People went in droves to the Regata Reial de Sant Joan, as they had not seen for a long time, as Mother Nature forced us with exceptional lake conditions.
Hyflodraulic killed it every step of the way, winning Placentia, Harbor Grace and St. John’s to claim rowing’s Triple Crown. The women crossed the finish line in 5:11, slightly slower than the 5:08 of the first race of the day. It is the third Royal Sant Joan Regatta Championship in a row.
NTV won their second consecutive men’s title. Racing legend Tony Barrington continues to be an inspiration to this crew. Donnie Decker says it was Tony who talked him into rowing. They won with a time of 9:40.
Hyflodraulic: Triple Crown Champions at Royal St. John’s Regatta. 5:11 am pic.twitter.com/MsGc1l1Xm5
— Brian Madore (@bmadorevocm) August 4, 2022
Regatta president Noelle Thomas Kennell says this regatta, the first full day of racing in three years, was nerve-wracking, but vendors tell her sales far exceeded their expectations.
And for many it was the closest thing to normal in more than two years.
Among those strolling along the shores of Quidi Vidi Lake was MP Seamus O’Regan, who noted that the regatta has always been there in difficult times. He says his return, even in wartime, was a sign of a return to normality.
While not comparing COVID to the realities of war, he said the virus has been very hard on people in many ways, including mental health, and a normal regatta was just a big relief.
The councilor of St. John’s, Debbie Hanlon, said she could feel the positivity among the locals and the visiting crowd.
She says the town is “full of tourists”, with a jovial spirit among the thousands of people by the lake, “in and out of the beer tent”.