Regatta to Close Allegheny Saturday, Sunday to Boat Traffic Between 40th Street Bridge and Point State Park

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
1 October 2016
By Michael Walton

The Allegheny River will close to boat traffic between 40th Street Bridge and Point State Park while hundreds of rowers compete in the Head of the Ohio Regatta.

The regatta, hosted by Three Rivers Rowing Association, will feature races Saturday and Sunday, with the river shut down to other boaters both days from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to the Coast Guard.

This weekend marks the event's 30th anniversary. Rowers as young as 13 will compete in almost continuous time-trial races that will start in waves from about 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each day. The races each year draw from 1,200 to 1,500 competitors from places as far away as Buffalo, Columbus and Austin, Texas, race director Megan Kuehm said.

Adult rowers and collegiate teams will fill most of Saturday's races, while youth and high school races will dominate Sunday's schedule. Adaptive races for competitors with disabilities will take place both days.

Boats will start between the 40th Street and 31st Street bridges and race to a finish line near Point State Park. Kuehm encouraged people to watch the action from the river's banks.

“It looks very easy from outside the boat, but what people don't realize is the time, the energy and how much work the rowers do to become one,” she said.

Michael Walton is a Tribune-Review staff writer. He can be reached at 412-380-5627 or mwalton@tribweb.com.