TO BRING:
ATHLETES:
ALWAYS BRING YOUR UNIS! Your boat cannot race without them unless VASRA has announced a weather waiver, and yes, it happens that rowers forget. Bring your tech shirts as well for cold days. Bring them even if you're not scheduled to race, just in case
CASH - if you want Retagtta themed shirts or concessions, you will need to have cash as VASRA is not able to accept credit/debit cards or checks.
Many teammates also bring sleeping bags to keep warm in the boathouse in between races
Bring all the things you normally bring to practice - a full water bottle, SUNSCREEN, and snacks for the day. Also bring layers of dry clothing for in between races.
Extra roll of toilet paper - just in case for the Sandy Run port-a-johns
Cell phones, portable chargers, and cords (there are very few available outlets, and you may need to contact your ride at the end of your racing day)
PARENTS:
CASH - if you want regatta-themed shirts or concessions, you will need to have cash as VASRA is not able to accept credit/debit cards or checks.
Folding chairs, stadium seat cushions, or a blanket to sit on (the grandstands are concrete)
Sunscreen, sunglasses, & hat
Binoculars & a camera
Snacks & water
Tissues & hand sanitizer
A book or reading materials for in between races
Umbrellas or other rain gear if it looks cloudy — weather changes quickly at the river, and the grandstand sunshade is not water-tight.
WHAT TO WEAR:
One word: LAYERS. It can be cold and clammy at the river at 8 a.m., then tank-top weather by noon. If it's cold, you will often see families in the grandstands sitting under blankets with warm mittens, and if it looks even a little cloudy, a light rain jacket can be a good idea, Just be comfortable - it can be a long day.
A wide-brimmed hat can be a lifesaver (and a back-of-your-neck saver) on sunny days. We always recommend wearing Crew gear so we can find each other in the grandstands — it is great to sit with other Oakton parents to cheer on our boats together. If you need a bit of spiritwear, check out our STORE, or our offerings from Squadlocker or Boathouse when available.
The most important thing you can put on is a pair of comfortable walking shoes — even if you take a shuttle to the grandstands, there is a lot of walking on uneven ground to get around on race days. The parking lots are mostly gravel and fields, so you will get muddy after a rain. The river trail from the Boathouse to the grandstands is approx. one mile, and it's a beautiful but hilly hike, so be prepared.
WHERE TO watch & HOW TO FOLLOW the Action:
ON RACE DAY: If you are volunteering near the boathouse area, please pay careful attention to teams porting boats up and down the hill - if you hear a very loud 'HEADS UP' then you may want to duck. Teams carrying a 250-pound boat up or down the hill, or in and out of the boneyard or boathouse, do not have fine control or finesse to watch out for you. Keep your head on a swivel and pay attention to your surroundings if you don't want to be hit by a very large boat.
Regatta Central is also a great resource for checking club entries before a race, and is the hub for almost every regatta in the United States.
We will try our best to update Slack/TeamSnap with results during the day, but sometimes the cell reception at Sandy Run is difficult on race days due to high volume of use.
All spectators are permitted to view the races from the Grandstand area only. Spectators are not allowed to be at the physical finish line as that is an area reserved for officials, volunteers, and coaches. For details on how to get to the grandstand, check out the Parking and Dropoff information further up this page.
Keep an eye on Row2K for photos after a regatta it's also a fun site to poke around for general information about rowing across the country.
OarSpotter has a complete guide to all oar blade designs for high school teams in the U.S. and Canada.