Nutter confers with colleges on regatta

The Dad Vail Regatta may be about to drift away, but drama remains in its wake.

Mayor Nutter spoke again Wednesday with athletic officials from Drexel, St. Joseph's, Temple and other universities affected by the Dad Vail's move to tony Rumson, Monmouth County, N.J.

"No agreement was made," mayoral spokesman Doug Oliver said of the possibility of a rival regatta on the same day. The Dad Vail, the nation's largest collegiate regatta, has been held in Philadelphia since 1953.

"All parties involved are committed to continued discussions as appropriate," he said.

For at least one of the schools, the decision centers on where to find the best competition.

"We're not going to know where the best boats and competition are going to be for a while yet . . . but that's where we're going to go," said St. Joseph's athletic director, Don DiJulia, who listened in on the conference call.

DiJulia said that his team would be assessing where to compete in May. Besides the Dad Vail, DiJulia said he was considering a regatta in Worcester, Mass., among other options.

Still, he said, "it would be great if something could happen in Philadelphia."

DiJulia said more discussions would be held next week.