2023 Red Island Regatta

The beach at Brudenell River Provincial Park will be full of action on August 26 and August 27 as Rowing PEI hosts Atlantic Canada’s only all-coastal rowing regatta. This is the fifth year for the Red Island Regatta, which will feature beach sprint racing, an exciting new racing format that may soon be included as part of the Olympic program.

On Saturday, the rowers jump in coastal boats on the beach next to Brudenell marina and compete on a 2.5-kilometre course around large buoys.

The beach sprints on Sunday are head to head racing between two coastal doubles and two coastal singles. The competitors have to run from the beach, row a 250-metre course, slaloming around 3 buoys, then back to shore. The finish line is back on the beach, so the race ends with another sprint.

Organizers are predicting lots of excitement for spectators. Saturday includes a hospitality event for competitors, where participants will enjoy PEI mussels and baked potatoes. There is also an Awards Ceremony, where winners take home a bag of P.E.I. potatoes.

More than 60 competitors are expected from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario, as well as from the host club, Rowing PEI. For the club’s newest junior rowers, called Crew 23, this will be their first taste of competition. Home base for the event will be the Activity Centre at Brudenell River Provincial Park. Spectators are welcome to come down to the water and cheer on the rowers.

For more information: Elysia Atkinson
Phone # : (902) 213-6951
Email: eatkinson@sportpei.pe.ca