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2014 Founders Day Regatta
The Crew Team has been invited to compete in the 2014 Founders Day Regatta on Sunday, May 4th. See all the practical info and results:
Results:
http://media.gunnery.org/media/websitedocuments/founders/results/Results2014.pdf
INSIDER’S GUIDE TO FOUNDERS DAY
Founders Day Regatta is an annual race hosted by They Gunnery since 1959. It’s run by the coaching staff and over 100 volunteers on race day. It’s a great event and lots of fun if you plan ahead for parking, gear and weather. Here are some hints and practical details to make your day go smoothly.
When: Sunday May 4, 2014 from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
Where: Lake Waramaug State Park, CT. Enter “Lake Waramaug State Park, Kent, CT 06757” into your GPS
for directions. NOTE that traffic will be directed one way in a clockwise pattern along the race course on regatta
day. There will be signs directing traffic accordingly. Approach the course from the south on West Shore Road
(otherwise you’ll have to loop around to park).
Parking: Parking areas for spectators are highlighted in yellow in the map above. The best plan is to approach
the park from the south on West Shore Road and then continue along the lake (road becomes Lake Waramaug
Road). Follow the road until you see the grass of the state park on your right – try to get a spot anywhere along
the road. If those are all taken (they go very quickly in the morning!), your next option is to park in the State
Park lot – there is an entrance on your left opposite the beach. This lot fills up very quickly too. The next best
option is to turn left immediately after the park onto Anderson Acres Road and then left again onto Beardsley
Road. Park along the road there or turn left again onto Golf Links road and park along the road there. There
will be signs saying “No Parking” in some areas and local police will be present, helping to direct traffic.
Spectator Shuttles: We will run shuttles (red mini-school buses that say The Gunnery on the side) from the
parking areas to the regatta site throughout the day (from 9:00am to approximately 5:30pm). There will be
designated stops along a loop running from the finish to the launch area and then onto Beardsley Road and Golf Links Road (look for signs).
Regatta site: The race course runs 1500m, starting in a small cove below the golf course, and finishes about
halfway up the state park. The buoyed course is six lanes wide (lane 1 is closest to the state park shore). You can view a detailed PDF of the course map here. Here is a basic layout of the site for spectators:
The best view of the racing is above (south of) the finish line (marked with red buoys across each lane). You can see the last 500 meters, especially if you have binoculars and the sprint begins as crews approach the grass of the park. The most exciting racing is usually in the afternoon finals, but it can be hard to find parking that late in the day—so come early and make a day of it!
Please stay out of the roped off area around the big white finish line tent – regatta officials need to have a clear view of the course. Also note that the road from the finish line to the parking lots and launch area can get very congested with cars, bikes and pedestrians – please be careful!
Gear/t-shirts for sale: The Gunnery will have a tent set up near the road (behind the finish line tent) selling regatta t-shirts, decals and custom gear starting at 9:00am. Check the
Founders Day website for a preview of this year’s gear. All proceeds benefit the regatta. Cash or MasterCard,
Visa and American Express accepted – no checks please.
Schedule/Results: Heats begin at 9:00am – there is a schedule (including lane assignments for the morning
heats) in the program for sale. There is a short break at lunchtime and afternoon racing begins with novice
events, followed by finals for the 5th through 1stboats. The last race of the day goes off around 5:00pm. Results of each race are printed and posted on a board behind the big white finish line tent. The awards ceremony will take place at the launch site, following the final event of the day – just follow the crowds down the road from the tent area. Medals are awarded to 1st, 2ndand 3rd place in all finals. The Founders Bowl goes to the winning boys’ team, the Elizabeth "Lou" O'Brien Cup goes to the winning girls’ team and the George H. Lorenz Memorial Trophy is awarded to the winner of the boys’ 1st
boat final.
Food/Drink: There are no food vendors at the state park on regatta day. Most of the teams/crews have tents
set up so be sure to check with your school/club for info and find out what you can contribute. There is no alcohol allowed.
Tents: Most teams set up a tent along the state park grass next to the race course (above and below the finish line – look for the big white tent). Teams may set up their tents on Saturday afternoon to reserve a good spot. Please do not place your tent inside the roped off area near the big white finish line tent – this area is reserved for regatta staff and your tent will be moved. Please do NOT bring hay for your tent site (teams have done this in the past because of the wet grass/mud) – if you do, you must rake it up and take it with you at the end of the day. The park will fine The Gunnery for any hay left on site. Grills, tables, chairs,coolers, etc. are all fine. No alcohol or smoking allowed.
