A Brief History Lesson – The 51st Brentwood Regatta

28 April 2023Deborah Z, Alex ‘23; Photo by Jack D, Privett '23

For decades, the Brentwood Regatta has been a fixture in the calendar for residents of Brentwood, Mill Bay and the Cowichan Valley. Its return this year marks 51 years of history – and everyone’s ecstatic.

The Brentwood Regatta was founded by John Queen, past Rowing Coach from 1973-1997 & Tony Carr, past Rowing Head Coach from 1964-2003. These two ambitious gentlemen’s collective efforts in establishing the first Regatta in 1971 created an undying legacy for rowers. Without Tony, there might have never been a Brentwood Rowing Club or Regatta. Without John, the Brentwood Regatta would have been a small, local contest and not the major international event it has become.

“I can speak on behalf of all the Brentwood rowers when I say that we are all very excited for this year’s Regatta, simply because we finally have the opportunity to experience a normal event with teams from all over the world actually here participating in person. The competition is tough this year!” comments Annika M, Alex ‘24.

The three-day event will be taking place April 28-30. It is important to note that the Regatta is not just a boat race. Since the 1990s the event has been a community gathering to celebrate sport – and Brentwood – which includes a live performing arts stage showcasing students and community talent, Grade 11 Entrepreneurship Food Booths on Campbell Commons that applied hands-on learning for our business students, and a spectacular art show in the Arts Building that presents the student’s artistic talents and works.
“We are delighted to welcome over 15 international clubs this year. The Regatta is a true embodiment of Brentwood’s culture of care, where students, faculty, and staff come together to create an unforgettable experience for athletes and fans around the globe” Regatta Chair Spencer Manton shares. Over the past 50 years Brentwood has welcomed over 60,000 athletes, 100 teams, 7,000 races, and over 1,200 hours of racing.

As for the school’s future endeavors, Brentwood is currently raising funds for a new three-bay boathouse which will be located in the new academic building that is currently under construction.

Huge gratitude towards all of the supporters, coaches, and student-athletes for keeping their internal flame lit and nuturing their passion for rowing along this historic body of water. Perhaps future Olympians will follow those who have come before and continue to raise the bar for the next generation of rowing legends.

Please keep an eye out for the rowing times in hopes of catching an intense race from the Brentwood crews. Or for those who are watching at home, be sure to check out the live stream on the Brentwood Regatta website page.

Deborah Z, Alex ‘23

Where Students Choose To Be