Oak Hollow Lake, High Point, NC – Race organizers expect to welcome over 600 rowers and thousands of spectators from across the southeast region of the United States in late September for the 2018 High Point Autumn Rowing Festival. The date of the event has been set for Saturday, September 29, 2018.
Last year the event received a record 153 entries of boats to race the winding 5,000 meter course on Oak Hollow Lake.
“We anticipate a new record for the 2018 Autumn Rowing Festival,” says High Point Rowing Club founder Gene Kininmonth. “Participation in rowing continues to explode in North Carolina. High Point is at the epicenter of this remarkable growth.”
The regatta is open to the general public and admission is free.
Race entries will be made on REGATTACENTRA
Video Highlights of the 2016 High Point Autumn Rowing Festival from Carolina SkyWorks on Vimeo.
Rowers are expected to travel from as far away as Annapolis, Maryland and Atlanta, Georgia for the regatta.
The festival has attracted a number of marquis college names in the past, including local favorite High Point University, as well as NC State, Wake Forest, and Davidson College. In 2017 race organizers hope to entice powerhouse programs from the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Duke University.
Also competing are Masters (adult) and youth programs. In 2017 rowing programs from Atlanta, Raleigh, Charlotte and Asheville were represented among others.
Round the Duck
Boat racing at the rowing festival is a 5,000 meter time-trial. Crews will line up their sleek rowing shells at the Skeet Club Bridge end of Oak Hollow Lake and then race out to the center of the lake where they will row a 180 degree turn “Round the Duck” back to the main channel before turning toward the finish line at Johnson Street Bridge.
That’s right. There’s a duck. A giant bright yellow inflatable duck. Race officials decline to disclose the actual size of the duck but it clearly dwarfs the rowers on the water.
Racing begins at 9:20am and runs through 3:30pm. Following the races the duck will return to shore for children’s photographs.
Use 1841 Eastchester Drive, High Point for GPS directions to Festival Park.
MEDIA: PRESS INFORMATION
Media Center
Media headquarters for the 2018 Rowing Festival will be the Media Center at Oak Hollow Lake. The Media Center is equipped with Wi-Fi access. The Media Center will also accommodate interviews at the conclusion of each event. Race winners will be brought to the interview area for media access. Limited parking is available for daily print, online and television media (advance notice requested). All television stations that will be bringing in satellite trucks should call Gene Kininmonth (office: 336-257-9009) to arrange for vehicle access.
Photographers
Photographers wishing to obtain action shots on the racecourse may be accommodated in a media boat on a first-come, first-served basis. The media boat will be restricted to designated sections of the course and cannot “race” to keep pace with competing boats. Please arrive at the Media Center 60 minutes before you need to be on the water.