What to bring/wear: This is a casual event but tends to bring out the preppy in all of us! The most important
thing is footwear – even on a sunny, warm day, the grass at the park is usually wet and often muddy, especially at the end of the day when it has been trampled. Best plan is to wear (or at least bring) wellies or something else that is waterproof – your feet will thank you! Bug spray, sunscreen and a hat are also good. If the weather forecast is at all unpredictable, bring layers, a raincoat or umbrella – there is no real shelter at the park (other than team tents). A folding chair is also nice to have and binoculars help you to see more of the racing.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome (please keep them leashed and clean up!) but are not allowed on the parking shuttles.
Trash: Please pick up all your trash as you leave for the day and take it with you. The State Park does not
provide trash receptacles and will fine The Gunnery for any trash left behind at the end of the day. This includes
bags /trash left at the side of the road and in the parking lots and trailer parking area.
Cell service: Note that there is very limited (if any) cell service at the regatta site.
Bathrooms: There are bathrooms at the state park – up on the hill between the car parking lot and the trailer
parking lot. There are also port-a-potties located along the road at the finish line and the launch area. We
recommend that you bring a roll of toilet paper just in case.
Trailer area: This area is for teams, coaches and equipment only. Team buses park behind the trailers. Please
note that you may not park a car in this area, even if it is transporting athletes/coaches.
http://media.gunnery.org/media/websitedocuments/founders/results/Results2014.pdf
INSIDER’S GUIDE TO FOUNDERS DAY
Founders Day Regatta is an annual race hosted by They Gunnery since 1959. It’s run by the coaching staff and over 100 volunteers on race day. It’s a great event and lots of fun if you plan ahead for parking, gear and weather. Here are some hints and practical details to make your day go smoothly.
When: Sunday May 4, 2014 from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
Where: Lake Waramaug State Park, CT. Enter “Lake Waramaug State Park, Kent, CT 06757” into your GPS
for directions. NOTE that traffic will be directed one way in a clockwise pattern along the race course on regatta
day. There will be signs directing traffic accordingly. Approach the course from the south on West Shore Road
(otherwise you’ll have to loop around to park).
Parking: Parking areas for spectators are highlighted in yellow in the map above. The best plan is to approach
the park from the south on West Shore Road and then continue along the lake (road becomes Lake Waramaug
Road). Follow the road until you see the grass of the state park on your right – try to get a spot anywhere along
the road. If those are all taken (they go very quickly in the morning!), your next option is to park in the State
Park lot – there is an entrance on your left opposite the beach. This lot fills up very quickly too. The next best
option is to turn left immediately after the park onto Anderson Acres Road and then left again onto Beardsley
Road. Park along the road there or turn left again onto Golf Links road and park along the road there. There
will be signs saying “No Parking” in some areas and local police will be present, helping to direct traffic.
Spectator Shuttles: We will run shuttles (red mini-school buses that say The Gunnery on the side) from the
parking areas to the regatta site throughout the day (from 9:00am to approximately 5:30pm). There will be
designated stops along a loop running from the finish to the launch area and then onto Beardsley Road and Golf Links Road (look for signs).
Regatta site: The race course runs 1500m, starting in a small cove below the golf course, and finishes about
halfway up the state park. The buoyed course is six lanes wide (lane 1 is closest to the state park shore). You can view a detailed PDF of the course map here. Here is a basic layout of the site for spectators:
The best view of the racing is above (south of) the finish line (marked with red buoys across each lane). You can see the last 500 meters, especially if you have binoculars and the sprint begins as crews approach the grass of the park. The most exciting racing is usually in the afternoon finals, but it can be hard to find parking that late in the day—so come early and make a day of it!
Please stay out of the roped off area around the big white finish line tent – regatta officials need to have a clear view of the course. Also note that the road from the finish line to the parking lots and launch area can get very congested with cars, bikes and pedestrians – please be careful!
Gear/t-shirts for sale: The Gunnery will have a tent set up near the road (behind the finish line tent) selling regatta t-shirts, decals and custom gear starting at 9:00am. Check the
Founders Day website for a preview of this year’s gear. All proceeds benefit the regatta. Cash or MasterCard,
Visa and American Express accepted – no checks please.
