CAMDEN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND THE CAMDEN COUNTY BOATHOUSE WELCOMES NCAA TO COOPER RIVER PARK

 

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets will be required Friday 5.26 through Sunday 5.28 and will be sold on-site near the main parking lot entrance off of North Park Drive. All sales will be credit card only starting at 6:30am each day. No advance sale or cash payment options will be available for spectators.

Gates open at 7am each day

Pricing:

All Access Pass for unlimited access Friday through Sunday

  • Adults – $40
  • Senior – $25
  • Student or Child – $30

Daily Passes – Friday, Saturday or Sunday

  • Adults – $15
  • Senior – $10
  • Student – $10

 

IMPORTANT EVENT NOTES:

  • Local park rules will be enforced throughout the weekend
  • Personal tents are permitted in the park in designated areas – they will be permitted in ticketed areas but will not be permitted along the river bank.
  • Food can be purchased at concessions (food trucks) that will be located on North Park Drive.
  • Food is permitted to be brought into the park and into ticketed areas.
  • Alcohol is not permitted in the park and will not be permitted in ticketed areas of the NCAA Championship.

 

Rules of the River

TRAFFIC

  1. Waterway Traffic Patterns: All crews and launches traveling upriver towards the start must stay in lanes 0, 1, and 2.  All crews and launches traveling downriver towards the finish must stay in lanes 4, 5, and 6.  Lane 3 is a “dead lane” and will serve as the line of division between upriver and downriver traffic.
  2. Rowing above the Route 130 bridge is at your own risk, but all launches, and shells must follow the same counterclockwise pattern as on the course.  Crews and launches returning to the course must yield to all traffic on the course before proceeding downriver.  Rowing below Cuthbert Blvd. bridge is strictly prohibited as it is too shallow to pass.
  3. Right of Way: Slower crews must yield to starboard, or to the shore, as crews/launches overtake them. Overtaking crews/launches shall stay to port. The crew being overtaken must yield to the overtaking crew within 2 boat lengths and yell “Look Ahead” to oncoming crews/launches.  Overtaking crews shall not pass between slower crews and the shore. If a crew is stopped for an extended period, they must yield to the shore to avoid oncoming traffic.
  4. Launching and Docking: All crews launching from the boathouse shall proceed up lane 0 as soon as safety allows. Crews travelling upriver have the right of way.  Crews traveling downriver that intend to dock must row past the 1000m mark, stop, turn, row directly across to lane 0 when safety allows, then proceed up lane 0 to the docks. Crews traveling upriver that intend to dock must move into lane 0 and proceed at a low rate in single file to ensure the safety of crews and launches leaving the docks. Returning crews waiting to land shall yield to departing launches and shells and stay towards lane 0.
  5. Crossing the river: Crews crossing the river must first observe traffic and yield safely before stopping and turning. If upriver/downriver traffic is clear, the crew should row directly across the river to shore before finishing the turn.  All crews must exercise best judgement before safely executing a turn. Here are recommended points to cross the river: 50m beyond the finish line, before the safety line; above the starting line, before the stake boats; past the 1000m mark.
  6. During regattas, non-competing crews or launches are not allowed on the river.  The boathouse will post and communicate clearly all river closings around regattas.

EQUIPMENT

  1. All shells must be equipped with a bow ball
  2. All shells that row in the dark must have flashing lights visible on the bow and stern
  3. Each coaching launch shall be equipped with a cell phone in case of emergency
  4. Launches must be equipped with life jackets, one for each member of the crew and one for each person in the launch
  5. All launches shall be maintained and operated in accordance with local safety laws and regulations.
  6. Each organization shall assure motor launches are operated by persons familiar with the equipment and the rules and courtesies of the river
  7. All motorboats must have 360 degree of visibility
  8. All drivers shall keep their wake to a minimum when passing other boats and when traveling past launching areas.
  9. All launches operating on the river must be wakeless
  10. Each organization shall ensure the safety of its equipment
  11. Each rower should be aware of basic shell safety and should check equipment before launching.

SAFETY

  1. Rowing is prohibited on the river outside of boathouse hours. The boathouse is open 5am-8pm during spring, summer, and fall seasons. Winter hours are 9am-4pm.
  2. In the case of severe weather events (i.e.: storms, flooding, icy conditions, etc.), the river will be closed to rowing. Teams will be notified in advance of any river closures.
  3. During practice hours, coaches and crews should use their best judgement when determining if conditions are safe and “row able”. Factors to consider are weather conditions (i.e.: precipitation, temperature, wind speed/direction), water conditions (in particular rolling wake or “white caps”), experience of crew, size of shell.
  4. During regattas, directors and chief referees are responsible for determining safe racing conditions
  5. All rowers must know how to swim. Each program is responsible for ensuring their athletes have passed a swim test.
  6. No rower under the age of 14 shall be permitted to row unescorted.
  7. Novice rowers and crews must always be accompanied by a launch
  8. All crews should remain within a 200m proximity of their coaching launch in order to be within sight and hear commands.
  9. No rower or coxswain should ever leave a flotation device to swim to shore
  10. Be aware of weather forecasts and do not row in dangerous conditions. In the event of a storm, the boathouse will inform crews to return to land as quickly and safely as possible.
  11. Swimming is not permitted off the docks
  12. Coaches should be first aid trained. The boathouse is equipped with an AED, located in the lobby by the front desk.
  13. All organizations shall have a signed consent form for all rowing members.

REPORTING ISSUES

  1. If an issue or accident should occur on the river, please fill out a River Incident Report (to be made available online). This information will be used for following up if necessary, by safety committee, and to improve safety for all those who use the river.
  2. In the event of an emergency, call the proper authorities (911) and report to the front desk at the Boathouse for assistance.