Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series Continues This Saturday, October 13th with the 26th Annual Navy Day Regatta


Philadelphia, PA – October 12, 2012 -- The 2012 season of the Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series continues this Saturday, October 13th, with the 26th annual Navy Day Regatta.

Originally developed in 1986 to promote and support Navy and  Marine Corps awareness, the Navy Day Regatta is held in the second week of October to celebrate the U.S. Navy’s birthday. 

Approximately 3,000 competitors in 586 boats and representing 80 clubs and schools from across the Mid-Atlantic Region are expected to participate in the Navy Day Regatta.  Competitors include crews from the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, among others.  Saturday’s races being at 8:15 a.m. and the last race of the day is schedule at approximately 4:40 p.m.

Admission to view the Navy Day Regatta on the banks of the Schuylkill River along is free of charge.  Limited parking for cars is available nearby in Fairmount Park. The starting line for tomorrow’s Navy Day Regatta is above the Strawberry Mansion Bridge with the finish line above the "Viking" statue on Boathouse Row. 

The Navy Day Regatta, like the other remaining events in the 2012 Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series, are what are commonly referred to as “head races,” compared to the sprint races that were held throughout the spring and summer. Head races are a longer distance than the sprint races, and instead of six boats lining up and racing to the finish line, the boats are racing against the clock to get the best time.  The term “head races” comes from the tradition that the winner of a particular race the previous year is the “head of the river” until the next year’s race, at which point that defending winner gets the number one slot in the race.

With three of the largest regattas in the Mid-Atlantic region on the schedule, as well as two of the nation's oldest regattas, the Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series connects the rowing competitors of today to the historic home of the international rowing elite. It is built upon a tradition that launched November 12, 1835 with the first organized regatta on the Schuylkill (a full eight years before the start of the rowing program at Harvard). 

Over 175 years later, the Schuylkill River hosts more regattas annually than any other river in the nation.  Last year’s debut season of the Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series featured over 35,000 competitors in over 7,700 boats representing not only high schools but colleges, clubs, masters and open programs from around the country.   This season has already featured some of the biggest competitive rowing fields, as well as some of the largest audiences, in Philadelphia’s storied tradition in the sport.

The remaining 2012 Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series schedule of historic regattas:
  • Saturday, October 20:  4th Annual Philadelphia Children’s Foundation Regatta
  • Saturday, October 27 & Sunday, October 28:  42nd Annual Head of the Schuylkill Regatta
  • Sunday, November 11: 4th Annual Philadelphia Turn & Burn Regatta
The Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series has been recognized by the Philadelphia Sports Congress as one of the "Premier Annual Events" for the city, state and region along with the Penn Relays (April); Blue Cross Broad Street Run (May); Devon Horse Show (May); TD Bank Philadelphia International Cycling Championship (June); Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon (June); ING Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon (September); the Philadelphia Marathon (November) and Army-Navy Football.

The official host hotel of the 2012 Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series is the Sonesta Hotel Philadelphia.  Official sponsors of the Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series include Monarch Travel Services and Spike's Trophies. Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington and Double Tree Suites by Hilton Philadelphia West are hotel partners of the Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series.

Additional information is available at http://www.BoathouseRow.org.

Media Contact:
Jim DeLorenzo, Jim DeLorenzo Public Relations
215-564-1122