The 203rd running of the Royal St. John’s Regatta is set for the first Wednesday in August, but COVID restrictions mean it will look and feel very different.
Regatta Committee Chair Bradley Power made the announcement this morning at the Boathouse.
Bradley Power, President of the Royal St. John's Regatta committee announces that the Regatta will proceed this summer. However, there will be no concessions and vendors this year @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/kRAycYhDLW
— Richard Duggan (@RDugganVOCM) July 12, 2021
The races are ‘a go’ weather permitting, but there will be no vendors or concessions on site. Instead, a virtual garden party is planned—the details of which will be announced later.
Crowds will be asked not to gather, and officials will monitor the situation with the understanding that if large gatherings do occur, the event will be shut down. Cohort friendly zones will be set up.
Power is asking anyone not directly involved with the races to stay home on Regatta day. He says they're going to implement crowd control measures such as physical barriers, police enforcement, city-led enforcement, co-hort friendly zones, and other initiatives @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/Bxa1rZxPne
— Richard Duggan (@RDugganVOCM) July 12, 2021
President of the Royal St. John’s Regatta Committee, Bradley Power says they understand that people will be down at the lake “no matter what.” However, they are confident that they are doing everything they can to mitigate any risks.
The big thing, he says, if for people to realize the risks associated with going down to see the races, and asks for people to hold on for one more year.
Race times remain the same, starting just after 7 a.m. and wrapping up with the championship races starting at 6:30.
