Your Guide to the Head of the Charles
The BU women’s lightweight rowing team will compete, as will the BU men’s and women’s rowing teams, in this weekend’s Head of the Charles. Photo by Cydney Scott
Your Guide to the Head of the Charles
What to know if you’re headed to the world’s largest two-day regatta
Nearly everyone in Boston has heard of the Head of the Charles, the annual regatta that draws the best crew teams from around the globe for a thrilling two-day spectacle on the Charles River. This year’s event is Saturday, October 19, and Sunday, October 20, and is expected to draw up to 300,000 spectators to the banks of the Charles.
If you’re not a rower, chances are you don’t know much about the regatta. So we’ve put together a primer on what you need to know before you head over the river for this weekend’s festivities.
What is it?
This is the 55th Head of the Charles, and more than 11,000 athletes from around the world will be participating. There are over 2,000 different boats competing in age brackets ranging from racing clubs to high school boats to college teams. There will be athletes from more than 800 schools rowing along the Charles.
In a head race, teams race on the same course at different starting times and the team with the best time wins. Head races are typically between about three and six miles in length, and the Head of the Charles is a three-mile race, hence the name. Races begin at BU’s DeWolfe Boathouse and the finish line is three miles upstream at the Eliot Bridge in Brighton.
From 1965 to 1996, the Head of the Charles was a one-day event, but in 1997 it was expanded to two days.
Who competes?
Not just anyone can register for the Head of the Charles. Boats have to qualify for the world-renowned event based on prior success.
How many winners are there?
Awards and medals are based on entries in each event.
1 to 9 boats: 1st place awarded
10 to 19 boats: 1st and second place awarded
20 to 29 boats: 1st to 3rd place awarded
30 to 39 boats: 1st to 4th place awarded
40 plus boats: 1st to 5th place awarded
Winners of each race receive the honorary title “Head of the Charles.” The awards ceremonies will be held Saturday at 3 and 5 pm and Sunday at 3 and 5 pm, at the Attager Row tent at the Finishing Area Launch Site.
When does BU compete?
BU men’s and women’s rowing teams and women’s lightweight rowing team race on both days. The men start off at approximately 1:41 pm on Saturday, with two boats in the club four. They have one boat in the club eight at 2:28 pm. On Sunday, the men have two boats in the championship eight at 2:15 pm.
The women first race a club four at 2:02 pm Saturday. They also have a club eight at 2:43 pm. On Sunday, the women’s championship four is at 1:54 pm, and the women’s championship eight, with two lightweights and an open weight boat, is at 2:49 pm.
Races launch every 15 seconds, so the water will see plenty of action from sunrise to sundown during the two-day event.
The Head of the Charles Regatta runs October 19 and 20 on the Charles River. Find Saturday’s and Sunday’s race schedules here. Find additional information here.
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