Don't forget to join us Wednesday evenings during the summer at the boat ramp just above the S. Rivanna Reservoir dam at the end of Woodburn Rd., Charlottesville. We'll start gathering at 6pm and depart ~6:30pm for leisurely paddles to Twin Bridges and back for all age groups and skill levels. Some even pack food and call it dinner. If you bring chicken wings, however, the "water wings" joke has been heard waaaay too many times. Please resist the urge. :-)
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Seeking photos and videos
Please, please, please send in all photos and videos you have from any of the Rivanna River Ragatta Races. See the previous post (below) to see where to send them.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
2009 Regatta photos
OK, Paci to Pearls in her comment below made a good point about Regatta photos. Not everyone in the world is on Facebook nor necessarily wants to join Facebook so.... we coerced a gracious member into donating some server space to host photos from the event.
Please keep in mind that most of us paddle in the event so we do not take the pictures and there is no roving photographer for the event. This means that we completely rely on others to share their photos with us.
If you have photos from either this year's regatta or from any of the previous years', please send them to 'regatta [at] deervinehollow [dot] com', label them with the year they were taken and we will do our best to make them all available publicly.
Again, 2009 photos are found here.
Please keep in mind that most of us paddle in the event so we do not take the pictures and there is no roving photographer for the event. This means that we completely rely on others to share their photos with us.
If you have photos from either this year's regatta or from any of the previous years', please send them to 'regatta [at] deervinehollow [dot] com', label them with the year they were taken and we will do our best to make them all available publicly.
Again, 2009 photos are found here.
Monday, May 11, 2009
2009 Official Race Results
The weather cooperated this past Saturday and the water was at safe levels so the 4th annual Rivanna River Regatta & Races went off without a hitch.
The official winners are:
Open Class Solo: Dave Segars; Time 48:04 (winner for the 3rd consecutive year)
Open Class Dual: Dave Thomas/Conny Roussos; Time 50:41
Parent-Child: Dave & Ben Dolak; Time 55:07 (winner for the 3rd consecutive year)
Under Age 14: Casey Culp; Time 4:06
Winners of the 2009 Rivanna River Regatta & Races with Race Coordinator, Merrill Bishop
Official results and times
Thank you to everyone who participated and made this year's event a success! We had a total of 22 boats and posted record times.
Be sure to join the Rivanna River Regatta group on Facebook to stay in touch with other local paddlers year-round to organize trips, swap gear, talk paddling and just plain stay involved with the Charlottesville area paddling community. We also ask that everyone who took photos and video of the event please upload to the Facebook group.
Tentative date for the 2010 Races: May 8, 2010
The official winners are:
Open Class Solo: Dave Segars; Time 48:04 (winner for the 3rd consecutive year)
Open Class Dual: Dave Thomas/Conny Roussos; Time 50:41
Parent-Child: Dave & Ben Dolak; Time 55:07 (winner for the 3rd consecutive year)
Under Age 14: Casey Culp; Time 4:06
Winners of the 2009 Rivanna River Regatta & Races with Race Coordinator, Merrill Bishop
Official results and times
Thank you to everyone who participated and made this year's event a success! We had a total of 22 boats and posted record times.
Be sure to join the Rivanna River Regatta group on Facebook to stay in touch with other local paddlers year-round to organize trips, swap gear, talk paddling and just plain stay involved with the Charlottesville area paddling community. We also ask that everyone who took photos and video of the event please upload to the Facebook group.
Tentative date for the 2010 Races: May 8, 2010
Friday, May 8, 2009
News from the race coordinator...
"Rivanna is coming down nicely, We are a GO for tomorrow.
We are going for it even if we get some more rain. The river is back to about 2-3 ft. above normal spring flow as of 11:30 am at Darden Towe and I'll be watching in the morning about the Under Age 14 race but I think we should set up for it [and assume it will happen also unless conditions change tonight and/or in the morning]."
_______________________________________________________
Watch this space for any updates overnight or in the morning. A simple text message from a cell phone on the river will update this site in near real-time.
