Regatta has survived wind, rain and snow

Jimmy Crotty, who dedicated many years to serving on the Regatta Committee and who, in 1919, even plunged into Quidi Vidi Lake to help rescue rowers from a sinking boat, possessed a sharp wit.

A short exchange he had with a spectator at lakeside in 1924 was remembered for decades and was a story often told by the late Justice Jimmy Higgins.

It happened on Regatta Day 1925. By 9 a.m., it was bright and sunny with a fairly fresh breeze. As the time neared 10 a.m., and the go-ahead had not yet been given by the Regatta Committee, an impatient fan approached Jimmy Crotty who was standing outside the committee tent sizing up the pond.

The fan knew little about rowing, but loved the races. He asked Crotty, “What’s holding up the races? When are you going to start?” Crotty replied politely that some members of the committee had gone down to the buoys to see if it was safe for boats turning.

Our impatient friend thought this action was a waste of time and he instructed Crotty to, “Look up at that sky, it’s perfect.”

The usually patient Crotty quipped, “We’re not rowing up there!” then turned his back on the complainant and entered the Committee tent.

Weather generally favoured the races

Throughout the entire history of the Royal St. John’s Regatta, there were only 32 postponements due to weather conditions.

Since the rowing match on St. John’s Harbour in 1818, 193 years have passed with 160 Regattas having taking place. This year will mark the actual 161st running of the St. John’s Regatta.

Weather has always been a determining factor in setting the date for this annual event. In this regard, it is interesting to note that the chances of the Regatta not being delayed by weather are 80 percent.

The best years for favourable weather on Regatta Day was those from 1818-1860. In that period, only 25 regattas were organized and all went ahead on schedule. In that era, the date for holding the Regatta was determined by when the hay harvest was completed.

Since 1871, the best years weather-wise for the races were the period from 1871 to 1895 when weather caused only three delays. The same statistics are recorded for the 25 year period from 1977 to 2001.

Worst weather period

The worst period for Regatta Day weather was the 25-year period from 1952 to 1976 during which time the races were postponed on 11 occasions.

Some sports writers put forward the idea that Regatta Day should be joined with one of the scheduled summer holidays, and that it be held on the first fine day of the two holidays. This might improve the likelihood of the Regatta going ahead on time, but it would not have helped in 1974 when the weather was so bad that the races were spread over four days.

The record for the longest held Regatta due to poor weather took place in 1973 when the races were spread over the period from August 1-8. The year 1988 marked the longest Regatta Day in history. A two-and-a-half-hour delay in the races resulted in the last race being held at 10:04 p.m.

The days leading up to the 1886 Regatta recorded some of the worst weather of the 19th century. One Water Street store, owned by a Mr. A. Dearin, had snow balls on exhibition in his shop window. The Newfoundlander reported on August 6, “This morning the ground was white with snow. Some rain fell during the forenoon, but it recommenced snowing about one o’clock and showers of snow and rain continued falling at intervals till 4 p.m. At 6 p.m., a favourable change set in and a warmer temperature prevailed.”

Should Regattas be in July

Nineteenth century Regattas were primarily held in August, but there are records showing July Regattas and some in September.

Many suggestions were made to change the date of the Regatta to a time when favourable weather was more likely to occur. Perhaps the best suggestion was that it be held on the first fine day in August.

The history of the Regatta covers two periods :

(1) from 1818 to 1860, the beginning of the tradition, when the Regatta was held intermittently.

(2) The second period began in 1871 when a more stable Regatta began and since that time it was only cancelled due to disaster or war.

There was no Regatta in 1892 due to the Great Fire; no regattas took place from 1915 to 1918 due to war and no Regatta was held in 1940, also because of war.