The following is a collection of information on the Regattas from 1896-1910. The information was obtained from the Harbour Grace Standard.

On Thursday, August 13th, 1896, a crew from Harbour Grace contested in a Regatta held in connection with a fair in Whitbourne. Crews from Whitbourne, Placentia, St. John's and Harbour Grace contested in six-oared gigs. Owing to the length of the program not all the events were finished. Harbour Grace won against St. John's in the Tradesmen race but did not have time to row against Whitbourne in the finals.

There was no Regatta held in Harbour Grace that year but the members of the Fire Brigade held a picnic at Mr. Walker's at Lady Lake. Shortage of funds prevented the Fire Brigade from holding a Regatta and from attending the Whitbourne fair.

The following year the Regatta got underway in Harbour Grace once more. Six dories were used instead of the ususal whaleboats, due doubtless through the latter being in poor condition as the need of new whaleboats was stressed. The opinion surrounding this concern was, "No properly arranged program can be carried out with the dories as the only boats."

In the Regatta held July 26th, 1898, three boats were to contest, the Edith, Myrtle, and the Hettie. Only two of these boats were allowed to contest. The Hettie was to be rowed but owing a ruling by the committee that no crews were to be taken outside Harbour Grace in the Tradesmen race, this boat was withdrawn. The best time of the day was recorded in the Fishermen Race by a Bryant's Cove crew against the Island Men with a time of 10:45. In the dory race the R. Grant won the three regular races again the Merrimac and Grab All. Harvey Pike in the Merrimac won a silver watch for a single-handed dory race.

There was no mention of a Regatta for some time thereafter until 1910. This was the year of the Guy Centenary Celebrations, which featured the Annual Regatta. The date of the Regatta was changed from Wednesday, August 17th to Friday, August 19th to enable some sailors who were in port to row. The boats that were used were the Maggie, Edith, Myrtle, C.D.L.A, Mary and the Volunteer. The races started from a more Western point. A new road had been made to the lake, which made access much easier and convenient. The Ladies Race was much more anticipated due to the fact that they had discontinued rowing for some years. This appeared in the August 15th, notes from Harbour Grace Standard:

It is said that a couple of young ladies are planning to enter a few races. This will certainly be novel and interesting.

1946-2000

1946 Regatta

The Rules governing the contest of the boats were taken from an actual 1946 Regatta booklet.

"First race to be called at 11:00 a.m. Boats to be drawn for at the committee tent. Any crew or member thereof not rowing in any boat after entering will be debarred from taking part in any further contest. Should any mishap occur at the start, the firing will call the boats for a re-start. A gun fired ten minutes before the start will call the boats to position. Boats to turn starboard to port and to keep their own water. No coxswain to handle an oar in any contest."

The races and crews from that day are as follows:

INTERMEDIATE RACE

Names In Italics = Coxswains

Boat: Minnie Clyde

Crew: William Babb, Gerald Pike, Alonzo Babb, Clarence Forward, Llewellyn Ash

Boat: Firefly

Crew: Donald Pike, Gerald Tetford, Joseph Cumby, Eugene Pike

Boat: Weasel

Crew: Gordon Walsh, Hedley Ash, Theodore Ash, Albert Crane, M. Noseworthy

JUVENILE RACE

Boat: Firefly

Crew: Arthur Pike, Gordon Pike, George Greenslade, Llewellyn Ash

Boat: Weasel

Crew: Eugene Pike and crew to be entered

Boat: Minnie Clyde

Crew: H. Pike, G. Thomey, Dave Williams, Eric Butt, M. Noseworthy

FIREMEN

Boat: Firefly

Crew: Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Company, Llewellyn Ash

Boat: Weasel

Crew: St. John's Fire Crew, M. Noseworthy

Winner: Firefly

FISHERMEN-LABORER

Boat: Minnie Clyde

Crew: Leroy Abbott, Frank Dove, Llewellyn Ash

Boat: Weasel

Crew: Robert Taylor, Ronald Thomey, Daniel Neil, Clayton Pike, Eugene Pike

Boat: Firefly

Crew: Willard Pynn, Clarence Pynn, Harold Pynn, William Sheppard, M. Noseworthy

Winner: Weasel

MERCANTILE RACE

Boat: Weasel

Crew: Cecil Peddle, Max Adams, Herbert Sheppard, Clarence Peddle, Llewellyn Ash

Boat: Minnie Clyde

Crew: Harold Pynn, Ross Bray, Donald Pike, John Andrews, Eugene Pike

Boat: Firefly

Crew: William Noseworthy, Alfred Sheppard, Edward Parsons, Austin Sheppard, M. Noseworthy

LADIES RACE

Boat: Firefly

Crew: Grace Woods, Agatha Hayden, Elizabeth McCarthy, Flora Parsons, Eugene Pike

Boat: Minnie Clyde

Crew: Olive Pynn, Doris Pynn, Elizabeth Quinn, Gladys Martin, M. Noseworthy

Winner: Firefly

MIDGET RACE

Boat: Firefly

Crew: John Haire, John Thomey, Roy Pike, George Lilly, Llewellyn Ash

Boat: Weasel

Crew: Team was entered by Eugene Pike

Boat: Minnie Clyde

Crew: Freemen Parsons, Fred Williams, Llewellyn Crane, Harold Taylor, M. Noseworthy

Winner: Firefly