Looking forward to seeing everyone in the morning! There are reports of people coming from Lynchburgh, Richmond and areas in between. If you plan on joining us please leave a comment to this message so we have a rough idea of how many to expect.
We are going for it even if we get some more rain. The river is back to about 2-3 ft. above normal spring flow as of 11:30 am at Darden Towe and I'll be watching in the morning about the Under Age 14 race but I think we should set up for it [and assume it will happen also unless conditions change tonight and/or in the morning]."
_______________________________________________________
Watch this space for any updates overnight or in the morning. A simple text message from a cell phone on the river will update this site in near real-time.
Looking forward to seeing everyone in the morning! There are reports of people coming from Lynchburgh, Richmond and areas in between. If you plan on joining us please leave a comment to this message so we have a rough idea of how many to expect.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Local Canoe and Kayak Paddlers To Welcome Historic Batteau
Charlottesville, VA - Area paddlers looking forward to the Rivanna River Regatta Canoe and Kayak Races have learned that they will have an historic encounter on the river this coming Saturday, May 9 as they race around Charlottesville.
Captain Mike Neal of the Rose of Nelson batteau will also be working his way down the Rivanna with his crew of 13 for the first recorded batteau trip on this section of the river in over 100 years. The breaching of the Woolen Mills dam makes this historic batteau trip possible and to commemorate the occasion, the crew of Rose of Nelson will be dressed in period clothing and cook breakfast on the batteau as they begin their journey from below the South Rivanna Reservoir Saturday morning on their way to the James River.
The public is encouraged to attend this event at Darden Towe Park which will serve as both a brief anchor point for the batteau and as the finish line for the canoe and kayak races. All boats are expected to arrive at Darden Towe anywhere between 9:30-11:30am this coming Saturday, May 9 and there will be other boat-related events at the park followed by an awards ceremony at the boat ramp at 1:30pm.
Those wishing to participate in the races should assemble under the Route 29 bridge on Rio Mills Road (just north of Sam’s Club/Doubletree Hotel on the upstream side of the bridge) between 9-9:30am on May 9 for sign-in. The first race starts promptly at 10am. Sign-in for the shorter, Under Age 14 race will start at 12pm at Darden Towe park and that race will begin at 1pm sharp at the north end of Darden Towe Park.
More information can be found at:
http://www.RivannaRegatta.blogspot.com
http://www.batteau.org
and
http://www.vacanals.org
Race Route Map:
Captain Mike Neal of the Rose of Nelson batteau will also be working his way down the Rivanna with his crew of 13 for the first recorded batteau trip on this section of the river in over 100 years. The breaching of the Woolen Mills dam makes this historic batteau trip possible and to commemorate the occasion, the crew of Rose of Nelson will be dressed in period clothing and cook breakfast on the batteau as they begin their journey from below the South Rivanna Reservoir Saturday morning on their way to the James River.
The public is encouraged to attend this event at Darden Towe Park which will serve as both a brief anchor point for the batteau and as the finish line for the canoe and kayak races. All boats are expected to arrive at Darden Towe anywhere between 9:30-11:30am this coming Saturday, May 9 and there will be other boat-related events at the park followed by an awards ceremony at the boat ramp at 1:30pm.
Those wishing to participate in the races should assemble under the Route 29 bridge on Rio Mills Road (just north of Sam’s Club/Doubletree Hotel on the upstream side of the bridge) between 9-9:30am on May 9 for sign-in. The first race starts promptly at 10am. Sign-in for the shorter, Under Age 14 race will start at 12pm at Darden Towe park and that race will begin at 1pm sharp at the north end of Darden Towe Park.
More information can be found at:
http://www.RivannaRegatta.blogspot.com
http://www.batteau.org
and
http://www.vacanals.org
Race Route Map:
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Rivanna River Regatta Canoe and Kayak Races This Saturday, May 9
Charlottesville, VA - The 4th annual Rivanna River Regatta and Races will be held this Saturday, May 9, 2009. This annual event includes several classes of canoe and kayak races with cash prizes. The races will be held on an 8.5 mile stretch of the scenic Rivanna River that skirts Charlottesville from north to east.
