Dad Vail Regatta
The Dad Vail Regatta is the largest regular intercollegiate rowing event in the United States,[1][2] drawing over a hundred colleges and universities from North America. The regatta has been held annually on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, since 1953.
It was renamed the Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta in 2019 for new sponsor Thomas Jefferson University, a private university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 2017 through the merger of Philadelphia University and Thomas Jefferson University.[3]
It was renamed the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta in 2010 for sponsor Aberdeen Asset Management, a Scottish investment firm whose U.S. operations are headquartered in Center City Philadelphia.[4]
The purposes of the Dad Vail Rowing Association are: "to perpetuate the 'Dad' Vail tradition, foster and encourage intercollegiate rowing among colleges new to the sport, and promote schedules for member schools."
Origin of the name "Dad Vail"[edit]
The regatta was named after Harry Emerson "Dad" Vail, for his years of coaching at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
The story of the Dad Vail Regatta, and of the Rowing Association, begins with two men, "Rusty" Callow, then coach at the University of Pennsylvania, who came up with the idea, and Lev Brett, who made the idea a reality.
Callow originated the idea of promoting competition among colleges struggling to found rowing programs. These included schools too small to hope to ever compete in major races and larger institutions not yet ready for such competition. In order to create competition, Rusty created a trophy as the competition prize, in 1934, which was named in honor of Vail.
Since then, the name "Dad" Vail has become one and the same with the race. Vail's passion for rowing helped form the modern-day Dad Vail Regatta and motivate the multitudes of colleges to come compete.
History of the regatta[edit]
The first race, before the formation of the Dad Vail Rowing Association, was held in 1934 with "Rusty" and the University of Pennsylvania as hosts. Marietta College, coached by Ellis MacDonald won the first leg on the new trophy by finishing second to a Penn sub-varsity boat, which was an added entry. Rutgers, coached by Ned Ten Eyck, was third and Manhattan College, coached by "Skippy" Walz was fourth.
The race in 1935 was at Marietta. With the addition of Rollins College and Wisconsin, the order at the finish of the race was: Rutgers, Penn, Marietta, Wisconsin, Manhattan, and Rollins. There was no race held in 1937. In both 1936 and 1938, only Rutgers and Manhattan competed on the Harlem. Rutgers won both times. In February 1939, a meeting was held and the Dad Vail Rowing Association was formed in order to help promote the race and encourage schools to compete.
The growth of the regatta is pointed out by the following statistics: in the first association regatta, seven colleges sent seven varsity crews to Red Bank. At Philadelphia in 1961, twenty colleges sent forty crews to compete in varsity, JV, and freshman races. Currently, over a hundred colleges and universities from the United States and Canada compete, making the Dad Vail Regatta the largest collegiate regatta in the United States and bringing thousands of student athletes to Philadelphia.
Women competed for the first time in 1976.[5] As coxswain for Marietta College's JV heavyweight eight that year, Deborah Patterson was the first woman to win a gold medal at the Dad Vail.
Briefly in late 2009, the Dad Vail Organizing Committee announced that the regatta would be held in Rumson, New Jersey[6] in 2010, citing loss of local sponsors.[7] However, this decision was soon rescinded due to pressure from the city and logistical problems with the Rumson location, and the event returned to Philadelphia for 2010.[8][9]
The Dad Vail entered its 75th year in 2013.
