Thousands of Rowers Converge on Philadelphia For Annual Regatta
By Matt Leon
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Boathouse Row is the place to be this weekend. The annual "Head of the Schuylkill" regatta gets underway Saturday morning.
The first "Head of the Schuylkill" regatta was in 1971, and in the more than four decades years since, the event has grown in size and scope.
One-hundred eighty competitors took part that first year. More than 6,500 are expected this weekend.
Regatta board member Jennifer Wesson says the weekend has something for everyone.
"We're going to have a festival area, you're going to see competitors from high school through master rowers all competing. And it's continuous rowing down the river," she tells KYW Newsradio. "You'll have different types of vendors, national athletes interviewing, just a great time all around."
Athletes come from all over to take part in Head of the Schuylkill. Wesson says they expect rowers from 132 cities and six countries this weekend. And she adds that more than half the rowers this year are women; in 1971, only twelve of the 180 were.
For more information go to HOSR.org.
