Problems Continue for Boaters Attending Regatta
Saturday, July 05, 2008

After this past 4th of July, the staff of BoatPittsburgh.com met and seriously considered changing our name to BoatWesternPennsylvania.com. Boating and Pittsburgh just don’t seem to go together. Despite all of the great places to go in Pittsburgh on the water, the city and many groups involved in planning events for the city are not boater friendly.

July 4th was a prime example of how much disregard the Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta organizers have for the boating community. For those boaters that were not involved in the boating melee that ensued after the river opening, let us fill you in.

The Director of Operations for Integrated Strategic Marketing, the organizers of the Three Rivers Regatta, contacted BoatPittsburgh.com about making boaters aware of the river closures and safety zones and about hosting the BoatPittsburgh.com Extravaganza. We were more than happy to accommodate them. It finally seemed that the Regatta organizers would involve the boating public in the Regatta. After several issues were figured out, we were told we could have the “extravaganza” along the wharf in front of PNC Park. This area was not part of the fireworks safety zone so BoatPittsburgh.com was cleared to invite all of the boaters we could fit to join us.

We then proceeded to hire a DJ and put together several other promotions for the benefit of the boating community. BoatPittsburgh.com posted the river closure/safety zone information and sent out our e-newsletter with all of the information and an invite for boaters to join us in front of PNC Park for the “extravaganza” that was approved by the Director of Operations.

When we arrived at PNC Park via an escort from the City of Pittsburgh River Rescue, we were told we could not dock there by City of Pittsburgh Police. When the river opened minutes later, several hundred boaters that were trying to also tie up to the wharf at PNC were also told they could not tie up there by Police. This left these boaters scrambling because they were expecting to tie up. Chaos and a lot of angry boaters were disappointed because the information that we provided was not correct.

At the time the police officers gave me a few minutes to try and resolve the situation. We called the Director of Operations several times before finally reaching him. He could not personally resolve the situation so he sent another Regatta organizer. That organizer arrived and told us he would talk to the Police Command center and clear things up. He came back a few minutes later and informed us that we would be unable to tie up to the wharf and did not give us a reason.

The Director of Operations has yet to return our calls in regards to what happened and what didn’t happen on the evening of July 4th, 2008.

We at BoatPittsburgh.com apologize for how thing turned out on the 4th of July. Please understand that we are as disappointed by this as any other boaters that had planned to join us. All of us at BoatPittsburgh.com, our boating friends, and even our sponsors feel cheated by the regatta organizers. We hope that the trust that has been given to us to provide the boating community with current and correct information has not diminished because of this incident. We had all of our information correct and approved but the Regatta organizers, for whatever reason, did not hold up their end of the deal.

As for BoatWesternPennsylvania.com, we voted it down. Call us a glutton for punishment, but we will keep trying to make this city a place that boaters will be welcome. Although, we can’t wait to get out and see some of the great things happening at the other ends of the rivers.

Submitted by: BoatPittsburgh.com Staff

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