2017 World Outgames Rowing Regatta

Early bird participant registration is available now through 29 August 2016 (well, ... they said in the announcement ... before 30 August 2016) for US$150. They are also offering a deferred payment plan of 40/30/30, with 40% due upfront and then the balance due, in equal payments, in the next 60 days, or 40% due now, 30% due in another 30 days, and then the final 30% due in another 30 days after that.

On 30 August 2016, the participant registration fee will be US$250. Keep in mind that we are emphasizing 'participant' because there are two fees, a general participant fee that allows one individual to just be part of the World Outgames, as in participate. Then there are sport-specific fees for each sport. For rowing, the sports fee is US$125. From our read, it appears each participant can register for as many rowing events as they want.

We started a registration because a search of the website does not actually show either the participation fee or the individual sports fees. The participant registration fee information came from an email.

As usual for rowing events at gay multi-sport events, there is no rowing-industry electronic registration. Instead you register yourself as a participant and then you select one or more sports. Attached are several printscreens of the registration process to prepare you for how the registration works. For rowers, you can check up to three forms of rowing:

• rowing (which means for single scullers)
  
• rowing pairs (which means for those wanting to row in a 2x or a 2-)
  
• rowing teams (which applies to those wanting to row in a 4+ or an 8+)
  

The registration part of the website appears to be running on a separate software script. There does not appear to be any help screens or FAQ or help pop up buttons. For individual rowers who will all eventually be registering, the registration screens can be/will be daunting/confusing. What we suggest is to just register your participant part first, and then come back to add your rowing selections later. Why? If you check all three forms of rowing, the system wants to know your team name or team captain, or wants you to create a team, right then. If you don't have that information yet, you're stuck. The form won't move you along to pay. You keep getting an error code.

If you don't pay and save, it appears everything is saved as a cookie so if you return and click register, you will be right where you left off. Oh, one other thing - there doesn't appear to be any published refund policy so plan for the worst ... no refunds.

Now, about the venue:

The information you see when you click on the the venue link is a mish mash of two rowing clubs. Literally!

1. The images show the building for the Miami Beach Rowing Club, which is in Miami Beach.

2. The venue says 'Miami Rowing Club.' Look for the stadium icon below the images. That is a completely different rowing club that is two long bridges away from Miami Beach.

3. The address also shows Key Biscayne, which is the postal address of the 'Miami Rowing Club.' Actually the Miami Rowing Club is on Virgina Key, which is before Key Biscayne but hey, that's just details. Take a look at the map. Zoom out. You'll see the locations of Miami Beach and Virginia Key.

Add a comment if you're confused, or you just want to hash tag a thought or two or say the system is rigged ... :huh: