RegattaCentral

Scholastic Rowing Association of America® (SRAA®) 

Partners with Schuylkill Navy and City of Philadelphia to Bring 

Championship Regatta to Schuylkill River National Racecourse

Following the successful launching of a spring regatta season on the Schuylkill River and implementation of protocols to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission, the Scholastic Rowing Association of America® brings its May 28-29 national championship to Philadelphia for first time.

Philadelphia, PA. April 30, 2021 – The Scholastic Rowing Association of America® (SRAA®) joins The Schuylkill Navy of Philadelphia (the governing body for Boathouse Row and amateur sport on the region’s Schuylkill River) in announcing today that its annual championship regatta will take place in Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River National Racecourse, on May 28-29, 2021.  The event will adhere to the same COVID-19 Mitigation Plan that was approved by the City’s Department of Public Health for the earlier May regattas including the Phila Scholastic Rowing Association’s (PSRA’s) City Championships (May 1-2), Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta (May 8), and Schuylkill Navy Stotesbury Cup Regatta (May 14-15).    

SRAA’s President Dennis Smith shared, “We are all still in the ‘first 500’ of post-pandemic ‘return to normal’ and event planning.  Rowing programs and regatta organizations are no different than corporations, schools, and other organizations that are working hard to navigate a path forward while balancing the twin goals of safety and ‘re-opening.’ Watching the partnership that the City of Philadelphia has offered to the rowing community and the successful early execution of the PSRA Flick-Horvat Series in April, we believe the Schuylkill River was the best option for this year’s event after learning that our originally planned venue of the Cooper River in New Jersey could not accommodate our request.”

While regattas and events around the country have been cancelled and venues remain in-flux for giving approvals for racing, the City of Philadelphia embraced the opportunity to safely welcome athletes to its iconic racecourseearlier this month.  Officials from the City’s Department of Public Health, Office of Special Events, Parks and Recreation Department, and Managing Director’s Office partnered early with the Schuylkill Navy of Philadelphia to create a “return to racing,” making the regattas among the first public events approved for 2021. 

Strict Covid-19 Mitigation and Safety Protocols will remain in place and were a necessary part to obtaining approval, including but not limited to: 

- Masks required on land at all times.

- No spectating tents or spectators. 

- No food or drink vending on site.

Bonnie Mueller, Commodore of the Schuylkill Navy, worked closely with the SRAA® and City of Philadelphia to support attainment of the City’s approval for the switch in venue. “We couldn’t be more delighted to welcome the nation’s high school athletes to the Schuylkill River for a second time in May,” she said.  “For close to 165 years, the Schuylkill Navy has remained relentlessly focused on doing everything necessary to promote amateur racing and competition.  And, we’ve been able to do so because of the amazing partnerships we have, often forged by perseverance during difficult times.  This year is one of those moments. We’re happy to work with the SRAA® and grateful to our City partners to ensure that this national championship could take place for these student-athletes in 2021.”   

The SRAA® will share additional information in the coming weeks about the regatta schedule, site logistics, etc.  

For additional information from the Scholastic Rowing Association of America®, please contact: [email protected].

For additional information from the Schuylkill Navy, please contact Commodore Bonnie Mueller at [email protected].