The several classes of races include the highly competitive Open class, a Tandem class, a Parent/Child class and a shorter, less challenging Under Age 14 race. There is no entry fee for paddlers and this event is open to the public.
Merrill Bishop, Race Coordinator states:
“The purpose of this event is to introduce as many people as possible to the fun of canoeing and kayaking while building an appreciation for the Rivanna River. This is a relatively easy whitewater course so folks without extensive experience can get a taste of the thrill of water sports while meeting local paddling enthusiasts.”
Those wishing to participate in the races should assemble under the Route 29 bridge on Rio Mills Road (just north of Sam’s Club on the upstream side of the bridge) between 9-9:30am on May 9 for sign-in. The first race starts promptly at 10am. Sign-in for the shorter, Under Age 14 race will start at 12pm at Darden Towe park and that race will begin at 1pm sharp at the north end of Darden Towe Park. The awards ceremony will be at the Darden Towe boat ramp at 1:30pm.
All spectators are welcome and are encouraged to assemble at Darden Towe Park near the boat ramp which will serve as the finish line for all races. Everyone in the community is invited to attend to cheer on the racers and enjoy camaraderie and fellowship along the banks of the historic Rivanna River, an invaluable natural resource.
More information can be found at http://www.RivannaRegatta.blogspot.com, the ongoing Rivanna River Regatta Group on Facebook or contact the race coordinator, Merrill Bishop.
# # #
A handy, printable flyer with all of the relevant details is found here.
The several classes of races include the highly competitive Open class, a Tandem class, a Parent/Child class and a shorter, less challenging Under Age 14 race. There is no entry fee for paddlers and this event is open to the public.
Merrill Bishop, Race Coordinator states:
“The purpose of this event is to introduce as many people as possible to the fun of canoeing and kayaking while building an appreciation for the Rivanna River. This is a relatively easy whitewater course so folks without extensive experience can get a taste of the thrill of water sports while meeting local paddling enthusiasts.”
Those wishing to participate in the races should assemble under the Route 29 bridge on Rio Mills Road (just north of Sam’s Club on the upstream side of the bridge) between 9-9:30am on May 9 for sign-in. The first race starts promptly at 10am. Sign-in for the shorter, Under Age 14 race will start at 12pm at Darden Towe park and that race will begin at 1pm sharp at the north end of Darden Towe Park. The awards ceremony will be at the Darden Towe boat ramp at 1:30pm.
All spectators are welcome and are encouraged to assemble at Darden Towe Park near the boat ramp which will serve as the finish line for all races. Everyone in the community is invited to attend to cheer on the racers and enjoy camaraderie and fellowship along the banks of the historic Rivanna River, an invaluable natural resource.
More information can be found at http://www.RivannaRegatta.blogspot.com, the ongoing Rivanna River Regatta Group on Facebook or contact the race coordinator, Merrill Bishop.
# # #
A handy, printable flyer with all of the relevant details is found here.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Dogwood parade float and new promo video
Hey, we'll have a float in the Dogwood Parade on Saturday April 25. Come on out and cheer on the winners from last year who will be riding on the float.
Also, check out the new promo video (click on the photo below):
And don't forget to print out and circulate some copies of the flyer that contains full details about the regatta and race.
Also, check out the new promo video (click on the photo below):
And don't forget to print out and circulate some copies of the flyer that contains full details about the regatta and race.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Rivanna Rapids
For those of you who will paddle the Rivanna or choose to join the races on May 9, here are some photos of what are probably the most challenging set of rapids on the race route. These rapids are located just up river of and under the train trestle between the Carrsbrook and Bentivar subdivisions along the Rivanna River on the north side of Charlottesville. Depending upon the water conditions, these rapids are easily Class II so they can require a bit of skill to navigate. These photos were taken this past Monday evening with a moderate amount of water coming over the South Rivanna Reservoir dam.
