Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series Continues This Weekend with the 132nd Independence Day Regatta on the Schuylkill River Friday June 29th through Sunday, July 1st


Philadelphia, PA – June 28, 2012 – The Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series continues this weekend with the 132nd Independence Day Regatta on the historic Schuylkill River, beginning on Friday, June 29th and continuing through Sunday, July 1st.

Since 1880, the Independence Day Regatta has been an integral part of the history of competitive rowing in Philadelphia and beyond.  This year’s edition will include approximately 1,200 boats and over 2,100 athletes competing in 302 races and three time trials.  This year there will be 109 clubs from 84 cities in 21 states, as well as visiting clubs from Australia, Canada, Guatemala and Peru, with competitors ranging in age from 14 to 84 years old.

The first race on Friday begins at 8 a.m. and the last race is scheduled for approximately 6 p.m.  Saturday’s first race is scheduled for 8 a.m. and the last race is schedule for approximately 7 p.m.  Competition on Sunday begins at approximately 8 a.m. and concludes at approximately 4 p.m., with awards presentations, featuring the younger, wittier Ben Franklin presenting Schuylkill Navy watches to winners in 87 events, beginning at 12 Noon on Saturday and Sunday.

Admission to view the Independence Day Regatta on the banks of the Schuylkill River and in the Grandstand located on Kelly Drive beneath the Columbia Railroad Bridge is free of charge.  Limited parking for cars is available nearby in Fairmount Park.

“This year's Independence Day Regatta is the largest in its long history with a 20 percent increase in competitors over last year,” said John Hogan, Commodore of The Schuylkill Navy.  "This is the largest summer club regatta in the United States.  It began around 1880, and was originally known as the People’s Regatta.  This year is the second year that the Independence Day Regatta will be conducted as part of the Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series, which continues to establish its presence amongst the great annual sporting events of Philadelphia."

A full schedule for the Independence Day Regatta is available online at http://www.independencedayregatta.com.

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:
  • Friday, June 29 thru Sunday, July 1: 132nd Independence Day Regatta
  • Saturday, July 14: Philadelphia Youth Regatta
  • Saturday, August 4: Quaker City Masters Regatta
  • Saturday, October 13: 26th Annual Navy Day Regatta
  • Saturday, October 20:  4th Annual Philadelphia Children’s Foundation Regatta
  • Saturday, October 27 & Sunday, October 28:  42nd Annual Head of the Schuylkill Regatta
  • Saturday, November 10:  9th Annual Hutchinson Cup 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.  The official host restaurant of the 2012 Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series is Buca di Beppo-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.


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