Over 100 crews are registered for this year’s Royal St. John’s Regatta, and 30 per cent of them are made up of youth.

The Regatta launched a program some years ago to teach and encourage kids to row, and president Chris Neary says it is paying dividends.

Race Day is Wednesday, August 7 at Quidi Vidi Lake with the first race going at about 7:20. The Belfor team has already taken titles in Placentia and Harbour Grace, setting them up for a run at the VOCM Paint Shop Triple Crown of Rowing.

The two-hour lunch break will be reinstated. It was scrapped last year because of the unusually large number of races associated with the 200th anniversary.

Neary says rowers who joined as squirts are now moving up.

He says the Chevron Learn to Row Program has been successful, and that the youth participants will be their champions in the next 10 years or so.