(photos courtesy of Konrad Zeller)
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
2008 Race Winners
Join us on May 9, 2009 and YOU could take the place of one of the people in this photo as a winner of the 2009 Rivanna River Regatta and Boat Races!
Friday, April 3, 2009
Help promote this event
Please print out some copies of the flyer for this event and post them around town.
Rivanna River Regatta & Boat Race Saturday, May 9, 2009
What? The 4th annual Rivanna River Regatta and Boat Races
featuring several classes of races including: Open-Solo, Open-Dual,
Parent/Child and Under Age 14. Prizes in each category. No entrance
fee, open to the public. All kayakers and canoers welcome. Adult
races cover 8.2 miles of the Rivanna River and include some Class 2
rapids. Paddle at your own risk.
When? Saturday, May 9, 2009. Adult racers assemble at 9am for
registration, first race starts promptly at 10am. Under Age 14 racers
assemble at Darden Towe Park at 12 noon (more below*). Depending
upon the number of participants, all adult classes and racers may be
started together at 10am sharp.
Where? Adult racers assemble under the Route 29 bridge north of
Charlottesville, just north of the DoubleTree Hotel/Sam’s Club on the
upstream side of the bridge off Rio Mills Road. Race finish line is 8.2
miles later at the boat ramp in Darden Towe Park on the east side of
Charlottesville.
* Under Age 14 Race: Assemble at Darden Towe Park for
registration at Noon, race starts at north end of Darden Towe Park at
1pm. The finish line for this race is also the Darden Towe boat ramp and
is approximately 1 mile in length.
Why? For the thrill of the race and the love of paddling, to meet other
local paddlers and to foster an appreciation of the scenic Rivanna
River.
Contact for more information: Merrill Bishop, Race Coordinator, Tel:
434-975-3072; Email: rambishop@aol.com.
Or join the Rivanna Regatta Group on Facebook to learn more,
ask questions and to simply connect with other local paddlers year-
round.
featuring several classes of races including: Open-Solo, Open-Dual,
Parent/Child and Under Age 14. Prizes in each category. No entrance
fee, open to the public. All kayakers and canoers welcome. Adult
races cover 8.2 miles of the Rivanna River and include some Class 2
rapids. Paddle at your own risk.
When? Saturday, May 9, 2009. Adult racers assemble at 9am for
registration, first race starts promptly at 10am. Under Age 14 racers
assemble at Darden Towe Park at 12 noon (more below*). Depending
upon the number of participants, all adult classes and racers may be
started together at 10am sharp.
Where? Adult racers assemble under the Route 29 bridge north of
Charlottesville, just north of the DoubleTree Hotel/Sam’s Club on the
upstream side of the bridge off Rio Mills Road. Race finish line is 8.2
miles later at the boat ramp in Darden Towe Park on the east side of
Charlottesville.
* Under Age 14 Race: Assemble at Darden Towe Park for
registration at Noon, race starts at north end of Darden Towe Park at
1pm. The finish line for this race is also the Darden Towe boat ramp and
is approximately 1 mile in length.
Why? For the thrill of the race and the love of paddling, to meet other
local paddlers and to foster an appreciation of the scenic Rivanna
River.
Contact for more information: Merrill Bishop, Race Coordinator, Tel:
434-975-3072; Email: rambishop@aol.com.
Or join the Rivanna Regatta Group on Facebook to learn more,
ask questions and to simply connect with other local paddlers year-
round.
NEWS RELEASE, 2009 Rivanna River Regatta
Date: March 27, 2009
Contact: Merrill Bishop,Tel.: 434-975-3072; email: RAMBISHOP@aol.com
For Immediate Release
Rivanna River Regatta and Races
Scheduled for Area Canoe and Kayak Paddlers
Charlottesville, VA - The 4th annual Rivanna River Regatta and Races are scheduled for Saturday, May 9, 2009. This annual event includes several classes of races and a recreational paddle.