In 2023, because of dredging being done on the Schuylkill River, the regatta was moved to the Cooper River in Pennsauken Township NJ. The event was also scheduled again for 2024 for the Cooper River, the 85th anniversary of the Dad Vail
Winners of select events[edit]
 |
| Men's HW 8+ | Men's JV 8+ | Men's Frosh 8+ | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | Marietta | -- | -- | [10] [11] |
| 1935 | Rutgers | -- | -- | [10] |
| 1936 | Rutgers | -- | -- | [10] |
| 1938 | Rutgers | -- | -- | [10] |
| 1939 | Rutgers | -- | -- | [10] |
| 1940 | Rutgers | -- | -- | [10] |
| 1941 | Rutgers | -- | -- | [10] |
| 1942 | Rutgers | -- | -- | [10] |
| 1943 | Not contested (World War II) | [10] | ||
| 1944 | ||||
| 1945 | ||||
| 1946 | ||||
| 1947 | Boston U. | -- | -- | [10] |
| 1948 | Boston U. | -- | -- | [10] |
| 1949 | Boston U. | -- | -- | [10] |
| 1950 | Boston U. | -- | -- | [10] |
| 1951 | La Salle | -- | -- | [10] [12] |
| 1952 | La Salle | -- | -- | [10] |
| 1953 | La Salle | -- | -- | [10] |
| 1954 | Dartmouth | -- | -- | [10] |
| 1955 | Dartmouth | -- | -- | [10] |
| 1956 | La Salle | -- | -- | [10] |
| 1957 | La Salle | -- | -- | [10] |
| 1958 | La Salle | -- | La Salle | [10] [12] |
| 1959 | Brown | -- | -- | [10] [13] |
| 1960 | Brown | -- | -- | [10] |
| 1961 | Brown | -- | -- | [10] |
| 1962 | Georgetown | -- | La Salle | [10] [12] |
| 1963 | Marietta | -- | -- | [10] [11] |
| 1964 | Georgetown | -- | Marietta | [10] [11] |
| 1965 | Northeastern | Northeastern | Northeastern | [10] [14] |
| 1966 | Marietta | Marietta | Marietta | [10] [11] |
| 1967 | Marietta | -- | Marietta | [10] [11] |
| 1968 | Georgetown | Marietta | Marietta | [10] [11] |
| 1969 | Georgetown | Marietta | Marietta | [10] [11] |
| 1970 | St. Joseph's U. | -- | Trinity College | [10] [15] |
| Men's HW 8+ | Men's JV 8+ | Men's Frosh 8+ | ||
| Men's HW 8+ |
Men's JV 8+ |
Men's Frosh 8+ |
Men's LW 8+ |
Men's FLW 8+ |
Women's HW 8+ |
Women's LW 8+ |
Women's DII HW 8+ |
Women's DIII HW 8+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Georgetown [10] | Marietta[11] | Marietta[11] | Marietta [11] | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1972 | Coast Guard | Marietta[11] | -- | Coast Guard | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1973 | Massachusetts [16] | Marietta[11] | Marietta[11] | Marietta [11] | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1974 | Massachusetts [17] | St. Joseph's[18] | Massachusetts[19] | Drexel [20] | Marietta[21] | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1975 | Coast Guard [22] | -- | Florida Tech | Florida Tech | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1976 | Coast Guard [23] | Marietta[11] | Marietta[11] | Coast Guard | -- | Ithaca [24] | -- | -- | -- |
| 1977 | Coast Guard [25] | Coast Guard[26] | Ithaca[27] | La Salle[28] | -- | Western Ontario | -- | -- | -- |
| 1978 | Coast Guard | Marietta[11] | Toronto | Wesleyan | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1979 | Coast Guard | -- | -- | Western Ontario | -- | Ithaca [24] | -- | -- | -- |
| 1980 | Massachusetts | Coast Guard | Trinity College | Trinity College | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1981 | Coast Guard | Trinity College | San Diego State | Western Ontario | -- | ||||
| 1982 | Florida Tech | Coast Guard | British Columbia | Rhode Island | Western Ontario | -- | |||
| 1983 | Temple [29] | Florida Tech | Florida Tech | Marietta[11] | Georgetown | -- | |||
| 1984 | Temple | Rhode Island | Minnesota | -- | -- | ||||
| 1985 | Temple | Coast Guard | New Hampshire | -- | |||||
| 1986 | Temple | New Hampshire | New Hampshire | -- | -- | ||||
| 1987 | Temple | Florida Tech | Georgetown | -- | -- | ||||
| 1988 | Florida Tech | Georgetown | Massachusetts[30] | Minnesota | -- | -- | |||
| 1989 | Temple | Temple | Georgetown | Western Ontario | Washington U. St. Louis | -- | -- | ||
| 1990 | Temple | Virginia | Temple University | Georgetown | Western Ontario | -- | -- | ||
| 1991 | Temple | Temple | Rochester | Marietta[11] | Virginia | -- | -- | ||
| 1992 | Temple | Georgetown | Western Ontario | Navy [31] | Florida Tech | -- | -- | ||
| 1993 | Temple | University of Miami | Western Ontario | Gerogetown | -- | -- | |||
| 1994 | Temple | Marietta [11] | Temple | Central Florida | -- | -- | |||
