Adaptive Events

1. COURSE: The Adaptive events in the 2026 Head of the Schuylkill Regatta (HOSR) will take place 8:00 AM on Saturday, October 24th over the full 2.3-mile head-race course.

2. ATHLETE ELIGIBILITY: All adaptive athletes competing in the HOSR must be officially pre-classified according to current FISA and USRowing standards as either PR1 (arms and shoulders only), PR2 (trunk and arms) or PR3 (legs, trunk and arms).

3. EVENTS:  In 2026, the HOSR is offering events for PR1, PR2 and PR3 athletes as set forth below.

  • Event 1 – PR3 Mixed 4+
  • Event 2 – PR 3 2x, PR 2 2x (US Classified)
  • Event 3 – PR 3 1x, PR2 1x, PR1 1x (US Classified)
  • Event 4 – Para Inclusion 2x (US Classified 50% crew)
  • Event 5 – Adaptive Inclusion 2x (Non Classified 50% crew)

a. Event 1, PR3 Mixed 4+ has specific boat, gender and athlete criteria:

Boat and Crew Composition:

   Rowers: Must use a sweep-oar boat with sliding seats.
    • Gender Ratio: Must be 50% women and 50% men among the 4 rowers (2 women and 2 men).
    • Visual Impairments: A maximum of 2 athletes in the boat may have a visual impairment.
   Coxswain:
    • The coxswain does not need to have a disability or go through the classification process.
    • The coxswain can be of either gender.
    • The coxswain faces forward to navigate the course.

b. Event 2 is for doubles in which both athletes are officially classified as adaptive, in the following sub categories:

  1. Two PR2 scullers of the same gender
  2. Two PR2 scullers of mixed gender.

c. Event 3 is for singles, open to high-level competitive male and female PRI, PR2 and PR3 athletes capable of rowing top-level single racing shells. For safety reasons, pontoons are required for PR1 events.

d. Event 4, Para Inclusion 2x, for two adaptive athletes of different classifications (e.g. PR2 and PR3) sculling together, but the athlete seated in bow must be sighted and competent at steering. Both sub categories are to be rowed in FISA-standard adaptive double-sculling shells, such as the Wintech adaptive double.

e. Event 5, Adaptive Inclusion 2x, is non-gender-specific and contains an adaptive PR2 or PR3 athlete sculling with a sighted able-bodied partner who is seated in, and steering from, the bow seat

4. ATHLETE SKILL LEVEL: All adaptive and para athletes competing in the HOSR Adaptive events (along with their able-bodied partners if applicable) must individually have the skill, experience and physical fitness to scull and navigate 2.3 miles (3,900 meters) in no more than 30 minutes. Guide boats will not be permitted on race day.

5. REGISTRATION: All competitors must register via Regatta Central by 11:59PM on Monday, October 5, 2026.  Late Registration closes October 19th (as available).

6. EQUIPMENT: All adaptive doubles must bring their own equipment – boat, oars and necessary rigging, including outriggers, seats, straps and pontoons. Regular racing shells are permitted. Pontoons are only required for PR1 events.  Philadelphia Adaptive Rowing (PAR) welcomes the opportunity to host visiting competitors at its boathouse by advance arrangement and to the extent that space allows. However, PAR regrets it is not able to provide “loaner” equipment for its guests.

7. LAUNCHING LOCATIONS: Tentative –  All visiting adaptive doubles must launch from either (a) the PAR boathouse on Martin Luther King Drive (see below for PAR contact information); OR (b) the main HOSR docks at the Three Angels Festival Area on Kelly Drive. Volunteers will be assigned to both locations specifically to welcome and assist all visiting adaptive crews as needed. Please note without exception, any adaptive boats that do not honor this rule will not be permitted to race.  In order to assist with planning and race day logistics, HOSR volunteers will be in contact with registrants to ask for declaration of launch point.

8. RACE-DAY ONSITE PARKING FOR ADAPTIVE CREWS: After entries have closed, the HOSR regatta committee will assess the need for specially reserved parking at each adaptive launching location and will plan to set aside the necessary dedicated spaces. Visiting adaptive participants can greatly help the success of the plan by consolidating their need for race-day onsite parking to one vehicle per crew where possible.

9. CONTROL COMMISSION ADVISORY:  All adaptive boats will be thoroughly inspected for safety and compliance according to USRowing Rules of Rowing before launching. Adaptive athletes utilizing straps are hereby advised that only Velcro closures are acceptable; and if more than one strap is required, all straps must open and close in the same direction to facilitate quick release in an emergency. Furthermore, adaptive shells using stabilizing pontoons will be required to demonstrate, once launched, that both pontoons are simultaneously in touch with the water.

10. ROWING TO THE START LINE AND RETURNING FROM THE FINISH LINE: Adaptive doubles launching from the PAR boathouse will immediately cross to the east side of the river and proceed upriver to the start line (see online course maps at www.hosr.org). Adaptive doubles launching from the docks at the Three Angels Festival, Canoe Club or Boathouse Row areas will access the start line by rowing upriver on the east (Kelly Drive) side of the river. After racing, adaptive doubles returning to the PAR boathouse will turn to starboard below the finish line and will row up the west (MLK Drive) side of the river. Adaptive doubles returning to the Three Angels will turn to port below the finish line and will row up the east (Kelly Drive) side of the river. It is vitally important for all adaptive boats rowing up to the start line or back from the finish line to diligently avoid encroaching onto the race course.

11. MEDALS:  The HOSR wants to ensure that every adaptive and para boat entered in Events 1-5 has a fair opportunity to compete for a gold, silver or bronze medal, based on its actual performance relative to other boats. Accordingly, as soon as possible after entries have closed on October 5th, the HOSR organizing committee will review all adaptive entries and will endeavor to allocate each entry to its most applicable pre-determined competitive category, or other grouping (such as, for example, a grouping based on age).

All athletes are encouraged to come to the Awards Tent in the Three Angels Festival Tent to receive their medals and take pictures on the awards stage.  If you are driving from another launch point, please come to the Drop-Off Zone and alert the Parking Attendants of your intention.  They will find you a parking spot at the drop-off zone.

12. CONTACT INFORMATION:   If you have any questions regarding the adaptive/para events at the HOSR, please contact info@hosr.org.  If you would like to coordinate access with PAR, please contact Jeff McGinnis, Executive Director at jeff.mcginnis@centeronline.com or phone (215) 327-8943.