Rowing races resume at Royal St. John's Regatta after wind delay

The rowing races at the Royal St. John's Regatta resumed Wednesday after a brief pause caused by rising winds. The event continued around Quidi Vidi Lake, where thousands of people gathered to watch the annual tradition and take part in games, food stalls, and other activities. The regatta, which the committee says began in 1818, is considered North America's oldest continuous sporting event and also determines Regatta Day, a municipal holiday in St. John's. This year's races began in the morning, with championship races still scheduled for the evening. Organizers said the 208th running included 52 women's teams and 13 men's teams. Committee president Keith White said the group wants to encourage more men to join in future years and hopes to expand participation overall. For many attendees, the day is as much about the atmosphere as the competition. Families returned to the lake for the holiday, while others painted, played games, or watched rowers compete. Longtime visitors and performers said the regatta remains an important community event that brings people together each year.