SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — For the first time in its history, the 84th annual Dad Vail Regatta is taking place on Cooper River in Camden County.
The annual intercollegiate regatta is usually on the Schuylkill River, but officials had to change the venue due to a dredging project.
Camden County Commissioner Jeff Nash said it is a huge boost to businesses in the area. Hotels and restaurants are filled, and the economic impact is measured in the millions. He’s excited to showcase the best the county has to offer.
“Having the Dad Vail, the largest scholastic regatta in the country, brings thousands of people to our community,” he said.
The race, of course, looks a bit different too. Joseph Calendo, Camden County director of rowing and a former rower at Temple, said there’s no tricky curve to navigate this year.
Related
“We have a current over on the Schuylkill River. That changes a little bit of the racing and the timing that goes into these events, whereas over here on the Cooper, we don’t have any current. It’s controlled, so it’s a very straightforward course,” he explained.
No decisions have been announced on a location for next year.