This weekend will be the 52nd running of the Head of the Charles Regatta. Here is what you need to know:
The basics
Dates: Saturday, Oct. 22-Sunday Oct. 23
Times: The Saturday races run from 7:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. The Sunday races run 7:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
The course: The start line is at the Boston University Boathouse. The finish line is near Herter Park. The course is 3 miles and runs upstream. It takes about an hour to walk. Here is a course map for competitors and a course map for spectators.
Event No. | Event | Time |
---|---|---|
1 | Men's Senior Veteran Singles I and II (70+) | 7:45 a.m. |
2 | Women's Veteran I/II and Senior Veteran I/II (60 - 69, 70+) | 8:05 a.m. |
3 | Men's Veteran Singles I and II (60+) | 8:32 a.m. |
4 | Men's Grand Master Singles (50+) | 8:57 a.m. |
5 | Women's Grand Master Singles (50+) | 9:18 a.m. |
6 | Men's Senior Master Eights (50+) | 9:42 a.m. |
7 | Women's Senior Master Eights (50+) | 10:05 a.m. |
8 | Men's Senior Master Fours (50+) | 10:25 a.m. |
9 | Women's Senior Master Fours (50+) | 10:45 a.m. |
10 | Men's Senior Master Doubles (50+) | 11:07 a.m. |
11 | Women's Senior Master Doubles (50+) | 11:27 a.m. |
12 | Men's Senior Master Singles (40+) | 11:43 a.m. |
13 | Women's Senior Masters Singles (40+) | 11:55 a.m. |
14 | Men's Alumni Eights | 12:12 p.m. |
15 | Women's Alumni Eights | 12:31 p.m. |
16 | Men's Club Fours | 12:51 p.m. |
17 | Women's Club Fours | 1:10 p.m. |
18 | Men's Club Eights | 1:37 p.m. |
19 | Women's Club Eights | 1:51 p.m. |
20 | Men's Master Doubles (40+) | 2:08 p.m. |
21 | Women's Master Doubles (40+) | 2:16 p.m. |
22 | Men's Master Fours (40+) | 2:29 p.m. |
23 | Women's Master Fours (40+) | 2:40 p.m. |
24 | Men's Master Eights (40+) | 2:58 p.m. |
25 | Women's Master Eights (40+) | 3:08 p.m. |
26 | Men's Championship Doubles | 3:23 p.m. |
27 | Women's Championship Doubles | 3:34 p.m. |
28a | Men's Championship Singles | 3:47 p.m. |
28b | Men's Lightweight Singles | 3:47 p.m. |
29a | Women's Championship Singles | 4:06 p.m. |
29b | Women's Lightweight Singles | 4:06 p.m. |
30a | Mixed Legs/Trunk/Arms Fours | 4:29 p.m. |
30b | Mixed Inclusion 4+ | 4:29 p.m. |
DCPC2X | Directors' Challenge Parent/Child Doubles | 4:46 p.m. |
Event No. | Event | Time |
---|---|---|
31a | Mixed Inclusion 2x | 7:45 a.m. |
31b | Trunk/Arms Doubles | 7:45 a.m. |
32a | Men's Club Singles | 8:08 a.m. |
32b | Men's Youth Singles | 8:08 a.m. |
33a | Womens Club Singles | 8:31 a.m. |
33b | Women's Youth Singles | 8:31 a.m. |
34 | Women's Youth Fours | 8:53 a.m. |
DCW4X | Directors' Challenge Women's Quads | 9:30 a.m. |
35 | Womens Youth Coxed Quad | 9:47 a.m. |
36 | Women's Youth Eights | 10:05 a.m. |
37 | Men's Master Singles | 10:39 a.m. |
38 | Women's Master Singles | 10:47 a.m. |
39 | Men's Youth Doubles | 11:01 a.m. |
40 | Women's Youth Doubles | 11:14 a.m. |
41 | Men's Youth Fours | 11:33 a.m. |
DCM4X | Directors' Challenge Men's Quads | 12:09 p.m. |
42 | Mens Youth Coxed Quad | 12:24 p.m. |
43 | Men's Youth Eights | 12:43 p.m. |
44 | Men's Collegiate Fours | 1:15 p.m. |
45 | Women's Collegiate Fours | 1:28 p.m. |
46a | Men's Championship Fours | 1:48 p.m. |
46b | Men's Lightweight Fours | 1:48 p.m. |
47a | Women's Championship Fours | 2:02 p.m. |
47b | Women's Lightweight Fours | 2:02 p.m. |
48a | Men's Championship Eights | 2:20 p.m. |
48b | Men's Lightweight Eights | 2:20 p.m. |
49a | Women's Championship Eights | 2:36 p.m. |
49b | Women's Lightweight Eights | 2:36 p.m. |
DCMX8 | Directors' Challenge Mixed Eight | 2:54 p.m. |
50 | Men's Collegiate Eights | 3:15 p.m. |
51 | Women's Collegiate Eights | 3:31 p.m. |
DCMX2X | Directors Challenge Mixed Doubles | 3:45 p.m. |
Award ceremonies: They’ll be held at Attager Row, which is just before the finish line. Ceremonies will be at both 3 p.m and 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. First-place medals will be given during the ceremonies. Other medals will be given out next to the stage.
