2025 Head of the Hooch
“Last of the Great Fall Regattas”
Thursday, October 30 - Sunday Nov. 2, 2025
SORA Information and Itinerary. All rowers need to have this with them at all times.
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 moreAthan 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 of Roswell, GA and Lookout Rowing Club of 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. 21 rowers and 3 coaches and staff will be making the trip to Chattanooga, TN. This year we have 16 entries.
Arrival in Chattanooga:
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Departure:
Sunday, November 2, 2025
SORA’s last race is 2:23 PM; expect at least 2 hours of trailer loading/cleanup
Venue:
Ross’s Landing Park - Near the Tennessee Aquarium
201 Riverfront Parkway
Chattanooga, TN 34702
SORA Team Hotel in Chattanooga:
Chattanooga Marriott Downtown
Two Carter St, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Hotel Website: Marriott Chattanooga TN
Regatta Information
Official Head of the Hooch information can be found on Regatta Central and on the OFFICIAL Head of the Hooch Website (links below.)
Hooch Media
- Live Video - Head of the Hooch is broadcast live on YouTube
- Twitter - Follow their twitter account @headofthehooch for all race calls, select results, and other race weekend alerts. Turn on mobile notifications and all race calls will come right to your phone!
SORA Photos - The SORA Marketing Committee is requesting that parents and rowers email photos from our regattas and events to photos@soracrew.com. Be sure to tag the event name in the subject line. SORA will use the photos and videos to market our club, and to create our yearbook and end of year video.
Regatta Central: https://www.regattacentral.com/regatta/?job_id=9878
Head of the Hooch Website: http://headofthehooch.org
AMAZING website, if you are traveling to Head of the Hooch this is full of great information, maps etc.
Head of the Hooch Final Race Schedule: https://www.headofthehooch.org/schedule
Head of the Hooch - Coaches, Coxswain and Bow Virtual Meeting Monday October 27, 2025 at 7:30pm:
https://www.youtube.com/live/Z9OVE6phS-8?si=73gUXrXPDimC6vbg&t=191
Final Race Times and Bow Numbers - Can be found under Regatta Central, click on entries and events to see your updated race times and competitors. https://www.regattacentral.com/regatta/entries?job_id=9878&org_id=0
SORA Line-Ups and SORA at Glance – Line-ups, times and bow numbers
SORA Meal plans:
- SORA will be providing a catered dinner on both Friday and Saturday at the hotel, in addition to a catered breakfast Friday morning at the hotel in the Directors room. Breakfast Saturday will be provided at the hotel as a quick grab and go from the hotel lobby. Breakfast Sunday will be provided at the venue. Lunch will be provided at the venue on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
- Hospitality – In addition, water, Gatorade, nutritious snacks and sides will be available at the SORA tent
- The rowers should have money for all non-provided meals as well as any extra snacks.
Rower Packing list:
- SORA Jacket
- Unisuit
- Warm-weather practice gear
- Cold-weather practice gear - White ONLY
- Compression Shirt, Black ONLY Spandex
- and SOLID Black Pants.
- Rain gear
- “Non-racing” clothes for 3-4 days and SORA practice/regatta clothes for 3 days
- Toiletries
- Refillable water bottle is needed for the entire weekend
- SMALL backpack for daily regatta gear
- Spending money
SORA Rower Itinerary
Rower transportation to and from the venue (walking)
Rowers will be walking to the venue and then return to the hotel. All groups walking to the hotel/venue will be coordinated by SORA and will be chaperoned by staff/volunteers. NO rower may return to the hotel without a chaperone.
- Friday - Rower’s are required to STAY AT THE RACE VENUE during practice day.
- Saturday - Rower’s will STAY AT THE RACE VENUE, any rower or rowers returning to the Hotel will be chaperoned by staff or volunteer to the hotel.
- Sunday - Rower’s will STAY AT THE RACE VENUE all day.
Travel Wear - Rowers are to be dressed in SORA gear when you arrive on Thursday. You may wear your Blue Polo for travel, SORA T-shirt, SORA Sweatshirt and/or SORA Jacket.
