Course map PDF here

The start line is located approximately three miles downstream from the boat launching area. The approximately 3800 meter racecourse runs North UP RIVER in the center. The downstream side of the Charter Oak Bridge is approximately 1500 meters from the finish line. The finish line is just south of the Founders Bridge. (The course map is available at regatta central.

Boats launching from Riverside will be directed to go north (towards the railroad bridge) and CROSS the river, then proceed south toward to the starting line. All crews are required to keep to the east side of the river while proceeding to the start. Note that the East side of the river also has a travel lane for crews launching from the Trinity College boathouse.

Marshals will be positioned in launches in the starting area for the purpose of organizing participating crews above the start into the proper starting order and time interval. Boats must be in the starting area in sequential start order at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time – late starts will not be permitted. 

At the start, crews will be called to the start chute on approximately ten second intervals. Starting order shall be determined by random draw after the top ten finishers from the previous year’s regatta have been seeded. 

Crews shall be responsible for maintaining their proper starting position, for maintaining the proper interval between themselves and other crews and for aligning themselves in the starting chute.

For safety purposes and efficiency of starting boats, the committee asks coaches to please refrain from sending unsafe coxswains out on the water. If, in the judgment of the Dockmaster or Start Marshal, a coxswain is considered unsafe the boat will be not be allowed to race. All coxswains are strongly encouraged to attend the coach & coxswain meeting the morning of the event.

Hot-seating (of equipment and personnel) will be performed at the crew’s risk of missing an event. Note that we cannot accommodate holding a boat or hot seating on the docks, and that two hours is the minimum we recommend between event times for an athlete or line up to not be late to the line and therefore unable to race. Crews are advised to launch approximately 60 minutes before their scheduled race time.

Competitors are responsible for allowing sufficient time to race in one event, land, re-queue, and launch in time for an additional event. We recommend two hours between event start times as a minimum for an athlete or line up to not be late to the line. Under no circumstances will the start of an event be held up waiting for a late boat. The Head of the Riverfront Regatta accepts no responsibility for missed start times. 

Unless otherwise officially informed by the chief referee or regatta control, all boats should assume that the regatta is running on time and in accordance with the pre-published schedule of start times.

Accordingly, all boats, must launch in time to report to the marshals above the start line, and to be marshaled by them, no later than 10 minutes before the scheduled start time for their event. We recommend launching from the docks at Riverside Park no later than 60 minutes from start.

 FINISH: Participants must pass between the finish line buoys at the Riverfront Plaza and proceed under

the Founders Bridge toward the Bulkeley Bridge past the buoy. Return traffic to Great River or Trinity boathouse will turn and proceed to the east side of the River. Crews continuing north to the docks at Riverfront’s Boathouse at Riverside Park will continue under the Bulkeley Bridge on the west side of the river.