Daytona Beach, FL – Expect to see lots of rowboats if you happen to be around Daytona Beach’s City Island this Saturday.
Over 450 rowers will slice through the waters of the Halifax River as part of the 19th Annual Summer Regatta, hosted by the Halifax Rowing Association.
Teams from over 30 clubs across the United States – primarily from Florida and the Southeast – will compete on a 1,000 meter course that runs in a straight line south of the Orange Avenue drawbridge.
Rowers from as young as 12 to retirees will gather around the HRA’s boathouse, which sits on City Island just north of the Volusia County Courthouse Annex and just east of Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Sami Bay with the HRA says the one-day event – held every year since their current boathouse was built in 1996 – is the biggest one they do all year, largely because it’s also one of the last big regattas of the summer rowing season.
“We’re just praying that the weather stays in our favor this weekend,” Bay added. “But if not, we’ll row through it.”
The races will begin at 7am Saturday and wrap up around 3:30pm, barring any lightning in the area. That’s likely the only kind of weather which could force a delay, according to Bay.
“The best place for anybody to come down and watch is, more than likely, from the Orange Avenue Bridge,” Bay added. “All the [boat] trailers will be parked in and around the courthouse, so there won’t be much room for parking there should somebody want to come in.”
Bay says this year’s regatta is looking like the largest ever. HRA has received 368 entries as of Thursday morning, with that number likely to grow due to last-minute participants.
Many of the 75 races scheduled for Saturday will be based on age and sex, but there’s also events where men and women will compete together as well as large group races with up to 8 rowers per boat.
There will also be some local handicapped competitors, according to Bay, including 2 women who are blind and another who has no legs.
“They are all excellent rowers,” Bay said.
Much of the event is organized and run by a group of 45 volunteers affiliated with the HRA in various ways.
There is no charge to watch the races from shore.
Photos are courtesy of HRA.
Copyright 2015 Southern Stone Communications.