Wheeling Vintage Raceboat Regatta Canceled, River Height Main Concern
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The remnants of Hurricane Ida have forced the Wheeling Vintage Raceboat Regatta to cancel its event this weekend.
Regatta organizers came to the decision Tuesday afternoon following a meeting of Ohio County emergency management staff. Ida’s heavy rains, forecast to hit the Ohio Valley between Tuesday night and Wednesday, will put the Ohio River’s waters too high for the boats to race safely.
According to the National Weather Service’s Tuesday morning update, the Ohio River is predicted to crest at almost 32 feet at 2 a.m. Friday. Regatta organizers said water enters Heritage Port, where the Regatta is headquartered, at 17 feet and water enters the brick area where the pits are located at 24 feet, which would leave mud and debris where the boats would be stationed.
The Ohio River is predicted to remain above 25 feet through 2 a.m. Saturday and not fall below 24 feet until later Saturday morning.
Another concern was the amount of debris in the river itself, which would make racing hazardous for boaters.
The Regatta was going to be well-attended, with nearly 60 boats entered. Organizers earlier had debated holding the event due to the rapid rise in COVID-19 transmissions in the Ohio Valley. They got the green light to hold it from West Virginia coronavirus "czar" Dr. Clay Marsh, and had instituted several protocols to keep boaters and fans safe.
The Regatta will return to Heritage Port on Sept. 3-4, 2022.
Return to theintelligencer.net later for more on this developing story