Regatta Primer-Spring 2026 AYC Sarasota

As the event wraps up, make sure boats, and all equipment are secure.  Coach will dismiss you when it's ok to leave. 

Arrive 2 hours before your race. Regatta Central states "Event times, if listed, are tentative and subject to change."

AYC's most recent schedule can be found on www.crewtimer.com. Because regattas may need to adjust event times, you should simply operate with the basic standard to be at the trailer TWO hours before your race start time, unless you receive an official RGA communication otherwise. Everything flows from that TWO hour prerace timeframe, from arrival...to oars ready, hands-on, launch, race, catch-dock, etc. Questions? Email headcoach@rowgeorgia.com.   

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  • Mandatory Event Waiver, Specific to Florida regattas, sign HERE. Parents are required to complete and submit this waiver for their rower.

  • Friday, 2/13/26, practice is 3pm on the water. This means all practicing boats and crews must be rigged and ready for launch at the dock at 3pm Friday. The venue then requires everyone OFF water by 5pm, and off premises by 5:30pm. We have no room for lateness, it’s a tight schedule.  

  • Coaches and Coxes Meeting, HERE. Recommend all to watch. Passcode: hZvkqN@1

  • Updated schedule, HERE, includes Saturday and Sunday.   

  • Stakeboat Video Instructions: Watch HERE. 

  • Water Traffic Map, HERE

  • If an event doesn’t have many entries, it may run as a straight final. This means that crews race a heat (to determine lane placement), and then advance directly to the Final - there is no semifinal round.

  • *Important* In the event inclement weather prevents semifinals from running, regatta organizers may opt to use the first heat results (typically initially used to determine lane placement) to then determine who advances to Finals.  So this means, GO HARD, don’t hold back. Last year, high winds resulted in using some of Saturday’s results to determine Sunday results. 

*Important* In the event inclement weather prevents semifinals from running, regatta organizers may opt to use the first heat results (typically initially intended only to determine lane placement) to then determine who advances to Finals.  So this means, GO HARD, don’t hold back. (Last year, high winds resulted in using some of Saturday’s results to determine Sunday results).

Racing Schedule and Progressions We aim to maximize everyone's racing experience at this regatta. We will run as many as 10 boats per race and we will be running A and B finals so that most athletes will race both days. Saturday will be heats/race for lanes, and Sunday will be the A&B finals. We will follow the same order of events for both days.

  • 0-10 entries Saturday: Heat/Race for lanes Sunday: Final (we will allow teams to change their lineups from day one to day two if they want to try different lineups)  

  • 11-20 entries Saturday: 2 Heats (progression will reflect number of entries -we will not run a 1 boat B final. For 11 boat events, top 4 will progress plus the next 2 fastest times) Sunday: Finals A & B 

  • 21-30 entries Saturday: Heats (if three heats are necessary, top 3 from each heat will progress to A Final, next 3 from each heat will progress to B Final, the rest are eliminated). IF an event drops below 21 after we have already set up 3 heats (because of race week scratches), we will do our best to reassign to 2 heats to allow all boats to advance to a final on Sunday.

  • 30+ entries: 4 heats where top 2 from each make A final plus next 2 best times. Rest of 3rd, 4th and 5th places go to B final Sunday: Finals A & B

The AYC series works to give back to the athletes, giving crews opportunities to experience competitive, 2000-meter racing throughout the spring, ultimately preparing them to excel at the USRowing Youth National Championships in June at NBP.

Competing well consistently at the AYC regattas not only helps crews prepare to qualify for the Youth National Championships, but has the added bonus of a possible financial stipend towards their trip to the championships. At the end of the series, the team with the most points for an event is declared the AYC series winner for that event. A team will earn a monetary travel stipend towards their trip to the USRowing Youth National Championships should they be declared the winner of an event, and qualify for Youth Nationals in that event.  

Nathan Benderson Park When we’ve had a large number of rowers competing over multiple days in Sarasota, we’ve occasionally reserved a team tent, with the cost shared among participants. To help keep expenses down, we will not be renting a tent for this regatta. The athletes will be on a schedule for trailer and dock duty, and once they’re finished, and upon coach dismissal, they can leave the venue. Where to watch? The best viewing is typically from the grandstands near the finish tower or along the shore on the park's west side. The venue features a 2,000-meter, 9-lane course where viewing from the shoreline allows you to follow the races, with lanes numbered from the center island. 

  • Best Views: Grandstand area near the finish line provides the best view for the end of races.

  • Alternative Seating: Spectators often bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit along the grassy banks for a more relaxed, "picnic-style" view of the course. The venue may have prereserved tents set up close to the finish line. It depends upon the particular race setup. 

  • Enjoy the bike (or walking) trail where you can bike down the race course alongside your favorite team!