Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta reduced from two days to one, but enthusiasm is high

After receiving the city's permission on March 31, the Dad Vail Regatta has about 45 entries and 1,100 rowers but will be able to conduct competition the entire day on May 8.

Colgate's rowers rejoice after winning the men's varsity heavyweight eight final at the 81st annual Dad Vail Regatta on the Schuylkill on May 11, 2019.Read moreHEATHER KHALIFA / Staff Photographer

by Joe Juliano

Published Apr. 28, 2021, 5:04 p.m. ET

A number of factors prompted officials of the 82nd Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta to reduce its annual competition on the Schuylkill from two days to one this year. But after being shut down in 2020 because of the pandemic, the prospect of an entire day of races is exciting to all involved.

Now set for May 8, the regatta has been scaled down — about 45 teams and 1,100 rowers compared to more than 100 teams and over 3,500 contestants in 2019. But it has been a massive undertaking for Dad Vail officials since the city of Philadelphia announced March 31 that spring rowing regattas could resume after a one-year absence.

Jim Hanna, president of the Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee, said Wednesday that officials will be able to fit all the racing into one day starting at 9 a.m.

“We’re very, very excited,” Hanna said. “The officials are excited. We’ve worked hard. We really thought we’d be able to stage the event and we’ve had great cooperation from the city, the Department of Parks and Recreation, Mayor [Jim] Kenney … everybody really has pitched in to make this a go.”

Hanna said while many schools are conducting a hybrid of sessions or instructing remotely, some crew programs have not competed this spring during the pandemic. So even with the numbers down, he is pleased with the number of entries.

“It’s interesting because kids want to race,” he said. “Several of the larger regattas are not being held this year. So they’re coming to race in the Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta.”

Hanna said Georgetown, a dominant crew at the Dad Vails in the 1960s, is returning this year. The Princeton women also are entered, as are teams from Michigan, Virginia, defending men’s heavyweight varsity eight champion Colgate, and Marietta, which won its first Dad Vail race in 1934. Para-rowing events also will be conducted.

The local contingent of entries is headed by Temple, Drexel, St. Joseph’s, and La Salle.

The Dad Vail as well as two other city spring regattas — the Philadelphia Scholastic Rowing Association City Championships this weekend and the Stotesbury Cup Regatta for high school athletes on May 14-15 — will be subject to stringent COVID-19 protocols.

None of the three regattas will permit spectators. Hanna said if any spectators are caught watching the Dad Vail races, their teams will be subject to disqualification. No food or drink will be on site.

Hanna said all athletes, coaches, referees, and volunteers will have an app on their phones and must respond to a questionnaire before they enter the race course. They all will wear bracelets once on the grounds.

“As far as being flexible, we keep adjusting,” he said. “We’re bound and determined to run a safe regatta.”