Regatta Volunteering - It Contains Multitudes

The Brentwood Regatta relies on a team of 700 staff, alumni, parents, and students. From parking, to boat holding, to bow markers, to announcing, coaching, photography, dining hall management, live-streaming, Regatta souvenir sales, musical performances, art exhibits, and the much-celebrated entrepreneurship food booths, volunteers are the heartbeat of Regatta.

To all of them, many thanks!

Below are the tales of some of our Grade 12 Brentwood student volunteers.

Ryder R, Privett '26 served as a photographer, tasked with capturing photos of the Brentwood rowers and the reactions of the spectators. His shifts were more than just work; they were a social experience. By focusing on candid moments rather than just the races, Ryder ensured that the spirit of the 2026 Regatta would be preserved forever.

Some of the unsung heroes of the regatta are the house security team, whose soft power ensures the boarding houses remain a sanctuary amidst the competitive chaos. By balancing high-level vigilance with a warm presence, they protect the students’ privacy and well-being. “Our job isn’t just about watching doors; it’s about curated peace,” explains Pik S, Alexandra ‘26. Whether de-escalating curious trespassers or tracking visitor access, these students provided the vital peace of mind that makes our house a home.

Parker S, Rogers '26 was involved in creating and running an Entre Food Booth to serve eager and hungry people over the weekend. Parker emphatically said, “The Regatta booths are part of the heart and soul” of the Brentwood Regatta, making him and his job feel like a needed part of this weekend's greatness. Those crepes were tasty. 

Brandon R, Ellis ‘26 was involved with driving the race umpire boats. “The job was so fun.  I would go full speed down the middle of the course. That was probably the most exciting part”. Brandon continues to share that “If I didn’t drive the umpires, … the races wouldn’t go as smoothly, there would be a lot of accidents.” 

Ryer B was involved in both the awards tent and alumni relations. In the awards tent, Ryer helped organize medals and ensured everything ran smoothly during presentations, while in alumni relations, he assisted with welcoming and engaging past students and guests. He really enjoyed the regatta this year because he was able to be outside the entire weekend, which made the experience more enjoyable and energetic. “Being part of such an amazing event and helping to make it such a success created a memorable and rewarding experience”.

For those who don’t know, being a ‘roady’ involves “Taking the stage and all the tech components out of storage before assembling the stage” as well as “Doing sound checks and running the shows”. Declan K helped with the tech side of the music performances.

Chloe D, Hope ‘26, spent this weekend working in Announcements on the top floor of the CIL. This entailed giving updates, narrating races, and announcing the results of each race. Chloe described this job as exciting and said, “There weren’t too many challenges; the only difficulty was getting used to talking in front of a large group of listeners”. 

Zoe G, Alex ‘26, played a key role in fostering a welcoming atmosphere. Stationed at the entrance to Crooks Hall, Zoe greeted arriving rowers and engaged them in conversation about their races. "I had an amazing time meeting new people and spending time with Ms Legassicke and Mr Pasquale” 

Solena C stated that even though she competed in the regatta, she enjoyed her time spent volunteering, where she “helped set up some of the buoys for the races”. To wrap up her regatta experience, she helped pull the course buoys out of the water on Sunday.

Thanks to these and the 690 other staff, students, alumni, and parents who helped make the 54th Annual Brentwood International Regatta a resounding success.