Visitor Information

In effort to create an event which is as barrier-free as possible to enhance the experience for Regatta visitors, the Royal St. John’s Regatta Committee has once again partnered with Inclusion NL.

You can visit the Inclusion Crew Volunteers available throughout Regatta Day; located at various locations around the pond — look out for those blue hats!

• Have a question about accessibility? Look for a person in a Blue Inclusion Crew Hat. Visit the Inclusion Tent located at the top of the pond, near the tower.
• Event Schedule available in large print, braille and in audio. Available on the website or at the Inclusion Tent on Regatta Day.
• Toll Free Inclusion Line 1-844-517-1376 available if you have any accessibility issues/questions. Text Number 709-697-3323.
• Designated Accessible Blue Zone Parking on Dominion Parking Lot.
• Designated GoBus Drop Off location on Dominion Parking Lot.
• Accessible portable washrooms throughout site venue. Accessible washrooms also located at the boathouse and near the Beer Tent.
• Accessible Charging Stations located at the boathouse, at the tower at the top of the lake, and at the Marquee on the north side.

There are a number of peak times throughout Regatta Day when crowds are anticipated to be above 20,000 and will impede accessibility. These times include: 11:00am-4:30pm and during the Championship Races in the evening.

Please note that each race will include a number of extremely loud gun shots which denote the start and finish of each race.

The gun sequence is as follows:

1. Start of every race;
2. Potential for another gunshot within the first minute of each race if there is a false start or issue;
3. First boat to finish from each race (if a race has multiple categories in the same race, there could be multiple guns fired for the first boat to finish in each race type);
4. Where possible (timing to change out shells), a gunshot may be fired for the finish of each squirt crew to finish.

The day is a civic holiday for the entire St. John’s area and is a full day of Fixed Seat Rowing Races. The decision to go ahead with the Regatta is made early that morning (if not it proceeds the next day). Our fixed seat rowing shells are unique – being six person + coxswain and our races start and finish at the same spot – requiring all the crews to “turn the buoys” at the halfway point of the race.

The shores of beautiful and historic Quidi Vidi Lake are encircled by booths and concessions offering all visitors fun, food and games of chance. Throughout the day the crowds can reach as high as 30-50 thousand people as the citizens of St. John’s and all our visitors enjoy a “Day at the Races”.

A crew can be 6 men or 6 women + coxswain and range in age from young teens to senior citizens. Crews are ranked by ability from their time trial results, ensuring races are almost always competitive.

Three ATMs will be available on Regatta Day:

• Dominion Memorial Supermarket