Philadelphia rowing groups create Classic Regatta Series

Philadelphia’s rowing groups are joining together with the hopes of finding a major sponsor.

Philadelphia’s rowing groups are joining together with the hopes of finding a major sponsor.

Twenty-two rowing regattas that take place from March until November have joined together to form the Philadelphia Classic Regatta Series.

John Hogan is commodore of the Schuylkill Navy, the body that governs rowing in the city. Hogan says the goal is to make Philadelphia the rowing capitol of the country by bringing together some of the sport’s biggest events.

Hogan:
The Stotesbury Regatta with 5,500 high school rowers is the largest high school regatta in the United States and maybe the world. The Thomas Eakins Head of the Schuylkill Regatta has more than 5,000 competitors with a wide spectrum of ages and the Philadelphia Scholastic Championship, better known as the city championship, has close to 3,000 competitors.

The series does not include the Dad Vail Regatta. Organizers say joining together will give them a chance to showcase just how important rowing is to the city.