Hello, Mercer Parents and Rowers,
I hope everyone is having a fun summer so far! Next weekend is the first regatta of the summer season: the Independence Day Regatta on the Schuykill River in Philadelphia. The event spans 3 days, with races on every day. The coaches will post the line-ups and schedule separately. Here is what you need to know:
Please drop your athletes off at the Gillin Boathouse, St Joseph’s University: 2200 Kelly Dr, Philadelphia. Most phone apps recognize the location if you enter Gillin Boathouse. It is NOT located on Boathouse Row, so please be sure to check before you get down there. IMPORTANT NOTES: Philly closes down Kelly Drive, which is the road that runs along the course. If you have not been to this regatta before, you should give yourself extra time to navigate the detours and crowds.
Please send water and snacks with your athlete! There is no planned food or drinks for them.
There will be a Mercer tent and table set up on Saturday, near the Grandstand and finish line (Gillin Boathouse is located near the start). This will be an informal affair, a place for us all to gather and cheer for our team. In years past, parents have brought drinks, snacks, chairs. There is no planned food, so it’s up to you whether you want to bring things to share.
Time trials and heats are on Friday, Semis and Finals on Saturday. Time trials are races that set the boats up for the races on Saturday. Results are posted by the Grandstand or on www.regattacentral.com.
IDR offers parking passes to display on your windshield so you can get through the barricades, drop your athlete off at the boathouse, and park farther down the course. If parking along Kelly Drive is full, you will find additional parking up the hill from the course. The link for the parking pass:
http://www.independencedayregatta.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/2016IDRparkingpass-1.pdf
GO MERCER!