Aberdeen Dad Vail ® Regatta - Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta's World-Class Dock Used By Stotesbury Regatta

For Immediate Release
Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee
May 20, 2011

Contacts:
Brendan F. Quinn
brendan.quinn@dadvail.org
(610) 322-5415

PHILADELPHIA — Following a highly successful test run of two new, state-of-the-art docks on the Schuylkill River, the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta is allowing the Stotesbury Regatta to enjoy the same opportunity.

The Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee and Aberdeen Asset Management Inc., the global asset manager and title sponsor of the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta, have enabled the Stotesbury organizers the use of the dock systems at this weekend's Stotesbury Regatta. With authorization from the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta, Stotesbury, the country's largest high school regatta, will utilize the DVROC's highly efficient competitor launch dock at the Three Angels statue and Aberdeen's magnificent awards dock at the Schuylkill River grandstands.

"The DVROC is pleased to make available portions of its award and shell-launching docks to other championship regattas," said Jack Galloway, chairman of the DVROC. "This week the Stotesbury Cup, the championship regatta of scholastic rowing, will be using the new award docks that the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta inaugurated last week. We are especially pleased that regatta fans are able to get a good look at the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta awards dock during medal presentation ceremonies. We are hopeful that the mayor and other civic officials will take advantage of sharing in the awarding of medals in other championship events on the river. The DVROC will be available to receive requests for the use of the award dock and competitor docks for future championship events that request it."

On full display last weekend, the cutting-edge awards dock provided by Aberdeen to the Dad Vail Regatta is an ultramodern platform for medal distribution and award ceremonies. The dock, measuring as wide as 15 feet in width at the head end, 10-feet wide at the upstream end, and 104-feet long, serves as a grand stage atop the Schuylkill to receive racing shells. The dock can simultaneously moor two eight-oared shells (58 feet a piece) and disembark crews for medal awards. On the end of the dock, with the Schuylkill and the Philadelphia skyline serving as the backdrop, an elevated podium can be used for gold-medal winning crews to pose for photos.

Aberdeen is funding the awards dock for the DVROC, which in turn will allow future regattas to use it. The DVROC will administer the use of the awards dock at various championship regattas during the year — starting with this weekend's Stotesbury.

"We at Aberdeen Asset Management were delighted to invest in the production of a new state-of-the-art dock, unveiled last weekend at the 2011 Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta," said Gary Marshall, the Chief Executive of Aberdeen Asset Management. "This is one of the world's leading rowing regattas: it deserves a world class showcase. The atmosphere on the dock when the winning crews received their various medals and trophies was truly a memorable one and we hope that future regattas enjoy the same experience. Plus, we didn't get our feet wet – unlike last year!"

Truly a sight to behold, the DVROC's newly constructed launch dock was a hit among crews at last weekend's Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta. Stretching 416 feet down the banks of the Schuylkill with two ramps extending to the shore and two support beams harnessing it, the dock allowed all 118 universities and colleges to efficiently enter and exit the river in a streamlined fashion not often seen at a regatta the size of the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta.

Attempting to describe the complexity of such an operation, Galloway explained, "This dock has to accommodate the heavy inbound and outbound shell traffic on a busy race schedule. We are racing six boats abreast with races going off over the race course at seven minute intervals. In a matter of 28 minutes, 24 racing shells and crews will have raced. That means the 24 crews will have all launched their shells within less than half an hour and simultaneously other crews that have already raced will have to be recovered at the dock within a similarly short period of time. If you calculate that we have eight hours of racing on Friday within this hectic schedule, you can see the absolute requirement for a first-class docking system."

And indeed it is. Mike Ragan, senior vice-president of the DVROC, and Ken Shaw, a former member of the DVROC board of directors and vice president of the Regatta, took the lead role in identifying available vendors for both docks. Ragan, who also serves as the chair of Regatta operations, personally visited Accudock in Pompano Beach, Fla., to find the exact docks required for the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta. The low-profile Accudock system allows the outriggers to clear the deck and for boats to slide up against the dock – making it especially easy for rowers to get in and out of their shells.

"I was looking for something that would fit all the variables that we have to contend with," Ragan said. "One is storage because they're not used everyday and two is that it has to be flexible and not need heavy equipment to install it or remove it. Because these docks are 5-by-8 foot sections at 100 pounds apiece, they fit all our needs."

After keeping a close eye on both the launch dock and the awards dock during the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta, Ragan was elated by the performance.

"It went perfectly," he said. "Everyone was excited by how nice they looked — clean and stable — and we were able to get people in and out like clockwork."

Now the 5,000 student-athletes from the 176 high schools participating at the Stotesbury Regatta will be able to enjoy one of the most advanced docking systems in the country. The Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta hopes these rowers will enjoy the docks for years down the line as they continue their rowing careers and eventually compete at the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta.

About the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta, Presented by Coca-Cola®
The Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta presented by Coca-Cola is the largest collegiate regatta in North America with over 100 colleges and universities from the United States and Canada. Held annually since 1953 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the Schuylkill River, thousands of student athletes and spectators visit the City of Philadelphia during the weekend of the second Saturday in May.

About Title Sponsor — Aberdeen Asset Management
Aberdeen Asset Management Inc is the wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of Aberdeen Asset Management PLC, a global investment management group which is headquartered in Aberdeen, Scotland, and manages more than $287 billion of assets for both institutions and private individuals (as of Dec. 31, 2010). Philadelphia is home to the U.S. equity and fixed income investment management teams, as well as U.S. client servicing, consultant relations, business development and other operational staff: more than 180 employees in total. Aberdeen manages and services approximately $53 billion in total assets on behalf of North American and international clients. For more information, visit www.aberdeen-asset.us Here in the U.S., Aberdeen is also proud to be one of the supporters of the British Garden at Hanover Square, New York. This New York City park celebrates historic ties of friendship and unity between the U.S. and the UK. Globally, Aberdeen has a long standing association with university rowing competitions having sponsored the Oxford v Cambridge University Boat Race in the UK from 1999 – 2005. The company also continues to support the Aberdeen Universities Boat Race in Aberdeen, Scotland in their annual event which takes place every February.

About Presenting Sponsor — The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Together with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company's portfolio includes 14 billion dollar brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply and Georgia Coffee. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate of 1.6 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. For more information about our Company, please visit our website at http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

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