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green FLAGLast Updated: 4:22pm - Aug 29, 2023
Youth Racing

2024 Rowing Season Information

The 206th Royal St. John’s Regatta has been tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, August 7th, 2024. Please note, this is weather pending.

2024 REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN

Click here to Register Your Team

        1. Once you complete your Crew Registration, RSJRC will issue an invoice and email it to the Crew Contact Person.
        2. Payments should be sent preferably by Email Money Transfer (EMT) to [email protected] or by cheque made payable to The Royal St. John’s Regatta Committee Inc.
          (Please include your Team Name in the memo section of your EMT or Cheque)
        3. Once payment is received, RSJRC will issue a receipt and again email it to the Crew Contact Person.

BOOKING WITH VERIBOOK

Crew Registration, Waivers, Vulnerable Sector Screening (if applicable) and Payment to be submitted prior to crews receiving Veribook access for crews to go on the water..

Please send an e-mail to [email protected] with any questions.

SPIN LENGTH/TIMES

Spin times will be 45 minutes in length for the 2024 Rowing Season. If required, spin length times and spin start/end times will be adjusted based on operational demands.

The start time for the First Spin of the Day will be modified accordingly throughout the season based on sunrise for rower safety and provide staff adequate time to safely bring safety boat to the wharf.

The end time for the Last Spin of the Day will be modified accordingly throughout the season based on sunset. Crews are to respect the end spin time for rower safety and to ensure staff have adequate time to moor the safety boat.

Spin times TBD


Veribook:

  • Booking times 12:30pm
      • Friday: Book for Monday & Tuesday
      • Monday: Book for Wednesday & Thursday
      • Wednesday: Book for Friday & Saturday
  • 1 person per crew allowed to book spins per booking day.
  • Crews can only book one spin on Saturday.
  • Book 1 spin per day during the initial booking system opens
  • Crews can only book one spin per day on the day the booking system opens for that day.
  • if there are spin times available at 3:00 pm on the day the spin times open, crews can book one additional spin time per booking day.

For Example:

On Friday, crews can book 1 spin for Monday and 1 spin for Tuesday. At 3:00pm on Friday, if there are spins available for Monday and Tuesday, crews can book a second spin for Monday and Tuesday.

On Monday, crews can book 1 spin for Wednesday and 1 spin for Thursday. At 3:00pm on Monday, if there are spins available for Wednesday and Thursday, crews can book a second spin for Wednesday and Thursday.

Wednesday, crews can book 1 spin for Friday and 1 spin for Saturday. At 3:00pm on Wednesday, if there are spins available for Friday, crews can book a second spin for Friday.

Crews can only book one spin on Saturday.

The booking system will be monitored. If crews are not following the spin booking rules accordingly, the Regatta Committee has the right to cancel a crew’s spin time. Should crews not follow the booking rules, additional booking penalties will occur.

If you have questions or would like clarification, please reach out via email to [email protected]

2024 UPDATE: ANNUAL VULNERABLE SECTOR SCREENING

**IMPORTANT: 2024 REQUIREMENT**

ALL COACHES, COXSWAINS and TEAM MANAGERS who are participating with a team (registered or as a spare), where a member is under the age of 18 are required to complete a Vulnerable Sector Check for each season.

This is a mandatory requirement to align with the safety and best practices of other sporting organizations. This is essential, as coaches, coxswains and/or team managers are in a position of authority and are entrusted with the well-being of youth and/or vulnerable person(s).

OBTAINING A VULNERABLE SECTOR CHECK

To receive an exemption from the $20.00 fee, you will first need to obtain a letter from the Royal St. John’s Regatta Committee. To do this

  1. Click here to Request an Exemption Letter.
  2. When you receive your letter RSJRC, click the link below and follow the instructions.
  3. Completed Vulnerable Sector Checks are mailed via Canada Post directly to RSJRC for review. ** Processing takes an average of 15 business days, please apply early to avoid any delays in processing, especially in the busy spring/summer months. **

Royal St. John’s Regatta Committee will not be accepting a Vulnerable Sector Screening from any other organization.

