From seasoned pros to beginners, Quidi Vidi Lake is a rower’s paradise. Register a team, learn to row, or check out one of our seasonal training programs.

green FLAGLast Updated: 4:45am - Jun 18, 2018
Rowing on Regatta Day

Registration Details for the 200th Royal St. John’s Regatta.

Registration for the 200th Anniversary Royal St. John’s Regatta has closed.

We are pleased to advise that rates will not change this year. However, due to the increase in demand, please note the changes to our registration policy:

  • Registration is on a first come, first served basis. The Royal St. John’s Regatta Committee reserves the right to close registration at any time if the number of crews reaches a certain safety and logistical threshold.
  • Crews will be required to provide a downpayment of 25% of total fee and have their WAIVERS SUBMITTED by May 11, to be eligible to book spins through the VeriBook system on May 14.
  • While only a downpayment is required to start booking spins, registration fees must be paid in full by Friday, July 6 for crews to be eligible to participate in Time Trials and Regatta Day.

Important Dates

  • Wednesday, April 18 – Registration Opens
  • Monday, April 30 – Boathouse Opens and crews who have submitted their waivers can utilize shells on a first come, first served basis without booking online. Erg room bookings can be made on site or by calling the main office.
  • Monday, May 14 – Crews who have submitted their waivers and 25% of their fees will begin utilizing the VeriBook system for booking practice spins. This includes bookings for the erg room as well.
  • Friday, July 6 – All registrations must be paid in full.
Download Waiver
Registration Link
200th Anniversary Page

2018 Regatta Registration Rates

Race Category Cost
Masters $1000 per team
Senior $1000 per team
Intermediate $1000 per team
Juvenile $550 per team
Midget $550 per team
Squirt $240 per team
Out of town crew $310 per team
Regatta Committee

Online Booking System

As of 2015, an online booking system is used to make bookings.

Important Note: Crews must register using our online registration and submit their waivers before they will be permitted to make a booking. Once registration and waivers are complete you will be sent an email with a user name and password for the online booking site.

Participant Waiver

The Boat and Technical Director bookings are every 35 minutes.

For a step-by-step instructions on how to use the online booking system, please see our online booking system guide.

booking system guide

Important Note: It is not possible to restrict how many booking are made. The current rule of only one morning and only one evening practice per crew per day still stands. If a crew does double book in the morning or evening they will be first given a warning, with subsequent infractions leading to increasing penalties of the number of days that their account will be locked. If this rule continues to be abused we will have to return to the telephone system.

Technical Director Bookings
Shell Bookings
Priority Shell Bookings
Erg Bookings
Vintage Regatta Crew

Events

Ice MeltErg Indoor Rowing Challenge
Discovery Day Regatta
Time Trials
The Royal St. John’s Regatta
Fall Regatta and Food Fair

How to Establish a Team

You’re interested in rowing, but, don’t know where to start? You’ve come to the right place. Here is a handy guide for those new to the Royal St. John’s Regatta.

  • Find Five Other People
  • Find a Coxswain
  • Categories
  • Find a Sponsor
  • Register Your Team
Learn More

Chevron Learn to Row

If you are a new rower with a full crew (six rowers), or an individual rower looking to get your foot in the door to create a new group, this program may be what you are looking for! This includes individual and group sessions, Rowing and Boat Orientation, Technical Rowing Instruction and on-water mentoring.

Learn More

Winter/Spring Training Program

The Royal St. John’s Regatta Committee is pleased to announce details of the 2018 Winter/Spring Training Program at the Quidi Vidi boathouse. The annual training program will commence on Tuesday, January 16, 2018, and run until approximately Thursday, April 26 (15 weeks total).

Learn More

The Rules

Here are your guidelines for crew composition, team registration, time trials, and more. Get the rules of the races!

Learn More

The 2018 Royal St. John's Regatta

Schedule and Results
Age Categories
Age Categories

Age Categories

Squirt

For Any oarsperson between the age of 10 and 13 as of December 31 of the year of the regatta. Squirts row a modified course and must wear approved flotation devices at all times. Rowing during sanctioned events may be impacted by weather and is at the discretion of the Captain of the Course. Take the age of the rower on Dec. 31st of the year of the regatta. If that person is 10, 11 or 12 they may only row squirts. If they are 13 they may row Squirts or Midget but only one age catagory in any regatta. For a rower age 14 on Dec. 31st they must row Midget or potentially Juvenile.

Midget

Any oarsperson under the age of 16 as of December 31 this year.

Juvenile

Any oarsperson under the age of 18 as of December 31 this year.

Intermediate

Any oarsperson under the age of 21 as of December 31 this year.

Senior

All registered oarspersons who are not rowing as Squirt, Midget, Juvenile, Intermediate or Masters.

Masters (Female)

A female oarsperson who shall be 41 years of age as of December 31 this year.

Masters (Male)

Any oarsperson who shall be 46 years of age as of December 31 this year.

Coxwains must be 19 years of age as of December 31 of this year.

Minimum age of any oarsperson is 10 years, as of December 31 this year.

Course Layout

The course of the Royal St. John’s Regatta is possibly the most unique boat racing course in the world. Unlike most other racing courses, the length of Quidi Vidi Lake forces competitors to turn a set of buoys at the bottom of the pond in the male races, and a set of buoys at the center of the pond for female races.

