Upcoming Schuylkill River Regattas
Please be aware of the upcoming events that may cause closures and traffic on the river.
Vesper Announces New Coaching Leadership
We are proud to welcome Ivo Krakic as Director of Rowing and Marqus Brown as Head Coach of the Racing Team, ushering in an exciting new chapter in the club’s long-standing tradition of excellence.
Ivo Krakic brings extensive international and collegiate coaching experience to Vesper. A former member of the Croatian National Team and standout athlete at Drexel University, Ivo most recently served as Head Men’s Coach at La Salle University. There, he led the program to unprecedented success, including national rankings, a Collegiate 8+ win at the Head of the Charles, and qualification for the Henley Royal Regatta. As Director of Rowing, Ivo will oversee athlete development across all levels of the club and foster a high-performance environment built on trust, rigor, and teamwork.
Marqus Brown, a Philadelphia native and La Salle University graduate, returns to Vesper with deep ties to Boathouse Row. He began rowing in 2008 and has been a camper, rower, and coach in the local community ever since. After competing at an elite level with Penn AC throughout the Tokyo Olympic cycle, Marqus transitioned to coaching, serving as an assistant coach at the University of Washington and leading youth development programs in Texas. As Head Coach of the Racing Team, he will lead competitive training and race strategy for Vesper’s elite crews.
News
Now Accepting Applications: 2025 Vesper High-Performance Summer Program
Vesper’s High-Performance Summer Program offers U23 and post-graduate athletes an elite training environment on Philadelphia’s iconic Boathouse Row. Led by Director of Rowing Ivo Krakic and Head Coach Marqus Brown, the program provides the structure, support, and competitive edge athletes need to reach the next level.
The program runs from June through August, with access to top-tier coaching, equipment, and racing opportunities at premier regattas including the Independence Day Regatta and Canadian Henley.
📅 Application deadline: May 26, 2025
📍 Open to U23 and post-grad rowers
🔗 Learn more and apply here
Space is limited—secure your seat today.
2025 Vesper Masters Sculling Camp
Join Us for the 2025 Vesper Masters Sculling Camp — August 23–24
Train with Vesper coaches on Philadelphia’s historic Boathouse Row at our 2025 Masters Sculling Camp, held Saturday, August 23 to Sunday, August 24 at Vesper Boat Club. This two-day camp is designed for experienced masters rowers looking to sharpen their skills ahead of head race season.
The program takes a holistic approach to training—blending on-the-water technical coaching and video review with off-the-water sessions including functional movement evaluation, rigging, strength training, and mental preparation. You’ll leave with actionable feedback, personalized drills, and a deeper understanding of your rowing.
☕️ Expect early morning coffee, post-row happy hours, and a Sunday night gathering with Vesper members—we believe rowing is as much about community as it is performance.
Camp Fee: $600
🔗 Register here!
About the Coach
John Leekley brings decades of experience coaching rowers of all levels—from collegiate to masters. A six-time Coach of the Year with Washington College, John has also worked with the U.S. Naval Academy’s Masters Women’s Camp and founded Masters Rowing Camps. He is a certified personal trainer, nutrition coach, and seasoned competitor with medals from Masters Nationals.
Vesper 2025 Spring Dock Schedule
Updated Feb. 24, 2025. Please contact the Captain with any questions.
Monday
- Vesper Racing Team, 6:00 - 8:00 a.m.
- La Salle (all), 6:00 - 8:30 a.m.
- La Salle (women), 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
- La Salle (men), 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- Friends Select, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
- Sacred Heart, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday
- Vesper Masters, 6:00 - 7:30 a.m.
- La Salle (all), 6:00 - 8:30 a.m.
- La Salle (women), 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
- La Salle (men), 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- Friends Select, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
- Sacred Heart, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday
- Vesper Racing Team, 6:00 - 8:00 a.m.
- La Salle (all), 6:00 - 8:30 a.m.
- La Salle (women), 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
- La Salle (men), 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- Friends Select, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Thursday
- Vesper Masters, 6:00 - 7:30 a.m.
- La Salle (all), 6:00 - 8:30 a.m.
- La Salle (women), 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
- La Salle (men), 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- Friends Select, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
- Sacred Heart, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Friday
- Vesper Racing Team, 6:00 - 8:00 a.m.
- La Salle (all), 6:00 - 8:30 a.m.
- La Salle (women), 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
- La Salle (men), 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- Friends Select, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
- Sacred Heart, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Saturday
- Vesper Masters, 7:00 - 8:30 a.m.
- Vesper Racing Team, 6:00 - 8:00 a.m.
- La Salle (all), 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
- Friends Select, 8:30 - 10:30 a.m.
- Sacred Heart, 10:30 - 12:00 p.m.
Membership
Are you interested in becoming a member of the Vesper Boat Club? Vesper offers various membership categories for rowers, and non-rowers alike.
You'll also find forms and waivers in this section.
Masters Rowing
Vesper offers a competitive program, and coaching for our masters athletes who are looking to compete at local Philadelphia races, Diamond State Masters Regatta, USRowing Masters Nationals Championships, Head of the Charles Regatta, and Head of the Schuylkill Regatta.
Vesper Boat Club has no affiliation with any other ‘Vesper’ organizations public or private.