Regatta Information

Regatta races and scrimmages for the 2023 season will be held at Thompson Boat Center, Sandy Run Regional Park, and Noxontown Pond, DE. Athletes will be transported from Yorktown High School to all “away” races. See the information below that will help you navigate watching your athletes at each location as well as general regatta tips.

Thompson Boat Center – April 15 & 29

2900 Virginia Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20037

  • Located along the beautiful Potomac River near the waterfront restaurants of Georgetown.
  • Charlies Butt Regatta is held at this location and managed by Yorktown High School Crew on behalf of VASRA.
  • It is a great place for limited mobility friends and family to observe as the spectator area is flat and easily accessible. Plan to drop those friends and family off and then go park as finding a location to park can be a challenge.
  • No parking is available in the Thompson Boat Center lot. It is reserved for race officials.
  • For a list of garages, visit https://www.georgetowndc.com/explore/getting-%20here/ and see the section titled “South of M Street.”
  • Crew Boosters sell t-shirts at the sundial. Cash only.
  • Most boats launch from the TBC dock, and the race course begins upriver from Key Bridge.
  • The course is a further viewing distance than some other venues and is actually closer to Roosevelt Island so bring your binoculars. You could choose to watch from Key Bridge as well.

Sandy Run Regional Park (Occoquan) – May 6 & 13

South County High School, 8501 Silverbrook Rd, Lorton, VA 22079

  • Drive to South County High School
    Pass over Laurel Crest Drive. Don’t turn into the “official” entrance of the school (which will be on your left). Drive down to Monacan Road and do a U-turn. Pull into the first school entrance, which will put you into a parking lot where you can park.
  • Get on the shuttle bus. BRING CASH.
    The shuttle bus will take you from the parking lot to the Sandy Run Regional Park, which is a reservoir/park area at the Occoquan River. You’ll have to pay $10 round trip for the bus. Rowers who are in uniform can ride for free. The bus runs throughout the day while the regatta is going on, but you might have to wait 20 minutes on each end, so plan accordingly.
  • Get ready to hike.
    When you get off the bus, you can walk or take a shuttle ATV down to the amphitheater where the finish line is and where the crowd gathers. This “shuttle” is a four-seater, large-scale ATV that costs $3. Walking to the amphitheater is more like a hike and it’s not handicapped-accessible. It’s a little rocky, there is some elevation, and could be muddy or slippery. It is at least 1/2 of a mile so wear good shoes – no flipflops.
  • There are amenities.
    There are restrooms and a concession stand. The concession stand has things like hotdogs, burgers, chips, candy, sodas, etc. The stand takes cash, Venmo, and PayPal (as of June 2021).
  • Watch the races in the grandstands.
    The grandstands are partially covered but they are made of concrete, so bring a cushion if you’d like. If rain is expect or blazing hot sun, plan to arrive early to snag a seat under the covering. Otherwise, bring an umbrella and plan accordingly. There are also benches near the water. Your binoculars will come in handy to see the launch.
  • The cell coverage is terrible.
    Do not depend on your cell phone to tell you the race order, start times, results, or anything else. It’s honestly almost a useless device here, so if you’re trying to Zoom into a wedding, do work tasks, or scroll Twitter while you wait for your kid to race, you’re out of luck. Print the “heat sheet” that lists the races, schools, schedules, and times. Put your printed sheets into a plastic sleeve if you’re an overachiever.

Alexandria Boathouse – No 2023 Dates

Dee Campbell Rowing Center, 1 Madison Street, Alexandria, VA 22301

  • Races launch and finish at the rowing center.
  • Parking can be found on Fairfax and Montgomery Streets as well as any other streets in the area. Parking along Union Street next to Founder’s Park is a good option. You can walk down Union St to Oronoco Park which is right next to the boathouse.
  • The races will start at the Wilson Bridge with the finish line directly outside the middle boat bay of the boathouse.
  • After all boats launch, parents are allowed to walk out on the docks for a view of the river but the docks will need to be clear of parents as soon as boats begin to land back at the dock.

General Regatta Tips and Information

  1. Wear your Yorktown gear so we can spot each other.
  2. Things to bring
    Sunscreen, bug spray, water bottle, umbrella, seat cushion or chair, good walking shoes, cash, noisemakers, binoculars, & patience
  3. Cheer for the last boat!
    Often, there’s a boat that doesn’t keep up with the pack in a heat or final. Those kids always get clapped into the finish line. It’s an awesome thing.
  4. Model good sportsmanship.
  5. Share those photos!
    Take a picture of your kid! Take a picture of his/her boat! And when you get back home, or at least to good cell coverage, follow our social media accounts and send your photos to Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Don’t forget to tag #YorktownCrew!
  6. Make sure your athlete checks with their coach before leaving.
    Coaches may need them to stick around and help de-rig boats.