Busy regatta season in full swing on the Cooper River
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
(Pennsauken, NJ) – The Cooper River has a packed regatta season ahead of the year’s main event; the 86th annual Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta, which is being held in Camden County in May for the third time since relocating from Philadelphia.
“The regatta season has been in full swing starting last weekend and will stay busy before and after the highly anticipated return of the Dad Vail Regatta,” said Commissioner Jeff Nash, liaison to the Camden County Parks Department. “Last year was such a success and we cannot wait to welcome thousands of world class athletes and more than 30,000 fans back to the Cooper River for the biggest collegiate regatta in the nation.”
Last year, the Board of Directors of the Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee voted unanimously to move the regatta from the traditional site of the Schuylkill River National Racecourse to the Cooper River for the 2023 event. This year, the Dad Vail will be held on Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10.
“It was such an outstanding event last year that in July, it was announced it would return to Cooper River Park for the 86th anniversary of the event,” Nash said. “It is such an honor to host such a prestigious event and we hope to see an even better turnout for this year.”
The Cooper River’s Olympic-distance, 2,000-meter narrow and sheltered straightaway makes it widely known as one of the best rowing venues in the nation and the regatta season altogether garners around $20 million for the local Camden County economy.
In addition to the world-class racing course, rowing has been a significant economic generator for the county and the municipalities surrounding Cooper River Park. The small businesses, including restaurants, grocery stores and hotels see significant increases during the prime season of competition during the spring months. Athletes, staff and parents all make their homes in Camden County during weekend long regattas looking for many of the comforts from home that local merchants supply to the tune of $10 million of economic activity according to a study by Rowan University’s School of Business.
Upcoming Regattas on the Cooper River include:
March 29, Doc Hosea Regatta; April 5, Steve Neczypor, Memorial Regatta; April 12-13, Knecht Cup; April 26, Garden State Championships; April 27, Cooper Cup Regatta, May 8-10, Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta; May 16-18, College Conference Championships; May 22-24, Scholastic Rowing Association of America Nationals Championship Regatta; May 30- June 1, International Rowing Association Championship Regatta; August 1-2, Cooper River Dragon Boat Regatta; September 13, Bayada Regetta; September 27, Northeast Dragon Boat Challenge Regatta.
Cooper River Park encompasses 346-acres through Pennsauken, Cherry Hill, Collingswood and Haddon Township. In addition to the boathouse, the park’s amenities include: a children’s playground with pavilions, a softball field, a cross country course, the Camden County Golf Academy, the Cooper River Yacht Club, two bike trails, Jack Curtis Stadium, a track, picnic areas, a bocce court and more.