Dad Vail to Stay in Philly

Regatta no longer moving to Jersey for 2010

The Dad Vail Regatta will stay in Philadelphia, race officials announced Thursday morning.

"The Dad Vail for the regatta for the year 2010 will be held in Philadelphia," regatta president Jim Hanna said at a press conference.

Despite last month’s proclamations that the regatta, which has taken place on the Schuylkill River for the past 56 years, was moving to Rumson, N.J. for 2010, Dad Vail organizers reneged opting keep the Philadelphia-tradition at home.

"We want those events and activities to take place in Philadelphia," Nutter said. "It's part of the life of our city, it's part of the fabric of what Philadelphia is all about."

After news broke over the original move, city officials floated the idea of founding a new race to take the Dad Vail's place, but it seemed that they never gave up on trying to change organizer's minds.

Event officials were promised $250,000 in sponsorship money to scull in North Jersey waters, but the deal never materialized. Hanna defended Nutter and the city, blaming the previously announced move on money, not relationships.

"The city and the mayor...were highly criticized and unfairly so," Hanna said.

The city says it will be seeking sponsors to help defray the cost of the regatta.

"We're looking at a five year program and to continue that with an extension after that and we're committed to help them in any way I can," Brady said.

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