PHILADELPHIA -- Thousands of college athletes participated in the conclusion of the nation's largest collegiate regatta along the Schuylkill River on Saturday.

With 127 teams, more than 500 boats and about 3,500 athletes, this weekend's Dad Vail Regatta was the largest to date.

Spectators such as Paul Wiler said Saturday's weather was welcome after Friday's rain.

"This is much better. It was torrential all day," he said.

Joe Burns, who traveled from Washington, D.C., to see his daughter row for St. Joe's, said he was glad to see sunshine.

"We drove up this morning at 5:30, and it was pouring rain in Washington," he said. "And the closer we got to Philadelphia, the sun started coming out -- a typical Philadelphia day."

Some of the athletes and regatta officials said Friday's rain made for a better race on Saturday. Regatta secretary Bob Morro said the day was "almost perfect."

"The river is a little higher and a little bit faster, maybe, that's all," Morro said.

But the rowers said they didn't mind Friday's rain.

"The rain's not that bad," Kelly Schmidt of Alabama said. "We like, actually, rowing in the rain. It cools us off. It's just the wind is what bothers us the most."

Anthony Nelson, a rower from Ohio State, agreed.

"Rain actually kind of keeps you cool during the race," he said. "You're not sweating too bad. It's a little more enjoyable to row, personally."

Purdue captured the men's varsity eight, and the University of California at Davis won the women's varsity eight.

Kelly Drive was closed for the Dad Vail on Saturday. Regatta officials said the road would be closed until 7 p.m.