Right Around the River Blog

Rocketts Landing Collegiate Regatta Is This Weekend

Post Date: 04-25-2014
Get ready, friends! Our 2014 event season has officially arrived with this weekend's fourth annual Rocketts Landing Collegiate Regatta. Hosted by VCU Crew, the regatta kicks off the days when our community's James River banks fill with athletic races, smiling faces and winning aces (okay, we just had to keep the rhyme going!).


Rowing fans, families and friends line up to watch the Rocketts Landing Collegiate Regatta.

This year, six college teams from across Virginia are coming out for a day of strong competition: VCU, Christopher Newport University, George Mason University, University of Richmond, Old Dominion University and James Madison University. 

While USRA Officials run the regatta, both novice and varsity rowers will compete and test their rowing prowess in a variety of heats, such as women's and men's heats, and 8+, 4+, 2+ and 1x (crew lingo for eight rowers, four rowers, etc.) races. Alumni groups will also have their chance to test the waters — and back this year by popular demand is the coxswain's race (the person sitting in the shell who coaches the rowers on).


VCU Crew competes in a men's 8+ on the James River.

"VCU will be defending their title for the third year in a row," says Sara Laverdy, president of VCU Crew, " and competing in the coxswains 500-meter race, [which is] rowed by coxswains and coxed by a rower."

After the race, VCU Crew is inviting spectators and the public to their annual fundraising dinner and kick-off season celebration. Held at the same location as the Collegiate Regatta (near the Richmond Terminal), the dinner is catered by VCU Crew and is one of the main fundraising avenues for the team. Since donations entirely fund VCU Crew's operations, events such as the dinner and their Collegiate Regatta provide necessary income to keep the club running! 

So, whether you're coming our for the race, the dinner or both, we're certain you're in for a great time with the 2014 Rocketts Landing Collegiate Regatta! (And, while your down here, be sure to stop by our open house to learn more about our upcoming auction properties and the next phase of Rocketts Landing developments.)

We look forward to a stellar day along the James River and wish all the teams swift oars and the best of luck!

  • What: 4th Annual Rocketts Landing Collegiate Regatta
  • When: Saturday, April 26, 2014
  • Time: Regatta starts at 9:30 a.m. with the coaches and coxswains meeting, first heat is at 10:30 a.m., and the Regatta ends around 2:00 p.m. The semi-formal celebration dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. 
  • RSVP: The Collegiate Regatta is free and open to the public. The celebration dinner is $30 per person and you can purchase your tickets online.


VCU Crew claims their win at the Rocketts Landing Collegiate Regatta 2013.

To learn more about rowing at VCU, be sure to check out VCU Crew's website. You can also make a tax-deductible donation to the club online.