Narva River

The Narva River is one of most historic waterways. It is a border between nations and cultures, but it has been a source of transportation supporting trade and communications for several centuries. Because of its importance, the Narva River was the site of some of the fiercest battles. From conflicts between Swedish King Karl XII and Peter the Great, down to the modern era this river has been witness to both victory and defeat.

Nowadays the river is home to events of regional unity and celebration. One of such events is the Summer Regatta which popularity continues to grow beyond all expectations. The participants of the Regatta represented many towns from all around of Estonia. Most of them were amateur sailors, oarsmen, and members of yachting clubs. However, two individuals, A. Gulov and S. Shilin, world class yachtsmen, were competitors in the Summer Olympic Games in Sydney.

The highlight of Summer Regatta was the involvement of many of Narva's creative citizens. Visiting the yachts and boats was very popular, too. The public was allowed to board the yachts and launches for an excursion to become familiar with the crews, and their duties. And with the co-operation of Russian border guards, the yachts were allowed to cruise along the Russian coast.