Stotesbury Cup Regatta races resume after being temporarily suspended due to storm delay Friday

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The 98th Stotesbury Cup Regatta races after back on after being temporarily suspended on Friday due to a storm delay.

Officials sent out a message just before noon, suspending the event, but the races resumed at 2 p.m.

"It's an outdoor sport. We're used to the weather," said Ambari Pinto, a parent of a Washington Liberty Student.

People huddled under tents and tried to dodge the rain during the brief storm delay.

"It has ended some people's races, but we're proud that the regatta prioritized safety," said Gryphon Smith, a senior at Ridgewood High School.

However, some said it's all part of the sport.

"I don't really care if there's rain, I'm going to get wet anyway despite the umbrella," said Kylie Combs, a freshman at Washington Liberty.

The event draws thousands of youth rowers, who were set to compete on the Schuylkill River Friday and Saturday.

The two-day event is billed as the largest high school rowing competition in the world.

Thousands of young athletes from crews across the country will be competing against each other over the weekend, moving their oars in unison to propel their boats through the waters of Philadelphia's Schuylkill River.

Organizers say 800 boats will hit the water at some point during this competition.

The regatta is organized by the Schuylkill Navy of Philadelphia, which is the nonprofit that governs Boathouse Row and will host several events through the summer.

The organization also focuses on a year-long effort of teaching student athletes river safety and rowing techniques to prepare them for competition on a global stage.

Friday's competition was scheduled to go from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and picks up again Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with finals competition beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday.