Bradenton-Palmetto River Regatta organizers should explain race delays, cancellations

I would like to talk about the River Regatta of 2016. I guess as a spectator I am confused as to why races kept getting called, and they were stopping races after they had already started.

I understand the weather was definitely a factor in a lot of what was going on, but I drove almost three hours to see a show that had been hyped up for over three months.

I followed the organizers of the event and a schedule had been posted as well as a press release that advertised stuff going on, on both sides of the bridge and then that never happened either. I feel that this was a very disappointing event for spectators who did decide to brave the cold and rain and come out to watch.

Every time a race was stopped or there was nothing going on, you could see clusters of people just leaving the bridge disappointed. I along with lots of other spectators would like this addressed and some sort of explanation given as to why these things were happening.

At one point I overheard someone say that the races were being held because they saw dolphins. I feel that is absolutely ridiculous as I googled to see if a dolphin has ever been hit by a jet ski and that is not even a possibility.

The event staff was doing their best as they were in the rain and cold also, but whoever made these rules that kept them from racing has to be addressed as spectators are not going to come out unless they know this won't happen again. I appreciate your help with this matter and I hope we could get some answers before 2017 so we can have another River Regatta.

Carrie Rivard

Tavares

This story was originally published February 12, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Bradenton-Palmetto River Regatta organizers should explain race delays, cancellations ."