Head of the Des Moines Regatta
The 2011 HOT Des Moines
Mark your calendars for the 28th annual Head of the Des Moines regatta on
Saturday, September 24, 2011. This year's course differs
from that of previous years. Check out the Venue page for details.
Historically, the race has attracted
approximately 600 rowers for about 80 races through the day. Entries include events
for juniors, masters, collegiate and club sweep rowers and scullers.
The deadline for online registration is
Monday, September 19, 2011. Participants should
register now to ensure they have a spot.
Please
contact us if you have any questions or need additional information.
Waivers
This regatta does not accept the USRowing online waiver. Please click
here for the waiver form and instructions.
Rules and Schedule Information
Be sure to check out our 2011
Information Packet for the information on rules and regatta schedules.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsorships of the Head of the Des Moines regatta are available at many levels.
All sponsors and donors receive recognition in our printed materials and publicity,
and are announced several times during the day in race announcements.
Sponsors may also include promotional materials in registration packets that
are given to rowers. You can see the sponsorship levels and form for becoming
a sponsor on this site. For more information about the opportunities and
sponsorship levels, please use our
Contact Form, specifying
"Head of the Des Moines Regatta" for the subject.
The Des Moines Rowing Club is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization.
Information for Vendors
We welcome vendors! $150.00. If you are interested, please
contact our Regatta Directors and include the name of your business, contact information,
business info, and a logo if you would like one posted.
Head of the Des Moines Regatta History
Although rowing races occurred regularly on the Des Moines River in the late 1800s,
the modern-day history of the Head of the Des Moines Regatta goes back to 1983 when
would-be rowing enthusiasts tried to stage a regatta in spring but had to cancel
because of snow and ice and high water.
The event was rescheduled to fall, the last Saturday in September, and was turned
into a Head Race, a 2.87-mile row from our Botanical Center upstream to Prospect
Park. A tradition was born and we have held our event on the last Saturday in
September ever since, come heat or high water. This year marks the first time ever
that our event will be rowed downstream.
The weather for the Head of the Des Moines Regatta is typically mild, a crisp fall
morning with leaves turning colors, followed by a partly sunny day. But there have
been exceptions. In 1993 and 2008, our 10th and 25th anniversaries respectively,
we experienced severe flooding and were evacuated from our river boathouse for
most of the season. In 1993, we actually had to move the event to Easter Lake.
In 2008, we returned to the river, as the city repaired badly damaged Prospect
Park docks just in the nick of time. But most years, our river is held at a
constant ideal rowing level by the Saylorville Dam 10 miles upstream.
Crews and clubs typically come to compete from all of our surrounding states:
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and even Colorado.
Over the years, we have hosted rowers from beyond those borders, such as Harvard
and Radcliff, Philadelphia and overseas. The rowers from Harvard commented on
how they felt our course was similar to the Head of the Charles in terms of
bridges (we have several) and curves, only they liked the more natural feeling
of our river.
A hallmark of our regatta has been the artistic talent in the club. Every year,
the regatta features a new design and color theme that a plays throughout our
posters, programs, t-shirts, and even our medals. When we bring our past year's
posters out on display, they call to mind each distinct and wonderful year of
our colorful history. We hope you can come and be a part of that history this year.