The several classes of races include the highly competitive Open class, a Tandem class, a Parent/Child class and a shorter, less challenging Under Age 14 race with cash prizes in each category up to $100. There is no entrance fee and this event is open to the public on this 8.5 mile stretch of the scenic Rivanna River that skirts Charlottesville from north to east.
Merrill Bishop, Race Coordinator states:
“The purpose of this event is to introduce as many people as possible to the fun of canoeing and kayaking while building an appreciation for the Rivanna River. This is a relatively easy whitewater course so folks without extensive experience can get a taste of the thrill of water sports while meeting local paddling enthusiasts.”
“Many people do not even notice the Rivanna River as they speed over it on a bridge. It is a beautiful river with both slow water and some faster water with low-grade rapids and abundant wildlife including great blue herons, beavers and even some local bald eagles. We want to promote the recreational value of the Rivanna while preserving its natural beauty. There is no better way to preserve the river than to get locals connected with it and appreciate it because we always protect those things that we value and appreciate most.”
Those wishing to participate in the event should assemble under the Route 29 bridge on Rio Mills Road (just north of Sam’s Club on the upstream side of the bridge) between 9-9:30am on May 9 for sign-in. The first race starts promptly at 10am. Sign-in for the shorter, Under Age 14 race will start at 12pm at Darden Towe park and that race will begin at 1pm sharp at the north end of Darden Towe Park. The awards ceremony will be at the Darden Towe boat ramp at 1:30pm. This is also the finish line for all races.
This event is a great way to meet local paddlers and help foster an appreciation of this invaluable, natural resource.
Contact the race coordinator for additional information or visit the ongoing Rivanna River Regatta Group on Facebook to learn more, ask questions, arrange transportation or simply network with local paddlers year-round.
# # #
Contact: Merrill Bishop,Tel.: 434-975-3072; email: RAMBISHOP@aol.com
For Immediate Release
Rivanna River Regatta and Races
Scheduled for Area Canoe and Kayak Paddlers
Charlottesville, VA - The 4th annual Rivanna River Regatta and Races are scheduled for Saturday, May 9, 2009. This annual event includes several classes of races and a recreational paddle.
The several classes of races include the highly competitive Open class, a Tandem class, a Parent/Child class and a shorter, less challenging Under Age 14 race with cash prizes in each category up to $100. There is no entrance fee and this event is open to the public on this 8.5 mile stretch of the scenic Rivanna River that skirts Charlottesville from north to east.
Merrill Bishop, Race Coordinator states:
“The purpose of this event is to introduce as many people as possible to the fun of canoeing and kayaking while building an appreciation for the Rivanna River. This is a relatively easy whitewater course so folks without extensive experience can get a taste of the thrill of water sports while meeting local paddling enthusiasts.”
“Many people do not even notice the Rivanna River as they speed over it on a bridge. It is a beautiful river with both slow water and some faster water with low-grade rapids and abundant wildlife including great blue herons, beavers and even some local bald eagles. We want to promote the recreational value of the Rivanna while preserving its natural beauty. There is no better way to preserve the river than to get locals connected with it and appreciate it because we always protect those things that we value and appreciate most.”
Those wishing to participate in the event should assemble under the Route 29 bridge on Rio Mills Road (just north of Sam’s Club on the upstream side of the bridge) between 9-9:30am on May 9 for sign-in. The first race starts promptly at 10am. Sign-in for the shorter, Under Age 14 race will start at 12pm at Darden Towe park and that race will begin at 1pm sharp at the north end of Darden Towe Park. The awards ceremony will be at the Darden Towe boat ramp at 1:30pm. This is also the finish line for all races.
This event is a great way to meet local paddlers and help foster an appreciation of this invaluable, natural resource.
Contact the race coordinator for additional information or visit the ongoing Rivanna River Regatta Group on Facebook to learn more, ask questions, arrange transportation or simply network with local paddlers year-round.
# # #
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