By: Follow South Jersey Staff
PENNSAUKEN, N.J. — Regatta season returns to the Cooper River including the season’s main event, the 86th annual Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta, which is being held here for the third time since relocating from Philadelphia.
“The regatta season has been in full swing starting last weekend and will stay busy before and after the highly anticipated return of the Dad Vail Regatta,” Commissioner Jeff Nash, liaison to the Camden County Parks Department, said in a press release from Camden County. “Last year was such a success and we cannot wait to welcome thousands of world class athletes and more than 30,000 fans back to the Cooper River for the biggest collegiate regatta in the nation.”
The Board of Directors of the Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee had voted unanimously to move the regatta from the traditional site of the Schuylkill River National Racecourse to the Cooper River for the 2023 event and continue to hold the event at Cooper River.
“It was such an outstanding event last year that in July, it was announced it would return to Cooper River Park for the 86th anniversary of the event,” Nash stated. “It is such an honor to host such a prestigious event and we hope to see an even better turnout for this year.”
According to the county, the Cooper River’s Olympic-distance, 2,000-meter narrow and sheltered straightaway makes it widely known as one of the best rowing venues in the nation and the regatta season altogether garners around $20 million for the local Camden County economy.
In addition to the world-class racing course, rowing has been a significant economic generator for the county and the municipalities surrounding Cooper River Park. The small businesses, including restaurants, grocery stores and hotels see significant increases during the prime season of competition during the spring months. Athletes, staff and parents all make their homes in Camden County during weekend long regattas looking for many of the comforts from home that local merchants supply to the tune of $10 million of economic activity according to a study by Rowan University’s School of Business.
Upcoming regattas on the Cooper River include:
April 5: Steve Neczypor Memorial Regatta
April 12-13 : Knecht Cup
April 26 : Garden State Championships
April 27 : Cooper Cup Regatta
May 8-10: Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta
May 16-18: College Conference Championships
May 22-24: Scholastic Rowing Association of America Nationals Championship Regatta
May 30- June 1 : International Rowing Association Championship Regatta
August 1-2: Cooper River Dragon Boat Regatta
September 13: Bayada Regetta
September 27: Northeast Dragon Boat Challenge Regatta
For more information about activities and events at Cooper River Park, click here.
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