Both courses follow the same set of rules for conduct and sportsmanship.

Male Course

With an overall length of 2.45 km (1.52 miles), the male course is a grueling testimony to the sport of boat racing. The crew must line themselves at their respective stake and, when the signal is given, race to their designated buoy at the bottom of the pond.

Should one full minute elapse with no mis-start, accident or equipment damage, the race is considered official and will not be stopped unless an emergency occurs.

The first crew reaching their buoy will be given right of way to round the buoy. To successfully complete the course, crews must round the buoy on the south side, and approach their starting stake on the north side. The distance between the buoys at the top of the pond is 36.5 meters (119.75 feet) and at the foot of the pond they are 15.7 meters (51.5 feet).

Female Course

Though a shorter course, the female course is no less grueling or impressive to watch.

The length of the course comes in at 1.225 km (0.76 miles) and like the male course, crews must reach their buoys and round them on the south side, approaching their starting positions from the north.

The distance between buoys are the same in both courses as is giving right of way to the crew which reaches their buoy first.

Racing at Dawn
Regatta Shell Footing
Regatta Memories

Committee Color Assignment for Racing Shells

Wooden Bottom Shells

Shell Name Colour
Pomerleau Gold
Cougar Helicopters Soteria Blue
Gerry Angel Green
Dictator Red
Iceberg Gold White
Miss Tubular Tan

White Bottom Shells

Shell Name Colour
The OZ Network Gold
The Newfoundland Herald Blue
Smith Stockley Green
The Henley Red
President’s Choice White
The Broker Tan

Fibreglass Group A Shells

Shell Name Colour
Miss India II Gold
Stroke of Power Blue
Smith Stockley II Green
Catherine M Red
The NTV Network White
The Ranger Tan

Fibreglass Group B Shells

Shell Name Colour
Lamb’s Palm Breeze Gold
HydroWise Blue
The Telegram Green
The Sea-Hawk Red
The CBC White
The Marine Institute Tan

St. John’s Rowing Club

Located in the Boathouse on Quidi Vidi Lake, the St. John’s Rowing Club is the only sliding seat rowing club in Newfoundland. The club offers many learn-to-row programs, geared towards all ages and experiences, offers high school and college programs, and also acts as the main training facility for the Newfoundland Rowing Team.

With certified coaches and well planned programs the club can meet all of your rowing needs. Please visit their website or contact them via phone at 576-0082 or e-mail contact@sjrc.ca for more information on how you can get involved in slide-seat rowing.

sjrc.ca
St. John's Rowing Club
Royal St. John's Regatta Day Rowing Turn

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What are the requirements to row in the Regatta?

    In order to row in the Royal St. John’s Regatta, you must have a team of six (6) regular oarspersons, and a certified Coxswain. Most teams have a sponsor to provide financial support as well. Having a spare would be ideal in case someone cannot make a practice or in case anything goes wrong Regatta Day, but is not required. A coach or manager would also be ideal, but is not required.

  • How do I start rowing?

    Please see our How to Establish a Team page for more information on how to start a new rowing team. There are many ways to get involved with fixed-seat rowing. The best way would be to contact our Technical Coordinator at the boathouse, who will be organizing our Learn To Row Programs and will be putting together crews throughout the summer. We also have a Facebook page and bulletin boards at the boathouse which many people use to notify that they are looking for crews, rowers, coxswains, etc.

  • What is the “Learn to Row” programs?

    The Chevron Learn to Row (CLTR) program is a free program offered by the Royal St. John’s Regatta Committee to teach newcomers the sport of fixed-seat rowing. Please visit the Chevron Learn to Row page for more information.

  • What is Discovery Day Regatta?

    The Discovery Day Regatta is a practice regatta held towards the end of June. For new and experienced crews, it is a chance to experience a race scenario before Time Trials and Regatta Day. Please visit the Discovery Day Regatta page for more information.

  • What are Time Trials?

    The purpose of the Time Trials is to determine the make-up of each Regatta Day race based upon the times rowed by the crews participating in the Time Trial heats. For each Regatta Day race, the team with the fastest time will be assigned Stake 1, the second fastest assigned Stake 2, and so on until the slowest team is assigned Stake 5. For more information visit the Time Trials page.

  • How do I book spins?

    As of 2015 an online booking system is being utilized. Practices run during the week from 5:25am-8:00pm, and on Saturdays run from 7:10am – 11:15am with each spin being 35 minutes long. For more information or to book a spin click here.

  • What if I don’t have a Coxswain?

    If you cannot find a coxswain our Technical Coordinator may be available to you out for practice until you can find one – they may also be able to help your crew find a coxswain! You also have the option of putting an ad on our Facebook Page, online bulletin board (link to that page) and our Boathouse bulletin board, as some crews have found coxswains this way.

  • How Do I become a Coxswain?

    To become a Coxswain, an individual must be nineteen (19) years of age as of December 31st of any year in which the rowing event is held. They must then participate in the Learn to Coxswain program, offered multiple times each season.

  • Can I row with more than one crew?

    Any oarsperson, rower or spare, is only permitted to register and row with one (1) crew.

  • When is registration due?

    The deadline for registration is June 17, 2016. In order for any crew to participate in Discovery Day, they must have their registration paid before this date. Otherwise, it is due before Time Trials. Visit our registration page (link to reg page) for more information on registration fees.