Schedule/Results: Heats begin at 9:00am – there is a schedule (including lane assignments for the morning
heats) in the program for sale. There is a short break at lunchtime and afternoon racing begins with novice
events, followed by finals for the 5th through 1stboats. The last race of the day goes off around 5:00pm. Results of each race are printed and posted on a board behind the big white finish line tent. The awards ceremony will take place at the launch site, following the final event of the day – just follow the crowds down the road from the tent area. Medals are awarded to 1st, 2ndand 3rd place in all finals. The Founders Bowl goes to the winning boys’ team, the Elizabeth "Lou" O'Brien Cup goes to the winning girls’ team and the George H. Lorenz Memorial Trophy is awarded to the winner of the boys’ 1st
boat final.
Food/Drink: There are no food vendors at the state park on regatta day. Most of the teams/crews have tents
set up so be sure to check with your school/club for info and find out what you can contribute. There is no alcohol allowed.
Tents: Most teams set up a tent along the state park grass next to the race course (above and below the finish line – look for the big white tent). Teams may set up their tents on Saturday afternoon to reserve a good spot. Please do not place your tent inside the roped off area near the big white finish line tent – this area is reserved for regatta staff and your tent will be moved. Please do NOT bring hay for your tent site (teams have done this in the past because of the wet grass/mud) – if you do, you must rake it up and take it with you at the end of the day. The park will fine The Gunnery for any hay left on site. Grills, tables, chairs,coolers, etc. are all fine. No alcohol or smoking allowed.
What to bring/wear: This is a casual event but tends to bring out the preppy in all of us! The most important
thing is footwear – even on a sunny, warm day, the grass at the park is usually wet and often muddy, especially at the end of the day when it has been trampled. Best plan is to wear (or at least bring) wellies or something else that is waterproof – your feet will thank you! Bug spray, sunscreen and a hat are also good. If the weather forecast is at all unpredictable, bring layers, a raincoat or umbrella – there is no real shelter at the park (other than team tents). A folding chair is also nice to have and binoculars help you to see more of the racing.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome (please keep them leashed and clean up!) but are not allowed on the parking shuttles.
Trash: Please pick up all your trash as you leave for the day and take it with you. The State Park does not
provide trash receptacles and will fine The Gunnery for any trash left behind at the end of the day. This includes
bags /trash left at the side of the road and in the parking lots and trailer parking area.
Cell service: Note that there is very limited (if any) cell service at the regatta site.
Bathrooms: There are bathrooms at the state park – up on the hill between the car parking lot and the trailer
parking lot. There are also port-a-potties located along the road at the finish line and the launch area. We
recommend that you bring a roll of toilet paper just in case.
Trailer area: This area is for teams, coaches and equipment only. Team buses park behind the trailers. Please
note that you may not park a car in this area, even if it is transporting athletes/coaches.
Founder's Day History
The regatta was originally funded in 1959 by Mrs. Katherine Conroy, who contributed five thousand dollars and the Founder's Bowl to The Gunnery’s coach, Rod Beebe, so that he could organize the regatta for the first time. Three schools, Gunnery, Choate and Haverford, entered the event. The first regatta took place on the other side of the lake, the New Preston side, over a 3/4 mile course and was won by The Gunnery. The early years of the regatta were dominated by South Kent School and Buckingham Browne and Nichols. In fact, these runs of victories were not broken until 1976 when Salisbury fired down the course, beating all opposition to lift the Founder's day trophy. In 1978, girls' teams were introduced to the event with a race length of 1000m. In the same year the race was moved from the New Preston side of the lake to the State Park side. The Salisbury boys' team completed a trio of wins, proving the distance change from 3/4 mile to 1500m was no great adjustment for their team. At this point there were eight different schools competing in the regatta. During the 1980s, the regatta grew in size as more schools were introduced to the event. Institutions like Groton, Pomfret, and St. Marks all met with success at the regatta, lifting the boys' points trophy in different years. In the 1990s Groton maintained their dominance in the boys' event by winning six out of nine possible regattas until the Cincinnati Juniors team won the trophy in 1998.
In 1996 Nobles was the first recipient of the Elizabeth "Lou" O'Brien Cup, awared to the winning girls' team, returning to win the points trophy again the next year. Miss Porter's School won the trophy five times in the next six years, finally falling to a strong Choate team. Connecticut Boat Club has been the stand-out girls team in the last few years.
In 2001 The Gunnery boys' team won the points trophy again for the first time since the inception of the regatta. In 2007, Gunnery Crew alumnus Peter Lorenz ’03 and his family established the George H. Lorenz Memorial Trophy to be awarded to the winner of the boys’ first boat final. Kent School, the first recipient of the trophy, went on to dominate the boys' racing for several years.
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