Welcome. The Oak Ridge Rowing Association (ORRA) is looking forward to providing you with a safe and successful spring training experience.

Oak Ridge Rowing has begun to replace old docks and has added four paved approaches to the launch docks. The venue now has 2400 square feet of launch docks just 20 level steps away from the boat storage areas. We hope to provide five 60-foot docks for launching into the embayment soon.

ORRA is proud to host the 17th annual John Hunter Regatta with the St. Andrews Rowing Club and Georgia Tech Rowing Club.

2006 Spring Training Calendar
Week 1 Mar 5 - Mar 11
Week 2 Mar 12 - Mar 18
Week 3 Mar 19 - Mar 25
Week 4 Mar 26 - Apr 1
Apr 1 John Hunter Regatta
Week 5 Apr 2 - Apr 8
Week 6 Apr 9 - Apr 15
Apr 14-15 Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship
Week 7 Apr 16 - Apr 22
Apr 22-23 Oak Ridge Dogwood Regatta



Contact ORRA  to reserve your spot to train in Oak Ridge confirm your desired week of training please include:

For information or reservations, please contact Oak Ridge Rowing Association 865-482-6538  Oak Ridge Rowing c/o Spring Training P. O. Box 4384 Oak Ridge, TN 37831-4384 Motel information is available from the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau: Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau 3302 S. Tulane Ave. Oak Ridge, TN 37830 Phone: 865-482-7821 Toll Free U.S./Canada: 800-887-3429 Fax: 865-481-3543 E-mail: orcvb@oakridgevisitor.com Website: http://www.oakridgevisitor.com

Below you will find information and guidelines to ensure your crews' safety and to maximize your training experience in Oak Ridge. Please review the following information before your arrival in Oak Ridge.
Spring Training Rules

Oak Ridge, Tennessee is a city of 28,000 people. The city was founded in 1943 in connection with the WWII Manhattan Project. The single largest employer is the Department of Energy. Oak Ridge has a small town atmosphere. The residents, motels, and restaurants are all familiar with rowing crews in March and you will be treated with an amazing amount of southern hospitality. The small town feel means crews generally row, eat, and sleep with few distractions. On a day off there is a local 7-screen movie theater, a bowling ally and plenty of shopping with a surprising variety of eating places. We are not far away from the Smoky Mountain National Park (45 minutes), the Museum of Appalachia (25 minutes) and the distractions of Knoxville (20 minutes) including the University of Tennessee Campus.
Meals & Accommodations

Our location can save valuable travel days for many schools and thus maximizes the training opportunity. The Florida and Texas training sites may be as much as one day more of travel, with the loss of two days training time. Traveling to Oak Ridge is convenient along several main north/south interstates. Oak Ridge is located 10 hours from 1/3rd of the general rowing population of the United States.
Directions to Rowing Venue

The average daily temperature in March is 63 degrees during the day and 43 degrees at night. However, the weather during spring can vary a lot from the average. We have known snow flurries in March as well as weeks in the high 70s.

Melton Hill Lake is a 50 mile-long, current controlled reservoir on the Clinch River in the foothills of the Cumberland Mountains of East Tennessee. There are 10 miles of water upstream from the boathouse and 26 miles of water downstream suitable for rowing. The lake is about 10 rowing lanes wide and runs through farm country for most of its distance. ORRA maintains a permanently marked 2000-meter straight course (at least 7 lanes wide) with distance markers at the start, 500, 1000, 1500 meters and finish line. Our mild climate and constant water temperatures insures that the Clinch River never freezes. The lake winds through several hilly areas with rock bluffs so that there is always a sheltered part of the river when it is windy. The course is usually the most protected part of the river. There is little motorboat traffic in March and little or no commercial boat traffic.
Spring Training River Map

The Oak Ridge Rowing Association is a private club of approximately 250 members. Oak Ridge Rowing has an active junior rowing program that pulls students from several area schools and a competitive masters program. The Oak Ridge Rowing Association is not connected with any college or university. ORRA has a full time employee and member volunteers to assist visiting crews with any questions or problems that may arise.

Before parking and unloading of boat trailers, visitors must check-in with ORRA Spring Break Coordinator or ORRA's Boathouse Manager. Contact information is listed on the front door of ORRA's boathouse. Boat trailer parking will be assigned along Houseboat Row. Marked marina resident parking must not be blocked. There will be no long-term parking of trailers in the main parking area in front of the ORRA's Boathouse. The New China Palace restaurant parking area is not available for rowing visitors. We have a good neighbor relationship with the restaurant and we would like to keep it.

Boat storage will be in the grass field along Melton Hill Drive. The grass field is very wet and soft in the spring. For this reason, no truck and trailer traffic is allowed in this area during the Spring Break training period. Shells should be carried to this area and placed on slings or stands. Please bring enough slings or stands for your equipment. Trash in your area of boat storage needs to be policed daily. Trash containers are provided.
Equipment Rental (Launches)