Continued from Page 8
While Owen believes excitement
is high for the tournament’s return, he
expects turnout to be lower than previous
years. The nature of the multiday event
makes lodging a necessity for visiting
competitors. He anticipates that will keep
some people away.
“There may be a challenge to find hotel
rooms just because travel has been so
robust on the coast,” Owen said.
A modified Regatta
This weekend also marks the return
of an abbreviated Astoria Regatta, the
beloved Columbia River celebration dat-
ing back to 1894.
Organizers initially announced the
entire 2021 event would be canceled but
had a change of heart. In July, the board
announced they would host a smaller,
socially distanced celebration.
“We wanted to have something to
look forward to because we all can agree
we’ve had a long stretch of a whole lot
of disappointment and canceled every-
thing,” said Melissa Grothe, president of
the Astoria Regatta Association. “Having
something positive like a morale boost for
our community is incredibly important.”
Grothe says board members and a for-
mer Regatta president have pitched in to
help plan the last-minute events.
The modified Saturday festival will
include a Seamen’s Memorial at 11 a.m.
in Astoria’s Maritime Memorial Park, and
a Highwater Boat Parade, viewable from
the Astoria Riverwalk at 5 p.m. The Asto-
ria Yacht Club will also hold races Satur-
day and Sunday.
The sudden change was welcome news
to 2020 Regatta Queen Annalyse Steele,
who was crowned in a socially distanced
court ceremony last summer. Steele grew
up admiring the pretty dresses and crowns
of the Regatta Court, never imagining the
chance to fulfill her dream of serving the
community would become an unprece-
dented and mostly virtual experience due
to the virus.
“It’s been hard not getting to know
everybody, not getting to branch out and
make connections in our community,”
Steele said. “I’m glad we’re returning to
normal. Going forward, I think we will
cherish getting to interact with people.”
Steele will be leading the boat parade
on the Columbia River Bar Pilots’ boat,
before she heads off to college this fall.
Grothe said the board stands by their
decision not to host traditional events like
the Grand Land Parade, as they didn’t
feel it was appropriate to ask community
businesses to sponsor a large-scale event
given the economic difficulties induced
by the pandemic.
“I’m really hoping the community
comes out and supports these events and
recognizes this year isn’t the same, but
people worked really hard to put some-
thing together,” said Grothe.
Despite the pandemic-related chal-
lenges, the Seaside Chamber of Com-
merce believes the volleyball tour-
nament’s return will be well-worth
the planning headache. The event has
become a tradition for families.
“It gives me goosebumps thinking
about it,” Owen said. “This is what Sea-
side was designed for. We are a family
destination. We have juniors and adults
playing both together and separately. One
of my favorite things to do is see some
of our pros come in and play on cen-
ter stage and have their day, but when
they’re done they’re watching a lot of the
youth playing and then they start giving
youth tips and it becomes a whole coach-
ing atmosphere.”
Organizers for both events are quick to
share their excitement for next year. The
Seaside Beach Volleyball tournament will
celebrate a “bigger and better” 40th anni-
versary. Grothe said the Astoria Regatta
should return in full force, and the board
has plans to begin recruiting a Regatta
Court this fall.
Mitch Eckhardt
Mara Dowaliby, the 2019 Astoria Regatta queen, passes her crown on to Annalyse Steele, the
2020 queen.
hailey hoffman/The astorian
Katie Spieler dives to bump the ball into the air for teammate Delaney Knudsen to hit over the net in the center court during the 2019 Seaside
Beach Volleyball tournament.
Thursday, augusT 12, 2021 // 9