Growing event catches break with placement on calendar

At least 30 college and high school rowing crews from up and down the Atlantic coast will meet at Langley Pond for the 26th Augusta Invitational Regatta.

The one-day event has grown since its first year in 1984 with popularity stemming from its good timing. The races typically fall just before or after spring break for many of the crews.

"What really affects our numbers is whether we hit their spring break right," event director George Fry said. "The schools love to come down here on their spring break. It's early in the spring season, which is the competitive season, and they like the competition."

Crews from the North also enjoy the warm weather.

"It's a good place to come down and be able to just focus on rowing," University of Charleston junior Kathryn Ballard said.

"It was cold when we left (Charleston, W.Va.). We heard it was going to snow. But it's been perfect down here."

Charleston has sent a crew to Augusta every year since the regatta's inception. The 10 athletes practiced twice a day this week, taking advantage of the warm weather and calm conditions on the water at Langley Pond.

"It's always nice down here weather-wise," Charleston coxswain Whitney Zielinski said. "It's good for team bonding."

Admission to Saturday's event is free to the public. Although the forecast calls for rain, Fry said races will continue unless the crews encounter excessive wind or lightning.

Reach Billy Byler at (706) 823-3216 or billy.byler@augustachronicle.com