| 1995 | Temple | Michigan | Toronto | Vanderbilt | Michigan | Central Florida | -- | -- | |
| 1996 | Temple | Florida Tech | Temple | -- | -- | ||||
| 1997 | Temple | Drexel | Drexel | Saint Joseph's | Purdue | Western Ontario | Villanova | -- | -- |
| 1998 | Temple | Temple | Purdue | Florida Tech | Villanova | Purdue | Villanova | -- | -- |
| 1999 | Temple | RIT | Marietta | Saint Joseph's | Saint Joseph's | Villanova | Delaware | -- | -- |
| 2000 | Temple | RIT | Villanova | Purdue | Georgia Tech | Villanova | Massachusetts | -- | -- |
| 2001 | Temple | Temple | Marietta[11] | Villanova | Santa Clara | Boston College | Delaware | -- | -- |
| 2002 | Dowling | Marietta[11] | Marietta[11] | Fordham | Massachusetts | Delaware | -- | -- | |
| 2003 | Temple | Temple | St. Joseph's | Delaware | St. Joseph's | Massachusetts | Bucknell | -- | -- |
| 2004 | Temple | Temple | Marietta[11] | Boston College | St. Joseph's | Sacramento State | Purdue | -- | Marietta |
| 2005 | Michigan | St. Joseph's | Purdue | Boston College | St. Joseph's | Connecticut | Dayton | Barry | -- |
| 2006 | Marietta [11] | Temple | St. Joseph's | Georgia Tech | St. Joseph's | Saint Joseph's | Dayton | Barry | -- |
| 2007 | Purdue | Temple | Bucknell | Georgia Tech | Florida Tech | Purdue | Ohio State | Washington University in St. Louis | Rochester |
| 2008 | Purdue | Grand Valley | Delaware | Fordham | Delaware | UC Davis | Central Florida | Dowling [32] | |
| 2009 | Michigan | Temple | Michigan | Delaware | MSOE | Grand Valley | Bucknell | Mercyhurst [33] | |
| 2010 | Brock | Drexel | St. Joseph's U. | Mercyhurst | Michigan St. | Sacramento State | Massachusetts | Mercyhurst | Vassar [34] |
| 2011 | Michigan | Virginia | Purdue | Mercyhurst | Purdue | Purdue | Bucknell | Mercyhurst | Marietta [35] |
| 2012 | Michigan | Michigan | Marietta | Mercyhurst | Delaware | Duke | Bucknell | Mercyhurst | Marietta [36] |
| 2013 | Drexel | Michigan | Drexel | Delaware | Delaware | Grand Valley | Bucknell | Barry | Rochester [37] |
| 2014 | Michigan | Drexel | Jacksonville | MIT | Brock | Massachusetts | MIT | Nova Southeastern | Marietta [38] |
| 2015 | Florida Tech | Drexel | Drexel | Delaware | Mercyhurst | Massachusetts | MIT | Barry | Marietta [39] |
| 2016 | Florida Tech | Drexel | Drexel | Mercyhurst | -- | Massachusetts | MIT | Barry | Ithaca [40] |
| 2017 | Drexel | St. Joseph's U. | Drexel | Delaware | -- | Drexel | Boston U. | Central Oklahoma | [41] |
| 2018 | Temple | Temple | Temple | Mercyhurst | -- | Boston U. | -- | UC San Diego | Coast Guard [42] |
| 2019 | Colgate | Drexel | Drexel | Mercyhurst | -- | Boston U. | Georgetown | Florida Tech | Vassar [43] |
| 2020 | Not contested (Pandemic) | ||||||||
| 2021 | Temple | George Washington | Temple | Mercyhurst | -- | Drexel | -- | Mercyhurst | Stockton [44] |
| 2022 | Drexel | Drexel | Temple | MIT | -- | Princeton | Georgetown | Mercyhurst | Bryn Mawr [45] |
| 2023 | Drexel | Drexel | Drexel | MIT | -- | Boston U. | -- | Embry Riddle | Stockton [46] |
| 2024 | Drexel | Temple | West Point | MIT | -- | Drexel | Georgetown | Mercyhurst | RIT [47] |
Points trophies[edit]
The regatta awards trophies for men's, women's, and overall points based on the following scheme:[48][49]
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Varsity Eights | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| JV Eights | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Frosh/Novice Eights | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| 3V Eights | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Varsity Fours | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| JV Fours | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | ||
| Varsity Pairs | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | ||
| Varsity Singles | 3 | 2 | 1 |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Official Dad Vail Regatta site
- ^ "The biggest university rowing regatta in the US". worldrowing.com. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ "Jefferson Inks Sponsorship Deal with Dad Vail Regatta". bizjournals.com. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ DiStefano, Joseph N. (April 14, 2010). "Dad Vail Regatta saved for Philly by investor Aberdeen". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
- ^ "Women's Team History". ITHACA college. 2011-10-01.
