River Runs Fast And Muddy For Three Rivers Regatta
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - All the rain over the past week is having an impact on the EQT Three Rivers Regatta, and the flow of the Allegheny River.
Time trials for the Formula 3 racers had to be delayed for a while Wednesday due to the river flow as crews tried to get the river markers to stay in place.
Debris in the form of trees and limbs has also created a hazard.
For boats traveling up to 85 miles per hour in today's races and over 120 tomorrow for the Formula 2 racers a floating limb can be a disaster.
Regatta spokesman Michael Dongilli says, "if something is sticking up and they can hit it and it will probably take the boat out."
River safety crews are patrolling the Allegheny along the race course and upstream as well watching for possible problems.
In addition to the debris flow , the river is fast and driver Shane Miller says that can cause issues for the boats going up river, especially with the shifting wind patterns under the Fort Duquesne Bridge.
Miller says, "the flow just makes the current a lot harder and it's choppy. The wind under the bridge will lift up the boat a lot faster then we're used to so we have to trim down."
Despite the conditions Regatta officials are optimistic they will be able to get all the qualifying rounds and race in as scheduled.
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