History of the Regatta
In 2025, we are excited to celebrate the 37th running of this community tradition!
In 1989, Mark Beckenbach (Coach at Jacksonville University) and Peter Keegan (President of Jacksonville Rowing Club) conceived of and ran Florida’s first head race, known as the First Coast Head Race. Over the years, the regatta has since been hosted by several rowing organizations in the Jacksonville area, either individually or jointly.
The objective of the regatta was to bring collegiate crews together for an exciting competition down the St. Johns and Arlington Rivers. It wasn’t long after those initial years that they began to invite high school crews.
The regatta has grown considerably since then, with hundreds of entries in sculling and sweep events for Youth (middle and high school), Collegiate, and Masters. Many clubs make it an annual stop on their calendars, coming to Jacksonville from all over Florida and across the Southeast and lower Mid-Atlantic.
We look forward to taking our vision to the next level, expanding the regatta’s reach in the rowing community, continuing to develop as a community event, and building momentum for growth opportunities and innovation.
DID YOU KNOW?
The wing-rigger was invented and developed right here in Jacksonville, on the very waters of the course you’ll be rowing!
Learn about Robert Negaard, inventor of the wing-rigger.