2024 ROWING SEASON REGISTRATION FEES

** Note: For the 2024 Season, Crews who Register and pay BEFORE April 12, 2024 will receive a 10% discount (before HST)**

Race Category Cost per Team
Masters (W 41+ | M 46+) $2,070+HST
Senior $2,070+HST
(U21) $2,070+HST
(U18) $2,070+HST
(U16) $1,150+HST
(U14) $747.50+HST
Out of Town Crew $435+HST

**Fees must be paid in full prior to receiving access to book your first spin**

2024 KEY DATES

**Please note, all dates are TENTATIVE, subject to change and weather pending.

  • Friday, April 12, 2024 – Last day to receive a 10% discount on Registration Fees
  • April 2024: Tentative: Ice MeltErg Indoor Rowing Challenge
  • Monday, April 29, 2024: The opening of the Royal St. John’s Regatta Boathouse
  • Saturday, June 22, 2024: June Day Races
  • Saturday, July 13, 2024: Time Trials
  • Wednesday, July 17, 2024: Shell Draw
  • Saturday, July 20, 2024: Placentia Regatta
  • Saturday, July 27, 2024: Harbour Grace Regatta
  • Thursday, August 1, 2024: Under 19 Rower’s Celebration
  • Wednesday, August 7, 2024: The 206th Anniversary Royal St. John’s Regatta (#RSJR24)
  • August 2024: Tentative: Fall Rowing Begins

Online Booking System

Important Note: Crews must register using our online registration and have submit their payment and waivers before they will be permitted to make a booking. Once registration, payment and waivers are complete you will be sent an email with a user name and password for the online booking site.

Rowing Season Participant Waiver

For a step-by-step instructions on how to use the online booking system, please see our online booking system guide.

booking system guide

Important Note: It is not possible to restrict how many booking are made. The current rule of only one morning and only one evening practice per crew per day still stands. If a crew does double book in the morning or evening they will be first given a warning, with subsequent infractions leading to increasing penalties of the number of days that their account will be locked. If this rule continues to be abused we will have to return to the telephone system.

How to Establish a Team

You’re interested in rowing, but, don’t know where to start? You’ve come to the right place. Here is a handy guide for those new to the Royal St. John’s Regatta.

  • Find Five Other People
  • Find a Coxswain
  • Categories
  • Find a Sponsor
  • Register Your Team
Learn More

Chevron Learn to Row

If you are a new rower with a full crew (six rowers), or an individual rower looking to get your foot in the door to create a new group, this program may be what you are looking for! This includes individual and group sessions, Rowing and Boat Orientation, Technical Rowing Instruction and on-water mentoring.

Learn More

Winter/Spring Training Program

The Rules

Here are your guidelines for crew composition, team registration, time trials, and more. Get the rules of the races!

Learn More

COUNTDOWN to the 2024 Royal St. John's Regatta

Age Categories
Age Categories

Age Categories

U14

For any oarsperson between the age of 10 and 13 as of December 31 of the year of the regatta. U14 row a modified course and must wear approved flotation devices at all times.

Rowing during sanctioned events may be impacted by weather and is at the discretion of the Captain of the Course.

If the oarsperson is 10, 11 or 12 they may only row U14. If they are 13 they may row U14 or U16 but only one age category in any regatta. For any oarsperson rower age 14 on Dec. 31st they must row U16 or potentially U18.

U16

Any oarsperson under the age of 16 as of December 31 this year.

U18

Any oarsperson under the age of 18 as of December 31 this year.

U21

Any oarsperson under the age of 21 as of December 31 this year.

Senior

All registered oarspersons who are not rowing as Squirt, Midget, Juvenile, Intermediate or Masters.

Women Masters (41+)

A female oarsperson who shall be 41 years of age as of December 31 this year.

Men Masters (46+)

Any oarsperson who shall be 46 years of age as of December 31 this year.

Coxwains must be 19 years of age as of December 31 of this year.

Minimum age of any oarsperson is 10 years, as of December 31 this year.

Course Layout

The course of the Royal St. John’s Regatta is possibly the most unique boat racing course in the world. Unlike most other racing courses, the length of Quidi Vidi Lake forces competitors to turn a set of buoys at the bottom of the pond in the full course, and a set of buoys at the center of the pond for the half course.

Both courses follow the same set of rules for conduct and sportsmanship.

Full Course

With an overall length of 2.45 km (1.52 miles), the full course is a grueling testimony to the sport of boat racing. The crew must line themselves at their respective stake and, when the signal is given, race to their designated buoy at the bottom of the pond.

Should one full minute elapse with no mis-start, accident or equipment damage, the race is considered official and will not be stopped unless an emergency occurs.

The first crew reaching their buoy will be given right of way to round the buoy. To successfully complete the course, crews must round the buoy on the south side, and approach their starting stake on the north side. The distance between the buoys at the top of the pond is 36.5 meters (119.75 feet) and at the foot of the pond they are 15.7 meters (51.5 feet).

