We are asking all high school rowers to join Coach Terry at 1pm for final boatyard storm prep. We need to get the rest of the boats on the trailer and all remaining loose articles secured ahead of Irma. Thank you in advance for all who can make it to help. 

Practice is cancelled for all programs for Saturday and Monday. We hope to resume normal operations on Tuesday. 

We will need all high school rowers able to attend practice tomorrow (Friday) to help with securing the boatyard and loading the trailer.

Please stay safe during the storm. 

Hello all. Just passing along that Coach Terry and President Phil are actively monitoring Irma and our weather situation. We have secured a safe place for our boats and plan on moving them this weekend. As of now, practice is on for high school through Saturday morning (Today, Friday, Sat AM) and middle school today and tomorrow. If the weather is bad any of those days, we will have land workouts and we'll be doing storm prep (securing the boatyard, oars, de-rigging boats, loading the trailer, etc). If any parents are available to help with storm prep, please check in with Coach Terry at the park to see what you can do to help.

As always, any practice cancellations or changes will be sent via the text alert system but I'll also try to post them here and in the news section if possible.

With the high school season already under way and the middle school season starting on Tuesday, weather is usually on a few peoples' minds. 

One question we get a lot is "Is practice cancelled today" due to inclement weather. The most common answer is "no" for a few reasons so unless you hear otherwise, assume it's on. First, it's Florida and we understand the weather when kids are getting out of school may not be the same as when practice starts. We try to keep in mind that for our high school rowers, there are a lot of carpool situations where the rowers are being brought to the park at the beginning of practice but then picked up by someone else at the end. Canceling practice can leave kids without a way to get home. 

That said, the first concern SORA has is safety which is why the decision to cancel practice is made by someone at the park with an eye both on the sky and the radar/weather reports. If it's deemed the forecast calls for bad enough weather to make even getting to the park dangerous the call will be made. 

If it's just a typical summer afternoon/evening with some storms in the area, it's likely practice will still go on, even if it's land-based under our grounded pavilions. If there isn't lightning in the area (as indicated by the park's lightning sensor) we may even go on the water in rain. Rowing is a rain or shine sport and we encourage all rowers to be prepared for practice in the elements.

If practice is cancelled, the primary (and sometimes only way depending on timing) we will let you know is the text message system so it's crucial all parents AND rowers sign up at Text Message Sign Up

If you have more questions or concerns about this, please talk to your coach.

Today we welcomed back our high school rowers and beginning next Tuesday (9/5/17) our middle school season begins at 5:30. Make sure to bring your high-visibility gear (shirt/hat), water and running shoes.  

YOU CAN SPONSOR A SET OF SCULLING OARS for the 2017-2018 season!  

In an effort to improve our equipment this fall, SORA is providing the opportunity to members, alumni, and supporters to sponsor a set of SORA sculling oars for $100+ (details below).  The money from this project will go to the SORA equipment fund and will lead to improved quality and new future sculling oars for SORA.

If you don't know which set you want to sponsor... ask your favorite rower which set they like!  Each set is marked with a label where they are stored (ex B1, C5, D3, etc).  Each row (B - G) has a specific brand of oar: Dreher, Concept 2, WinTech or Braca). 

You can complete your sponsor request online.  Upon receiving your request, we will assign sponsors on first come, first served.  

$100 Sponsor: sponsor a set of oars already in the SORA fleet.  Your sponsor name will be on both oars in your sponsored set.

$300 Sponsor: Sponsor a set of NEW SORA sculling oars.  4 sets available.  These oars will be purchased during the Fall Season.

SPONSOR FORM AVAILABLE ONLINE (click here)

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT & SPONSORSHIP

FAQs: 

• When will sponsor vinyl be applied:
  
• • By Sept 15 for $100 sponsors and by Nov 15 for $300 sponsors (we will need to order the new oars first!)
• How long will my name be on the sponsored oar?  
• • Until August 2018.  We will renew oar sponsors at the start of the 2018-2019 racing season
• Where will my sponsor name be applied?  
• • Between the Handle and the start of the oar sleeve.  The name will be positioned for viewing when the rower is at the catch & through the drive (on the square)
• Does sponsoring an oar make it so my rower has priority use
• • Unfortunately No.  These are sponsors for team-use blades (available to all SORA rowers).  However, if your rower has a set they currently use primarily, i would suggest sponsoring those oars.

Head of the Charles

 

The 2017 Head of the Charles Regatta (Boston, MA) is October 21-22.  This is the largest Fall regatta in the United States and is a 2 day rowing festival in Boston.  Even if we put in entries, there is no guarantee our bids will be accepted.

• The top 50% of competitors from last year have guaranteed bids (they can enter that race again)

• Crews placing in the bottom 50% or who did not race in the previous year (SORA), put in entries to the Lottery.

• The regatta committee randomly draws crews from the lottery to fill the remaining spots for each category.

 

Before SORA submits its bids to the Lottery that COULD  include a Women's Youth 4+, Womens Youth 8+, Womens 2x, Mens Youth 8+, Mens Youth 4+ and a Men's Youth 2x, we need to know that there is an interest from our membership & an ability to cover the costs for the regatta.

 

The regatta cost will be an estimated $900 per rower.  This cost is an estimated $575 in regatta fees and $325 in travel (Flight) and food costs.

 

TIMELINE:

• August 27 - Yes/No responses due for each rower

• October 1 - $575 regatta fee due for rowers & coxswains

• NOTE: the latest we should hear if our lottery bids are accepted to the regatta is October 1.

 

PLEASE NOTE:  To make the Head of the Charles a possibility for more of our membership, WE WILL NOT BE ATTENDING Head of the Hooch this year.  Instead, we will be attending a head race in Sarasota the weekend of November 4-5.

 

What happens if our entries for the Charles are not accepted through the lottery?  Our team will race at the Gatorhead regatta on October 21 instead.

 

To help us in our planning for Head of the Charles, please submit your reply via our online form CLICK HERE

Due to special security procedures at our venue for this year's event, we have to cut off ALL sales today and will not accept any walk-ups. We apologize for this but it was the one concession we had to make.

Get your tickets here: High School End of Year Ceremony

Coaches Terry and Freddie are available during OCPS Holiday break and will be holding practice for rowers who are in town.  HOWEVER, Rowers must sign up/RSVP to let the coaches know you are coming.  If we don't have participation in the time slot, the coaches won't make the trip to the park.

SIGN UP FOR PRACTICE is online: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/4090B4AACAB2BAB9-high 

With Erg Sprints being moved up 2 weeks to 1/28, it is important that rowers stay training over break.  If you are not in town or not able to make it to the lake, your rower should have a training plan from their coach.

Due to the approaching hurricane we will not have practice for ANY programs Thursday or Friday. 

Wednesday practice will go on for all programs and we need all hands, especially in the high school program, to help secure our boatyard against potential weather concerns. It's crucial that we get all equipment moved or prepared to weather the storm and we encourage any parents who want to help to attend Wednesday practice.

Saturday practice should be unaffected but if we need to cancel or affect that practice we will send word out by Friday evening via text and email.