Oak Hollow Lake, High Point, NC – A rowing festival is coming to High Point this weekend that promises to be the largest rowing event in the history of North Carolina.
Over 85 crews from across the state have registered to compete on Saturday in the High Point Autumn Rowing Festival. And one sculler is even coming all the way from Westport, CT.
“We have a wonderful turnout expected for this inaugural rowing event in High Point,” says regatta chair Mary Hollingsworth. “Rowing has just started to explode in North Carolina and the Triad is right on the cusp of turning into a major rowing force in the South.”
The festival has attracted a number of marquis college names this weekend including local favorites High Point University and Wake Forest, as well as NC State and Davidson College.
Also competing are middle school and high school programs from Raleigh, Charlotte as well as the High Point team.
Round the Duck
Boat racing at the rowing festival is a 5,000 meter time-trial format. Crews will line up their sleek rowing shells at the Skeet Club Bridge end of Oak Hollow Lake and then race out to the Dam by Eastchester Blvd 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 10am and runs through 2:30pm. Following the races the duck will return to shore for children’s photographs. Use 3700 Waterview Road, High Point for GPS directions. The general public is welcome to watch the races. Admission is free and limited free parking is available.