Half Course

Though a shorter course, it is no less grueling or impressive to watch.

The length of the course comes in at 1.225 km (0.76 miles) and like the full course, crews must reach their buoys and round them on the south side, approaching their starting positions from the north.

The distance between buoys are the same in both courses as is giving right of way to the crew which reaches their buoy first.

Racing at Dawn
Regatta Shell Footing
Regatta Memories

Committee Color Assignment for Racing Shells

Brown Bottom Shells

Shell Name Colour
Pomerleau Gold
Cougar Helicopters Soteria Blue
Gerry Angel Green
Dictator Red
Iceberg Gold White
Miss Tubular Tan

White Bottom Shells

Shell Name Colour
The OZ Network Gold
The Newfoundland Herald Blue
Smith Stockley Green
The Henley Red
President’s Choice White
The Broker Tan

Fibreglass Group A Shells

Shell Name Colour
Miss India II Gold
Stroke of Power Blue
Smith Stockley II Green
Catherine M Red
The NTV Network White
The Ranger Tan

Fibreglass Group B Shells

Shell Name Colour
Lamb’s Palm Breeze Gold
HydroWise Blue
The Telegram Green
The Sea-Hawk Red
The CBC White
The Marine Institute Tan

St. John’s Rowing Club

Located in the Boathouse on Quidi Vidi Lake, the St. John’s Rowing Club is the only sliding seat rowing club in Newfoundland. The club offers many learn-to-row programs, geared towards all ages and experiences, offers high school and college programs, and also acts as the main training facility for the Newfoundland Rowing Team.

With certified coaches and well planned programs the club can meet all of your rowing needs. Please visit their website or contact them via phone at 576-0082 or e-mail [email protected] for more information on how you can get involved in slide-seat rowing.

sjrc.ca
St. John's Rowing Club
Royal St. John's Regatta Day Rowing Turn

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What are the requirements to row in the Regatta?

    In order to row in the Royal St. John’s Regatta, you must have a team of six (6) regular oarspersons, and a certified Coxswain. Most teams have a sponsor to provide financial support as well. Having a spare would be ideal in case someone cannot make a practice or in case anything goes wrong Regatta Day, but is not required. A coach or manager would also be ideal, but is not required.

  • How do I start rowing?

    Please see our How to Establish a Team page for more information on how to start a new rowing team. There are many ways to get involved with fixed-seat rowing. The best way would be to contact our Technical Coordinator at the boathouse, who will be organizing our Learn To Row Programs and will be putting together crews throughout the summer. We also have a Facebook page and bulletin boards at the boathouse which many people use to notify that they are looking for crews, rowers, coxswains, etc.

  • What is the “Learn to Row” programs?

    The Chevron Learn to Row (CLTR) program is a free program offered by the Royal St. John’s Regatta Committee to teach newcomers the sport of fixed-seat rowing. Please visit the Chevron Learn to Row page for more information.

  • What are the June Day Races?

    The June Day Races are a practice regatta held toward the end of June. For new and experienced crews, it is a chance to experience a race scenario before Time Trials and Regatta Day. Please visit the June Day Races page for more information.

  • What are Time Trials?

    The purpose of the Time Trials is to determine the make-up of each Regatta Day race based upon the times rowed by the crews participating in the Time Trial heats. For each Regatta Day race, the team with the fastest time will be assigned Stake 1, the second fastest assigned Stake 2, and so on until the slowest team is assigned Stake 5. For more information visit the Time Trials page.

  • How do I book spins?

    In 2015, we implemented an online booking system. For more information or to book a spin click here.

  • What if I don’t have a Coxswain?

    If you cannot find a Coxswain, Technical Coordinator may be available to take you out for practice until you can find one, should we have one in place. They may also be able to help your crew find a Coxswain.

  • How Do I become a Coxswain?

    To become a Coxswain, an individual must be nineteen (19) years of age as of December 31st of any year in which the rowing event is held. They must then participate in the Learn to Coxswain program, offered multiple times each season.

  • Can I row with more than one crew?

    Any oarsperson, rower or spare, is only permitted to register and row with one (1) crew.

  • When is registration due?

    In order for any crew to use our facilities and utilize the veribook system, they must have their registration, waivers, Vunerable Sector Screening (if applicable) and fees submitted (via EMT – [email protected]) prior to booking a spin.