Heron Henley Challenge and Arctic Classic

Heron Henley Challenge / Arctic Challenge – 2025
Date: October 11, 2025 | October 12, 2025
Weather: 45° / 69° 🌤️ | 48° / 72° ⛅️
– Please make sure your athletes dress for the colder morning weather.
– For racing: Splash jackets, hats, leggings/long sleeved tech shirts, etc. Take waterproof layers into the boat until they’re ready to head into the starting area.
– Between races: waterproof/windproof outer layer (rain coat, rain paints, boots) with warm layers underneath, hats/gloves may be needed for the morning. Students may race twice, and it is recommended to have multiple sets of dry gear, dry socks, etc.
Arrival Time: Saturday – 6:15 am, Sunday – 7:00 am
Location: Kensington Metropark, Milford, MI
– Kensington MetroParks has a $10/day/vehicle entry fee. At this point in the year purchasing an annual pass for $45 won’t do you any good, but think about it for next spring.
– Tent
Drive:
– About 2.25 hours from EGR due to slow moving traffic into the park.
– About 30 minutes from hotels, again due to slow moving park traffic.
– Rowers need to be at the trailer no later than 6:15 am
– Students may not drive themselves to out of town regattas, and must drive with their parents/guardians or self-arrange carpooling with another family.
– Rower drop off instructions (see map below):
– Turn into the Martindale Beach parking lot and follow the parking attendants’ instructions.
Parking
– Spectator parking will be in the Martindale Parking Lot
Departure
– Around 4:15 pm
Volunteer Sign Up
– Forgot when you signed up to help? Look here.
Race Information
– Lineups with boat assignments will be shared via GroupMe once confirmed
– Results [will be live on Saturday]
– Saturday racing will run from about 8:20 am to around 3:40 pm. Students will be required to be present from 6:15 am to unload our trailer and rig until all our boats are secure for the day, around 4:00 pm.
– Sunday racing will run from about 8:20AM to around 3:40PM. Students will be required to be present from 7:00AM to about 5:00 pm when all our boats are de-rigged and securely on the trailer.
– How finish line timing works – YouTube
Spectator Info
This is a typical fall race, which is a 4-5k time trial (staggered start). As a reminder, parents are not permitted in the team areas (near the trailer, at the dock, by the boats or in the student section of the tents). This is a good event to bring your bike.
Our tent will be somewhere at Martindale Beach
Red indicates the Race Pattern
Yellow indicates the Launch Pattern.
Blue indicates the Recovery Pattern
Packing list for Rowers – label EVERYTHING
– Clothing
– Uni (shorts/trou & crew t-shirt for novices)
– Sweatshirt, in addition to what you wear in the morning
– Sweatpants, in addition to what you wear in the morning
– 3+ pairs of socks
– Hat/visor
– Sunglasses
– Sandals/Crocs/Slides
– 1-2 extra pairs of underwear
– Splash jacket, raincoat or poncho
– Additional dry/warm clothing if weather is especially bad
– Gear
– 7/8″ wrench (for rigging boats)
– Headlamp/flashlight
– Chair
– Water bottle (2 if you want to leave one at the boat trailer)
– Hot beverage cup
– 1-2 Towels
– Blanket
– Umbrella
– Sunscreen
– Wallet
– Deck of Cards/Board Games
Packing list for Parents
– Cash for parking
– Dress in layers
– Raincoat/poncho
– Hat
– Waterproof shoes/rainboots
– Heated socks
– Heated vest/jacket
– Food
– Hot beverage cup for coffee from the team tent
– Water bottle
– Breakfast & lunch (or a plan)
– Gear
– Blanket
– Umbrella
– Chair
– Binoculars
– Camera
– Phone battery
– Sunscreen
– Toilet paper