para racing information / head of the housatonic
New Haven Rowing Club is delighted to include the para rowing community to the Head of the Housatonic Regatta. Below please find information specific to para competitors and supporters to assist you in participating in the regatta. If you still have questions or need more information, please write to us at HOH.pararacing@newhavenrc.org.
Athlete Eligibility: All para athletes competing in the HOH must be classifiable in the category in which they are racing. You do not need an official classification by your National Governing body to participate in this regatta. In the event of a challenge to a self-classification, the athlete may need official classification. All para athletes are required to complete the Head of the Housatonic Para Competitor Questionnaire when they submit their entry on Regatta Central. This information will help us plan the para events and support the athletes. For your reference, a complete description of USRowing’s para classification rules can be found on USRowing’s para landing page.
Athlete Skill Level: All para athletes competing in an HOH para event (along with their able-bodied partners if applicable) must have the skill, experience, and physical fitness to row 2.67 miles (4,300 meters) in no more than 30 minutes. All boats will also row back to their launch area, so total mileage will be a minimum of 5.25 miles. Guide boats will not be permitted on race day
Events:
PR3 Double (separate medals for male, female, and mixed)
Inclusion PR3 Double, 50% Para Athlete (separate medals for male, female, and mixed)
Registration: Register via Regatta Central.
Equipment: All para doubles must bring their own equipment—boat, oars, and necessary rigging, including outriggers, seats, and pontoons. All adaptive boats will be inspected for safety and compliance according to 2025 USRowing Rules of Rowing before launching. Adaptive shells using stabilizing pontoons will be required to demonstrate, once launched, that both pontoons are simultaneously in touch with the water.
Course: Para events in the HOH will take place over the full HOH 2.67 miles (4300 meter) race course. The racecourse is fully buoyed.
Launching Locations: The primary launch location is Indian Well State Park. Competitors at Indian Well State Park launch from the beach by walking boats into the water. The water temperature is comfortable, and the bottom is sandy. There is no dock. See an example of wet launching at time stamp 0:25 in our HOH regatta video.
Details about launching protocol, warm-up area, start, and course buoys are available here.
Para athletes who prefer to launch from a dock may make advance arrangements to launch from an alternative location. Please indicate this preference on your Head of the Housatonic Para Competitor Questionnaire on RegattaCentral, or write to HOH.pararacing@newhavenrc.org to discuss with regatta personnel.
Accessible Bathrooms/Changing Rooms: Accessible porta-potties are located throughout the regatta venue.
Race-Day Onsite Parking for Adaptive Crews: After entries close, the HOH regatta committee will assess the need for specially reserved parking and will set aside the necessary dedicated spaces. Please describe your parking requirements on the Para Competitor Questionnaire or contact HOH.pararacing@newhavenrc.org.
All additional vehicles associated with a given para crew and spectators will use our offsite parking facility (see HOH Parking).
Para Coaches & Athletes Meeting: This meeting will be held immediately following the general Coaches & Athletes meeting and will be recorded and made available online. Please check the regatta website for the specific day and time of the general Coaches & Athletes meeting.
Contact Information: If you have any questions regarding the adaptive/para events at the HOH, please contact HOH.pararacing@newhavenrc.org.