Phila., Pa -- Dad Vail Regatta organizers announced that Friday, May 7, and Saturday, May 8, are the dates for the 72nd Dad Vail Regatta on the Schuylkill River course here in Philadelphia.
The decision is based on the standard that the Dad Vail is held on the weekend of the second Saturday of May. Mothers Day has always been excluded from Dad Vail races.
Qualifying Heats start Friday (May 7) about 7 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. Next day, Saturday (May 8), sees Semi Finals in the morning beginning at 7 a.m. and ending at 1 p.m. Finals start at 1 p.m. and end about 4:30 p.m.
Crews traditionally start arriving on Kelly Drive Wednesday and Thursday of the days preceding the regatta. They park their trailers, unload their boats, set up their locations, get heat sheets (to find out when and in what lane they row), weigh in, and begin warm up practices.
Kelly Drive traffic is re-routed for the regatta. Shadow Traffic gives the times for the Thursday morning closing and Saturday afternoon re-opening.
By Thursday afternoon, preliminaries are in full swing as rowers, coaches, and officials await the start of the Qualifying Heats next day. In last year's regatta, there were over 150 races, 524 boats and 3,278 athletes participating. Of these, 1,477 were men and 1,801 women.
The winning crews of 2009 were Michigan (Men's V8), Grand Valley (Women's V8), Mercyhurst (Women's Heavy 8-Div II and III), Delaware (Men's V Lightweight 8), Bucknell (Women's V Lightweight 8), Dowling (Men's V Heavy 4) and California-Irvine (Women's V Heavy 4)
This year fifty six schools have entered as Affiiates to date. Entry deadline is April 21. Organizers expect over 110 schools this year. For information about the regatta visit www.dadvail.org or call 215 542 1443.