The 18th Toda International Master Regatta ( 4–5 May )
The Toda Open Regatta 2024 ( 3–5 May )
Hey RHKYC rowers! Thanks to Kaz and Ohira, we had a blast at the Toda Master last year! We rocked at creating crews across different ages, making friends, and winning medals. Every rower got at least one medal! Let’s do it again this year, together!
The International Toda Master Regatta
Date: 4th — 5th May, 2024 ( Sat — Sun )
Venue: Toda Olympic Rowing Course, Japan
Boats: 1X, 2X, 4X, 4+ & 8+ (Men, Women & Mix )
Category: A — J (above 27) for Master Regatta or any age for Open Regatta
Race Distance: 1000m
The Toda Open Regatta
Date: 3rd — 5th May, 2024 ( Fri — Sun )
Venue: Toda Olympic Rowing Course, Japan
Boats: 1X, 2X, 4X+, 4+ & 8+ (Men, Women, Junior Men & Junior Women)
Race Distance: 1000m
Since 2008, the club’s rowing section has been participating in this regatta. This overseas event soon becomes a big gathering of rowers from our club of different generations from junior to over 70 and from different places (We have members fly from Thailand and UK to join the race). 11 years ago, we have 29 club rowers attending this regatta. And in the past 6 years before Covid, we had constantly more than 20 club rowers every year. Last year, we had 20 rowers attending.
Both Toda Regattas are held on the same dates along the old Olympic Rowing Course located in the quiet, peaceful and beautiful Toda area. The Open regatta can be very competitive (The winning M8+ usually row less than 3 mins over the 1000m racing course) while the Master regatta can be a lot of fun (You can see so many A to J categories rowers in Japan! And they are still in good shape! You will also race with crews from China. They are getting more and more competitive now.)
You will find more than 20 boat houses built along the race course. Most of the university rowing teams live in their boat house together for the convenience of daily training! You will also be surprised by how tidy and clean the Japanese keeps their boat house where not even a single drop of water on the floor can be found. It will be a good chance to experience the unique rowing culture of Japan over Toda.
The whole trip will always be concluded with a big celebration dinner at the last day of the regatta. Both Lantau Boat Club and Shanghai Rowing Club joined us in 2017, 2018 & 2019 making it a party with more than 50 peoples! Hope we can have other clubs joining us as in the past this year!
Accommodation
Like previous years, we book our own accommodation because most of us are quite familiar with Tokyo and may have their own plan to travel before and after the regatta. The following are 3 suggestions you may consider:
1) Toyoko Inn in Toda area
Close to the rowing course, 3 mins walk. Tidy, clean and cheap (around HKD 470 single room / night and HKD 550 double room / night). This is for those who focus more on a rowing trip and want easy access to the race course. Noted that the Toyoko Inn is very full during that time.
We have a big crowd of us living there every year.
http://www.toyoko-inn.com/e_hotel/00190/index.html
2) Mitsubishi Boat Club
The Mitsubishi boat club, that sit on the side of the race course, has accommodation facilities. Each room consists of several bunk beds. The price is around HKD125 per night per person. Kaz will help on booking and details will be annouced in the Toda 2024 whatsapp group for those who have shown the interest to join the trip.
3) Hotel in Shinjuku
Easy access to pubs, food stall, JR express and etc. Take only 30 mins to Toda by JR. A lot of choices of hotel in this area. This is for those who are not only focus on rowing but also party, shopping and fun in the Tokyo city.
If you join this Regatta first time and want to live with others in the same hotel, you may drop me an email. I will try to connect you to the appropriate groups.
Flights
You can find direct flights from Cathay Pacific, JAL, ANA or some cheaper choice with Hong Kong Express and others. The price ranged from HK$2300 to HK$5600 at this moment depends on airline and flight time.
Again, book your own flight this year.
We suggest flying to Japan on 3rd morning and fly back on 6th if you only focus on race.
Line-up and combination
For Toda Open Regatta, please form your own crew.
For Toda Master, you can form your own racing combination, and/or we will also mix some combination to get everyone to race (and win medals). We will normally get everyone to race 3–5 races over the 2 days.
Celebration Dinner
Same as last year, we will find a place to host the Celebration Dinner on 5th of May. Get every generation of rowers together!! We will also invite some selected guest to join us as in the past (e.g. Shanghai Rowing Club and Lantau Boat Club last year, maybe extend to Peking Rowing Club, Kingdee and Easter Rowing Club this year)
The Core Itinerary for Toda Master(subject to further confirmation with organiser, especially on the practice opportunities):
3rd May, morning — boat checking (if you arrive earlier enough) & short outing
3rd May, afternoon — Short outing after 1st day of Toda Open.
4th May, morning — practice before the race. 1st day race
4th May, afternoon — 1st day race. crew boat practice.
5th May, morning — practice before the race. 3rd day race
5th May, night — Celebration dinner together and pubs….
The Toda Olympic Course:
Experience the beauty of the course in 360 degree panorama view, click the following
We’ve already had the following people saying yes to this regatta,
1. Wan NG
2. Kaz Takai
3. JiaNan
4. Tobias
5. Patrik Talas
6. David Sorton
7. Anna Fisher
8. Ian Brownlee
9. Michelle
10. Alex Bidlake
If you are interested, please contact Wan NG ( wan@haacgroup.com / WhatsApp 98072201) and we will put you into a separate Toda 2024 WhatsApp group. Do let us know as early as you can to allow us to arrange the crew line-up and logistic stuff ( e.g. entries, boat renting, celebration dinner & etc. )
Hope to see you in Toda this year!
