This website is presenty being redeveloped. While material is being reorganized, this area will now house the most topical information.
First Wednesday in August
Held on beautiful Quidi Vidi Lake, the showpiece of a very impressive sport and recreational area in the eastern section of St. John's , the Regatta is scheduled for the first Wednesday of August.
If weather isn't suitable, and wind conditions are very important, the event is postponed until the next suitable day. Since Regatta Day is both a municipal and provincial holiday in the Metropolitan St. John's area, the decision to go ahead or postpone generates an amazing amount of public interest.
There are several unique technical features associated with the Regatta.
Crews row six-member, coxswained, fixed-seat racing shells that are as identical as possible and are the property of the Royal St. John's Regatta Committee.
Men's crews row a 2.450 km course , women's crews row a 1.225 km course , and all crews are required to turn buoys and return to the start-finish line.
Extemely popular, the Regatta attracts up to 40,000 people annually.
More than 250 booths and consessions blanket the shoreline of Quidi Vidi Lake and add greatly to the races being rowed on the Lake.
The booths and consessions are operated by charitable, athletic, church and fraternal organizations, and by enterprising individuals.
It is estimated that the booths and consessions generate approximately $1 Million for the local economy annually.
The song "The Banks of Newfoundland" has long been associated with the Regatta races and can be heard from the Bandstand during each of the races.
The administartion and control of the Regatta is the responsibility of a 50-member, volunteer committee that was established in 1937 and is comprised of local citizens.
In addition to the racing shells , the Committee owns the boathouse and operation facilities on the south bank of Quidi Vidi Lake and the wharf and marquee that are located on the north bank of Quidi Vidi Lake.
A special municipal act provides the Committee with control over Quidi Vidi Lake during the rowing season.
Thank-you for your interest in this page. This is version 2.0 and for the next release I will be adding sound and video as well as additional material. Please write me at the email address below if you have ideas for this page.