2019 Head of the Hooch
Thursday, Oct. 31 - Sunday Nov. 3, 2019
The Head of the Hooch is one of the world’s largest rowing regattas, with 2,000+ boats racing over two days. 1,200 boats (and more than 9,000 seats!) compete on Saturday alone, which is more in one day than any other regatta. As a head race, competitors row a 5,000-meter (3.1 mile) course on the Tennessee River. The Head of the Hooch is organized and hosted by the Atlanta Rowing Club, Roswell, GA and Lookout Rowing Club, Chattanooga, TN. The regatta has hosted teams from Canada, Germany, Sweden and Australia.
The Head of the Hooch is a favorite SORA regatta for our rowers and families. This year we are taking the largest group of SORA rowers in the history of the club. 50 rowers will be making the trip to Chattanooga, TN. In 2018 , SORA had 15 entries, this year we are at 25.
New this year, we will be traveling by a 57 passenger bus with WiFi, GPS, DVD Player and will include the cost of many breakfasts, lunches and dinners in Chattanooga.
Rower registration - $465
Included in the registration fee is the following:
- Transportation - Bus
- Lodging - 3 nights (Thursday - Sunday)
- Meals Included
Friday - Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks at venue
Saturday - Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks at venue
Sunday - Breakfast, lunch, and snacks at venue
- Regatta fees
- Boat transportation
Departure: Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019 - 1:00pm arrival, 1:30pm departure
Return:
Sunday, November 3
Depart Chattanooga - 5:00pm
Arrive Lake Nona, 1:30am
Venue: Ross’s Landing Park
201 Riverfront Parkway, Chattanooga, TN 34702
Rower Hotel in Chattanooga:
Best Western Arbour Inn and Suites
6710 Ringgold Rd, East Ridge, TN
423-893-7979
Hotel Website: https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotel-rooms.43179.html?iata=00171880&ssob=BLBWI0004G&cid=BLBWI0004G:google:gmb:43179
Parent Room Block:
We have secured a block of rooms at the Best Western Arbour Inn and Suites
- 4 Standard Doubles - $164
- 8 Standard Kings- $144
- 1 King Suite- $164
You may contact the hotel directly by Monday October 21, 2019 if you are interested in those rooms. Please tell them you group names is Parents of S. Orlando Rowing and give them the date of arrival.
Official Head of the Hooch information can be found on Regatta Central and on the official Head of the Hooch Website (links below.)
Regatta Central: https://www.regattacentral.com/regatta/?section=overview&job_id=6304
Head of the Hooch Website: http://headofthehooch.org/
Volunteer Signup Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044ba8a82ba3f49-head
SORA Event Link: TBD
The Regatta Schedule: All line-ups and times subject to change. Rowers are responsible for obtaining the most current information from Coach Terry
Text Sign-up for regatta specific information: This is the best way to get up to the minute information. Information will be sent out via text the entire weekend. Text to 81010 the message @hooch19
Meal plans:
SORA will be providing meals on this trip. The rowers should have money for all non-provided meals as well as any extra snacks. Team meals on the trip to and from Chattanooga will be at reasonably priced restaurants.
SORA will be providing dinner on both Friday and Saturday, in addition to a catered lunch at the venue on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Please fill out the attached Google Document for our hospitality team.
Lunch Selection Signup Link (All attending rowers need to complete this form): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/16aPN0biMkCXdO4z2zLzjO0vvrLjrJc7hH-n3lW4OQuo/edit
Thursday, October 31
- Rowers should eat prior to arriving at Bus
- Dinner: Bus will make a stop for dinner. Rowers will need dinner money
Friday, November 1
- Breakfast: Provided by hotel
- Hospitality: Nutritious snacks, water and Gatorade will be served at the hospitality tent.
- Lunch: A catered lunch provided by SORA -
- Dinner SORA Dinner for rowers at the Best Western Arbour Inn and Suites
Saturday,November 2
- Breakfast: Provided by hotel
- Hospitality: Nutritious snacks, water and Gatorade will be served at the hospitality tent.
- Lunch: A catered lunch provided by SORA
- Dinner SORA Dinner for rowers at the Best Western Arbour Inn and Suites
Sunday, November 3
- Breakfast: Provided by hotel
- Hospitality: Nutritious snacks, water and Gatorade will be served at the hospitality tent.
- Lunch: A catered lunch provided by SORA
- Dinner: Bus will make a stop for dinner. Rowers will need dinner money
Packing list:
- SORA duffle or similar SMALL DUFFLE ONLY
- SORA Jacket
- Unisuit
- Warm-weather practice gear
- Cold-weather practice gear - White ONLY Compression Shirt, Black ONLY Spandex and SORA Approved Black Adidas Pants.
- Rain gear
- "Non-racing” clothes for 3-4 days
- SORA practice/regatta clothes for 3 days
- Toiletries
- Refillable water bottle
- SMALL backpack for daily regatta gear
Emergency Contact Numbers
- Coach Terry Davison 352-422-7366
- Kelly Hagan - SORA Program Coordinator 407-744-6298
- Dave Keezel - SORA Board President 407-920-1971
If you have any questions, contact Kelly Hagan, Coach Terry, or any member of the SORA Board.
HISTORY OF THE HOOCH
The Head of the Hooch, also known as the Head of the Chattahoochee and ‘The Last of the Great Fall Regattas’, was run for the first time in 1982 by the Atlanta Rowing Club. The first year there were 225 rowers filling 105 boats. For 16 years the regatta took place on the Chattahoochee River in the Roswell River Park located in Roswell GA. In 1997 the regatta had outgrown the park. From 1997-2004 the regatta was held at the 1996 Olympic rowing venue in Gainesville GA. The course there was located on the upper part of the Chattahoochee River.
In 2005, due to the large increases in entries each year, the regatta moved to the Chattanooga Ross’s Landing Riverfront venue. The venue and city have the capability to accommodate the continuous increase in rowers and spectators each year. Each year since 2005 The Hooch and the City of Chattanooga have welcomed over 6000 rowers and more than 15,000 spectators.
The Hooch is a unique event. It attracts athletes, family, alumni, local residents and those who travel to attend. It combines a rowing regatta, arts market and the close proximity of the Tennessee Aquarium, the Discovery Museum and Hunter Art Museum all within walking distance of the venue. Many hotels and restaurants are right in downtown close to the venue.
