Garden State Times

(Pennsauken, NJ) – The Cooper River has a packed regatta season ahead of the year’s main event; the 85th annual Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta, which is being held in Camden County in May for the second time.

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 11 and Saturday, May 12.

"The regatta season has been in full swing since the end of March 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."

"It was such an outstanding event last year that in July, it was announced it would return to Cooper River Park for the 85th 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.

Upcoming Regattas on the Cooper River include:

- April 27: Garden State Championships

- April 28: Cooper Cup

- May 10-11: Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta

- May 17-19: Conference Championships

- May 23-25: SRAA Nationals

- July 27: Cooper River Dragon Boat Regatta

- September 28: Camden County Dragon Boat Challenge Regatta

- October 26: Gold Cup 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.