Advertisement
Race results: The results board will be outside Attager Row. Results can also be found here.
The headliners
More than 50 athletes who competed at the Rio Olympics will compete at the Head of the Charles this weekend. That includes the US Women’s Eight, who won gold this summer: Katelin Snyder, Amanda Elmore, Elle Logan, Meghan Musnicki, Tessa Gobbo, Lauren Schmetterling, Amanda Polk, Kerry Simmonds, and Emily Regan. Also set to participate: gold medalists Mahe Drysdale (New Zealand) and Valent Sinkovic (Croatia), silver medalists Gary and Paul O’Donovan (Ireland), Damir Martin (Croatia) and James McRae (Australia), and bronze medalist Olaf Tufte (Norway).
Where to watch
The six bridges along the course: The BU Bridge, the River Street Bridge, Western Avenue Bridge, Weeks Bridge, Anderson Bridge, and Eliot Bridge. Anywhere along the river bank also makes for good views.
Transportation
SHUTTLES
There will be two shuttle routes: One runs the course, the other goes to the parking area on Birmingham Parkway in Brighton. Both shuttles run about every 20 minutes on Friday from noon to 7 p.m. and about every 15 minutes Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Advertisement
Race Course Shuttle: The stops are Christian Herter Park Lot 4, Riverside Boat Club, the Reunion Village, Christian Herter Park Lot 1, and Christian Herter Park Lot 2.
Birmingham Parkway Shuttle: The stops are Everett Street at FALS, Birmingham Parkway East, and Birmingham Parkway West.
More information can be found here.
PARKING
Using public transportation is highly recommended since parking is limited. But here is where you can park if you are planning to drive.
Birmingham Parking: On-street parking. Accessibility: Market Street off of Soldiers Field Road or from Soldiers Field Road and Route 20 intersection near Community Rowing. Availability: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, but not after 6 p.m. Cost: Free. How to get to the course: Shuttle runs all weekend.
Alewife T station: Parking garage. Accessibility: Route 2 off of I-95. Availability: 24 hours a day. Cost: $7 per day and $8 overnight. How to get to the course: Red Line to Harvard Square and a short walk to the river. More information here.
Harvard Stadium Gate 14: Lot parking. Accessibility: Off Soldiers Field Road going east. Availability: Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Cost: $30 per day. How to get to the course: Walk.
More parking information can be found here.
Misc.
Video: Row the Charles in less than 90 seconds:
LOST AND FOUND
Advertisement
The information center at the Cambridge Boat Club will house lost and found. Contact: regatta@hocr.org.
ROAD CLOSURES
Memorial Drive will be closed from the Cambridge Boat Club to Western Avenue from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
HOSPITALITY TENTS
Reunion Village tickets are $10 per day or $15 for the weekend and can be purchased on-site. Inside are food, beer, and wine. Eliot Bridge Enclosure tickets are $90 per day or $160 for the weekend and must be purchased in advance. It includes breakfast, lunch, coffee, and drink tickets. There is also a cash bar inside.
More information here.
Rowing basics
Follow Rachel G. Bowers on Twitter @RachelGBowers.