Thursday, October 30, 2025
- Rowers arrive at hotel.
- There is no catered Dinner on Thursday; dinner is on your own.
- 9:30pm - Any rower at the hotel will be in their room for the night.
Friday, October 31, 2025
Attire - all rowers should be dressed in SORA Blue polo or SORA T-Shirt and black pants - bring practice gear. All rowers practice boats MUST be dressed alike
9:30am
- Meet in the hotel lobby for departure to the venue
- Departure to Venue for race prep (trailer unloading, rigging, practice, etc.)
- We will be walking from the hotel to the venue as a group with chaperones
- Venue Ross’s Landing Park
- 201 Riverfront Parkway
- Chattanooga, TN 34702
Breakfast A catered breakfast provided by SORA at 8:00am at hotel Directors room.
Hospitality Nutritious snacks, water and Gatorade will be served at the hospitality tent.
Lunch Lunch provided by SORA at the SORA tent at venue.
5:00pm Departure for hotel, Chattanooga Marriott Downtown
6:45pm SORA Catered Dinner for rowers in a hotel meeting room
9:00pm Rowers in rooms for the night
*Venue departure time on Friday are Approximate
Saturday, November 1, 2025
Departure Departure times shown on line-up sheet in link above.
Rowers will be walking to the venue with staff/and or chaperones
Early morning rowers may be transported by SORA/Volunteer van
Breakfast Breakfast is at the hotel, location to pick up your breakfast will be in lobby, Time will be sent via Remind.
Hospitality Nutritious snacks, water and Gatorade will be served at the hospitality tent.
Lunch Lunch provided by SORA at the SORA tent at venue.
5:00pm Departure for hotel for rowers finished with their races for the day- if not already at the hotel with chaperones
6:45pm SORA catered Dinner for rowers in hotel Directors room
9:00pm Rowers in rooms for the night
*Venue departure times on Saturday are Approximate*
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS - TIME IS BACK ONE HOUR
Sunday, November 2, 2025
Departure
Departure times shown on line-up sheet in link above.
Rowers will be walking to the venue with staff/and or chaperones
Early morning rowers may be transported by SORA/Volunteer van
Breakfast Breakfast buffet is at the venue at 8:25am.
Hospitality Nutritious snacks, water and Gatorade will be served at the hospitality tent.
Lunch Lunch provided by SORA at the SORA tent at venue.
5:00pm (TBD) Departure from Chattanooga, SORA rowers will be released to travel home after the SORA trailer is packed and ready for departure
*Venue departure times on Sunday are Approximate*
Emergency Contact Numbers - If you have an emergency or questions, contact Runi Vilhelm, Coach Terry, assistant coaches or any member of the SORA Board.
- Terry Davison - SORA Head Coach 352-422-7366
- Runi Vilhelm - SORA Program Committee Chair 407-446-5927
- Joe Morris - SORA Assistant Coach 689-266-7533
- Ian Farmer - SORA Assistant Coach 407-451-5346
- John Casaretti - SORA Board President 917-215-1778
Hooch Spectator Information at the Venue
Where to Watch the Races
There are a few places along the Tennessee River where you can watch the races. The course map shows where the races start and finish. The best place to view the finish line is from the grandstands in Ross’s Landing Park. You can enjoy the crew’s tents, the Chattanooga Market and the crowds supporting the crews on and off the water.
Walnut Street Bridge
A unique way to watch the races is from the Walnut Street Bridge, one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world. From the bridge, you look down on the river and can see the crews up close, gliding under the bridge. A perfect location to take photographs of the rowers! From there, the boats are only about 350m from the finish line…so cheering is a must!
North Shore: Coolidge Park
Another place to watch the races is from Coolidge Park on the North Shore where you can see the boats on their way to the start. You can also watch the finish line from a gorgeous, quieter location with easy access; so bring a chair and settle in for great viewing.
Chattanooga Riverwalk
For those of you interested in a short hike or who have a bicycle, or are interested in renting a bicycle, this is another great way to follow the races from the shore along the Riverwalk (bike path). Take a break and find just the right spot to hang out and watch the races.
