Dad Vail ® Regatta - For Spectators

The Dad Vail Regatta takes place every May on the weekend of the second Saturday.

The 2010 Dad Vail Regatta will be on May 7 and 8, 2010.

The following section has been developed to make it easy for people planning on visiting this year's Dad Vail Regatta. Our hope is that your visit to Kelly Drive will be enjoyable and without problems. However, please call our phone number, or use our e-mail, if there are areas uncovered here.

Location
The Dad Vail Regatta takes place on Philadelphia’s Schuylkill River about five miles northwest of Center City and two miles north of boathouse row. Running parallel to Kelly Drive, one of the city’s main rush hour traffic arteries between downtown and Northwest Philadelphia, the Drive is closed during regatta days. Traffic is routed through Fairmount Park by Police officers and barricades from both north and south and directed on its way. Regatta traffic is directed to remote parking areas. There, shuttle buses provide free rides for regatta fans and spectators down to the race course area, running about every 15 to 20 minutes. There usually is a nominal fee for parking.

Click to launch Google Maps for a map with
directions, live traffic and satellite photos.

The Race Course
The 2,000 meters long race course start line is just north of the Kelly Drive-Hunting Park Avenue intersection. The course ends at the Grand Stand finish line just above the Columbia Avenue Bridge. The course has six lanes and is an Olympic Length course.

2009 Dad Vail Course Map (PDF)

Programs
Programs are sold at the regatta along with Heat Sheets, perhaps the most important document for the races. Heat Sheets tell the reader the schedule of races and which schools rows when and in what lane. The Heat Sheets are published during the week of May 9 and 10 and are updated for the Semi-Finals and Final races.

Race Results
Results will be announced over the PA System shortly after each race, mounted at the Finish Line Tower and published on the web: www.dadvail.org as soon as they are finalized by race officials in the Tower.

Admission
Free.

Best Place to Watch the Races
The Grand Stand

Getting Around
Wear good walking shoes or bring a bike.

Logistics

Food Court: You'll find a great selection of food and beverages, incuding Philly favorites like cheese steaks and hoagies. Whether you need a quick snack, a hearty lunch, or a refreshing beverage, you'll find it at the Food Court.
The Jack Kelly Statue and Grand Stand: This centrally located landmark at the finish line is one of the best places to see the excitement of the best college rowers competing for the championship.
Rowers Village and Launch Area: Here rowers weigh in, congregate, eat, relax and await their turn to race. Vendors line the pavement selling goods for their rowing clientele.

Places to Stay
Check out the packages offered by participating hotels on our Dad Vail Hotel Partners page.

Handicapped Parking
A limited number of parking spaces allow the vehicle of the handicapped person to pass through police barricades to park near the Grand Stand area. Wear your handicapped parking license or handicapped parking tag hanging from your rear view mirror.

Public Information line: 215-542-1443
E-mail: dadvailpr@verizon.net

Dad Vail Regatta's Green Policy

The Dad Vail Regatta fully supports the efforts and directions of the The Philadelphia Water Dept (PWD) and The Fairmount Park Commission (FPC) to virtually eliminate floatable trash on our piece of the Schuylkill River, and to bring Philadelphia closer to our shared goal of being the greenest city possible.

To this end, the Dad Vail Regatta staff asks all competitors and spectators to make an extra effort to keep water bottles and litter of all sorts out of the Schuylkill River and in proper receptacles.

As a reminder, we will place signage along the river with the following notice:

Special Caution Must Be Exercised To Protect The Schuykill River From Stray Water Bottles And Other Litter. Dispose Of All Litter In Any One Of the Numerous Trash Cans.

Thank you for your cooperation and help with this very important effort.


	ABOUT DAD VAIL FOR SPECTATORS FOR COMPETITORS SPONSORS & VENDORS MEDIA


HOME ABOUT THE DAD VAIL REGATTA DESTINATION DAD VAIL Hotel Packages For Spectators Preferred Restaurants Dad Vail Alumni Specials for 2010 Weather contingency plan Directions and Maps FOR COMPETITORS SPONSORS & VENDORS NEWS AND INFORMATION CONTACT US	A Spectators Guide to the Dad Vail Regatta The Dad Vail Regatta takes place every May on the weekend of the second Saturday. The 2010 Dad Vail Regatta will be on May 7 and 8, 2010. The following section has been developed to make it easy for people planning on visiting this year's Dad Vail Regatta. Our hope is that your visit to Kelly Drive will be enjoyable and without problems. However, please call our phone number, or use our e-mail, if there are areas uncovered here. Location The Dad Vail Regatta takes place on Philadelphia’s Schuylkill River about five miles northwest of Center City and two miles north of boathouse row. Running parallel to Kelly Drive, one of the city’s main rush hour traffic arteries between downtown and Northwest Philadelphia, the Drive is closed during regatta days. Traffic is routed through Fairmount Park by Police officers and barricades from both north and south and directed on its way. Regatta traffic is directed to remote parking areas. There, shuttle buses provide free rides for regatta fans and spectators down to the race course area, running about every 15 to 20 minutes. There usually is a nominal fee for parking. Click to launch Google Maps for a map with directions, live traffic and satellite photos. The Race Course The 2,000 meters long race course start line is just north of the Kelly Drive-Hunting Park Avenue intersection. The course ends at the Grand Stand finish line just above the Columbia Avenue Bridge. The course has six lanes and is an Olympic Length course. 2009 Dad Vail Course Map (PDF) Programs Programs are sold at the regatta along with Heat Sheets, perhaps the most important document for the races. Heat Sheets tell the reader the schedule of races and which schools rows when and in what lane. The Heat Sheets are published during the week of May 9 and 10 and are updated for the Semi-Finals and Final races. Race Results Results will be announced over the PA System shortly after each race, mounted at the Finish Line Tower and published on the web: www.dadvail.org as soon as they are finalized by race officials in the Tower. Admission Free. Best Place to Watch the Races The Grand Stand Getting Around Wear good walking shoes or bring a bike. Logistics Food Court: You'll find a great selection of food and beverages, incuding Philly favorites like cheese steaks and hoagies. Whether you need a quick snack, a hearty lunch, or a refreshing beverage, you'll find it at the Food Court. The Jack Kelly Statue and Grand Stand: This centrally located landmark at the finish line is one of the best places to see the excitement of the best college rowers competing for the championship. Rowers Village and Launch Area: Here rowers weigh in, congregate, eat, relax and await their turn to race. Vendors line the pavement selling goods for their rowing clientele. Places to Stay Check out the packages offered by participating hotels on our Dad Vail Hotel Partners page. Handicapped Parking A limited number of parking spaces allow the vehicle of the handicapped person to pass through police barricades to park near the Grand Stand area. Wear your handicapped parking license or handicapped parking tag hanging from your rear view mirror. Public Information line: 215-542-1443 E-mail: dadvailpr@verizon.net Dad Vail Regatta's Green Policy The Dad Vail Regatta fully supports the efforts and directions of the The Philadelphia Water Dept (PWD) and The Fairmount Park Commission (FPC) to virtually eliminate floatable trash on our piece of the Schuylkill River, and to bring Philadelphia closer to our shared goal of being the greenest city possible. To this end, the Dad Vail Regatta staff asks all competitors and spectators to make an extra effort to keep water bottles and litter of all sorts out of the Schuylkill River and in proper receptacles. As a reminder, we will place signage along the river with the following notice: Special Caution Must Be Exercised To Protect The Schuykill River From Stray Water Bottles And Other Litter. Dispose Of All Litter In Any One Of the Numerous Trash Cans. Thank you for your cooperation and help with this very important effort.