A photo supposedly taken during the first Regatta in 1894. Over the event’s 130-year history, it has been modified only a handful of times, most recently during the COVID-19 pandemic.

One-hundred and thirty years. That’s how much time has passed since the first Astoria Regatta was held in 1894, making it the oldest festival in Oregon’s oldest city.

The first sailing races were held over three days in August, as reported at the time by The Daily Morning Astorian. From the Friday, Aug. 17, 1894, edition:

“Early this morning the bay was dotted with white-winged racers, sloops, schooners, fish-boats, and in fact all sorts of craft, speeding about the waters though not at a very fast gait, for only a slight breeze ruffled its almost glassy surface.”

On the lighthouse tender Manzanita, anchored off the dock of Capt. George Flavel, a Capt. Gregory “entertained his guests in a royal manner.” A band onboard “furnished excellent music for the occasion” while “younger members of the party danced in the place on deck cleared for the purpose.”

The following day’s paper reported that “thousands of people lined the waterfront, standing on boxes, barrels, and anything that would raise them into a position where a good view of the racing course could be had.” Among them, “several big cameras” aimed from raised platforms.

Among the day’s events was a 100-yard swimming race.

But swimming hasn’t been a part of the Regatta for decades, until this week.

As part of a closing ceremony on Sunday, Dr. Paul Silka plans to lead a group of swimmers from Knappton Cove, Washington, across a 5.1-mile span of the Columbia River. The group will leave before dawn, less than an hour before high tide.

Silka, who is the emergency department medical director at Columbia Memorial Hospital and an experienced open-water swimmer, is leading the event as a fundraiser for the hospital’s expansion. He was inspired by a similar swim from 1934.