faq / head of the housatonic
Tent Site Questions
How do we reserve a tent site for the Head of the Housatonic?
Coaches can reserve up to three tent sites when they register their entries for the regatta on RegattaCentral. There are two types of tent sites: waterfront and beachfront.
How much does the site cost?
In 2023, waterfront reservations cost $100 and beachfront $175 per site. Prices are adjusted periodically to account for the rising cost of running the regatta.
Is the tent included or do we need to bring our own?
You must provide your own tent for the site.
Where are the tent sites located?
All tent sites have a direct view of the racecourse along the Housatonic River. The beachfront sites are closer to the vendor tents and to the area where boats launch and return from their races.
How large are the tent sites?
Every tent site is a minimum of 30’ wide.
Parking Questions
How do I get a parking pass for Indian Well State Park?
Parking passes are mailed before the regatta to all clubs that purchase a tent site. Clubs receive one parking pass for each tent site reserved. Unless directed otherwise, the parking pass is mailed to the name and address associated with the RegattaCentral account that made the regatta entries.
Can I get a parking pass if we don’t reserve a tent site?
No.
Do I need a parking pass if I cartop my boat to the regatta?
Cars that are cartopping singles will be admitted to the park, as long as they have an entry in this year’s race, and directed to the cartop parking lot.
Do I need a parking pass to bring my boat trailer to the regatta?
No. All boat trailers are admitted into the regatta venue.
Can I drop my boat trailer off on Friday, the day before the regatta?
Yes. NHRC volunteers are onsite to assist with parking until 6:00 pm Friday. If you drop off your trailer on Friday, you must collect a parking pass from a New Haven RC volunteer at the park before you leave. This parking pass will get you readmitted to the park on Saturday for the regatta. If you want to drop off your trailer Friday after 6:00 pm, you must notify regatta organizers at least one week in advance (nhrcregattas@gmail.com) of the regatta so that we can mail a parking pass to you for your re-entry on Saturday.
Does NHRC provide overnight security to protect boat trailers on Friday night?
State park personnel are onsite until midnight Friday, but neither NHRC nor the State of Connecticut accept any responsibility for any theft or damage to vehicles left in the park overnight.
When can we bring our food truck or chuck wagon to Indian Well State Park?
Booster clubs can bring their food truck to the regatta to drop it off on Friday afternoon before 6:00 pm without a parking pass. However, all tow vehicles must have a pass to get into the regatta on Saturday. Simply arriving at the park on Saturday with your food truck will not get you into the park—you must display your parking pass.
I have one parking pass, but the parents in charge of the food are coming from different locations in more than one car.
Teams that have more than one carload of parents assigned to bring food to the regatta should consolidate into the largest vehicle at a site near Indian Well State Park. The Home Depot parking lot at 117 Main Street, Derby, CT, is about two miles from the regatta venue and is a good collection point for programs that need to consolidate into a single vehicle.
How do we get food to Indian Well State Park if we don’t have a tent site
If your club opts not to reserve a tent site, you must bring your food to our offsite parking location and transport it on the shuttle bus. Please note that propane containers are not allowed on the shuttle bus.
A local deli is going to cater our food. How can we pick up the catering order?
Direct the catering driver to go to the entrance of Indian Well State Park on Route 110 in Shelton, CT. Have the catering driver identify him/herself to the New Haven RC volunteer at the park entrance and the driver will be directed to the turnaround location next to the railroad tracks at the bottom of the hill. Parent volunteers can walk from their tent site to the turnaround location to collect their food. We strongly recommend you exchange cell phone numbers with the catering driver beforehand and work out a specific drop-off time to minimize potential confusion on the day of the regatta.
Where are we supposed to park if we don’t have a parking pass?
The regatta website has details about our offsite parking location (2 Corporate Drive, Shelton, CT). Parents and visitors without a parking pass MUST use the offsite location and ride our shuttle bus service to the regatta venue. There is a $25 charge for parking, half of which is a donation to Habitat for Humanity. Parking opens at 5:45 am and the first shuttle bus departs for the regatta venue at 6:00 am. Buses run continuously throughout the day. Plan on 30 minutes from the time you park to the time you arrive at the regatta.
Do I need a parking pass if I have a handicapped parking permit?
No. Cars with a valid handicapped parking permit will be waved into Indian Well State Park and directed to the handicapped parking area inside the park.
My child is late for his or her race. Can I drop him/her off at the park?
For safety reasons, we do not allow any athlete drop-offs at Indian Well State Park. Use our offsite parking location and be in touch with your child’s coach. If you attempt to go to the park first, you will only delay your child further as you will not be admitted to the park and instead be directed to our offsite parking location.
How much does the offsite parking cost?
We charge $25 for offsite parking. Half of the parking fee is a direct contribution to Habitat for Humanity, and the other half helps offset the cost of the shuttle bus service.
Spectator Questions
How can I find my school/club’s tent site when I get to Indian Well State Park?
Tent locations are posted here a few days before the regatta. The sites are numbered in ascending order beginning at the downstream end of Indian Well State Park and moving upstream from there (right to left as you look at the river from the shuttle bus drop-off location). If you are not sure where your team tent is located, please see a regatta volunteer at the registration tent.
How can I find my school/club’s boat trailer when I get to Indian Well State Park?
Trailers are parked at the venue on a first come, first serve basis, and trailer locations can change every year. We are not able to map these locations in real time. The most efficient method would be for coaches to communicate the trailer location to a parent representative after the trailer is parked.
Someone told me cell phone reception is poor at Indian Well State Park. Is that true?
Yes. The topography of Indian Well State Park (low and flat between a river and a steep ridge) makes cell phone service very unreliable. Depending on your wireless carrier, text messages might be more reliable but not completely so.
Where is the best place to watch the racing?
Indian Well State Park is the only public land on either side of the river for the entire length of the racecourse. Bring a portable beach chair to the riverside and enjoy the view. A pair of lightweight, powerful binoculars will also enhance your viewing experience.
What can you tell me about the racecourse?
The Head of the Housatonic is a 2.7 miles (4300 meter) race. The starting line is approximately 1000 meters downstream from Indian Well State Park and the crews race upstream (from right to left as you see them from the park). The finish line is the New Haven Rowing Club boathouse in Oxford CT, a little more than two miles (3300 meters) upstream from Indian Well State Park.
How can I tell what boat my child is rowing in?
Bow numbers are assigned to each entry in the regatta and are posted here a few days before the event. Your child can let you know to which boat he or she is assigned, and what time his or her race begins. The boats row past Indian Well State Park beginning about four minutes after the posted start time, and each one has its bow number affixed to the front of the boat. If you bring a pair of lightweight, powerful binoculars, you will have no trouble spotting your child’s boat as it passes by.
Where can I find the race schedule?
There is a link to the race schedule on the regatta website. Click on the “Heat Sheets” link and then type your school/club’s name into the search box. We also post a super-sized copy of the heat sheet at a central location near the registration tent at Indian Well State Park.
Where can I find race results?
The regatta home page has a link to live, unofficial results. Official results are posted on a bulletin board located near the registration tent at Indian Well State Park. Official results are usually posted approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of each race. Please note that protests or penalties can delay the posting of official results.
What do I do if I lose something at the regatta during the day?
Lost and Found is located at the registration tent.
Where is the best place to get information about the regatta?
New Haven Rowing Club posts regatta information and updates at the regatta website: newhavenrowingclub.org/head-of-the-housatonic.