Discovery Day Regatta set for today at Quidi Vidi
There has been a lot of training in the weeks and months leading up to this point, but it could be said the 2018 fixedseat rowing season officially gets under way today, weather permitting, with the annual Discovery Day Regatta at Quidi Vidi Lake.
The Discovery Day event is the first of five regattas on the rowing calendar. Next up are the Time Trials July 7, to determine the race lineup for the St. John’s Regatta, followed by the 55th Placentia Regatta July 21, the 156th Harbour Grace Regatta July 28 and then the big one, the Royal St. John’s Regatta which is celebrating its 200th anniversary Aug. 1.
Last year, there were 100 crews taking part in the St. John’s Regatta, but that number has risen to some 155 registered this summer, thanks in part to the buzz surrounding the 200th year.
One hundred and 31 crews are confirmed for today’s Discovery Day event, with the first race slated to go at 7:20 a.m.
The final race, a squirt female event, is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Among the crews who will be skittering across the ancient waters of Quidi Vidi Lake today are Outer Cove and M5, the defending men’s and women’s Regatta champs, and clearly the crews to beat this summer.
Outer Cove rowed 8:59.70 in the championship race last season, while M5 stopped the clock in 5:00.71.
Back in the Outer Cove boat are stroke Brent Hickey, Brent Payne, James Cadigan, Daniel Cadigan, Mark Perry, Colin Stapleton and coxswain Mark Hayward. The M5 crew consists of stroke Katie Wadden, Alyssa Devereaux, Jane Brodie, Nancy Beaton, Amanda Ryan and Amanda Hancock. The cox is Dean Hammond and Marie Clift is the spare.
Regatta Hall of Famer Bert Hickey is coaching both crews.