- ^ "Powered by the people sponsor NJ". Powered By the People Media Division. 2010-09-17.
- ^ Barned-Smith, St. John (November 17, 2009). "Dad Vail race relocating to N.J., at least for 2010". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved November 17, 2009.
- ^ "It's Official: Dad Vail Will Return In 2010". Philadelphia Daily News. December 17, 2009. Archived from the original on 23 December 2009. Retrieved December 17, 2009.
- ^ Dad Vail. Accessed December 17, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah "85th Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta Program Guide". pp. 20–21. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Marietta: Dad Vail Champions".
- ^ a b c "La Salle: Dad Vail Champions".
- ^ BoathouseRow.org, pt. 4 Archived 2007-06-26 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Northeastern University Men's Crew History Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Saint Joseph's Men's Rowing: All-Time Dad Vail Regatta Medals & Trophies" (PDF). May 14, 2019.
- ^ Massachusetts Daily Collegian 5/1973
- ^ UMass 6:09.5,St Joseph's 6:11.2, Coast Guard 6:11.3. The Oarsman, Pg 49 July/August 1974
- ^ St Joseph's 6:27.5, Marietta 6:28.5, UMass 6:28.6. The Oarsman, Pg 49 July/August 1974
- ^ UMass 6:28.7, Marist 6:34.4, Trinity 6:38.8. The Oarsman, Pg 49 July/August 1974
- ^ Drexel 6:16.5, Villanova 6:21.8, FIT 6:22.2. The Oarsman, Pg 49 July/August 1974
- ^ Marietta 6:41.4, Coast Guard 6:41.5, Marist 6:50.7. The Oarsman Pg 49 July/August 1974
- ^ Massachusetts Daily Collegian 5/1975
- ^ Massachusetts Daily Collegian 5/1976
- ^ a b Ithaca University Crew History
- ^ Coast Guard 6.10.5, FIT 6.13.5, Ithaca 6.16.7 Ithaca Crew News Fall 1977
- ^ Coast Guard 6.20.3, Conn Coll 6.25, LaSalle 6.25.5 Ithaca Crew News Fall 1977
- ^ Ithaca 6.11.3, Coast Guard 6.17.6 Purdue 6.18.7 Ithaca Crew News Fall 1977
- ^ LaSalle 6.08.3, Coast Guard 6.08.4, Williams 6.08.9 Ithaca Crew News Fall 1977
- ^ Dad Vail Regatta: 1983 Championship Revisited
- ^ NY Times May 15, 1988
- ^ U.S. Naval Academy
- ^ "2008 Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta".
- ^ "2009 Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta".
- ^ "2010 Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta".
- ^ "2011 Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta".
- ^ "2012 Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta".
- ^ "2013 Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta".
- ^ "2014 Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta".
- ^ "2015 Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta".
- ^ "2016 Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta".
- ^ "2017 Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta".
- ^ "2018 Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta".
- ^ "2019 Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta".
- ^ "2021 Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta".
- ^ "2022 Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta".
- ^ "2023 Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta".
- ^ "2024 Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta".
- ^ "DAD VAIL REGATTA Regatta Instruction Bulletin – 2018" (PDF).
- ^ "81st Annual Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta Culminates with Record Setting Performances". Dad Vail Regatta. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
