Recap of the Head of The Charles:

Waking up at 5 in the morning and rowing on the cold, misty, flat water does not sound like everyone's cup of tea, but it was for the thousands of rowers who competed this past weekend at the 50th Head of the Charles race. With thousands of people lining the banks of the Charles, the excitement was felt throughout the Boston area. The sunny and 60 degree weather was perfect for the racers and spectators, who watched the boats race down the river. Whether it was the cool fall wind, or the talkative spectators walking around Weld exhibition or Reunion village to get the right angle on the racing, there seemed to never be a moment when the river calm and quiet.

The increasing wind slowly became stronger as the day progressed and by the end of each afternoon the wind began to hinder crews, especially the novice and lightweight crews. However, the wind did not stop the rowers from setting twenty new course records on Saturday of the Regatta alone. The level of the competitors varied from a wide range: amateurs to elite and Olympic caliber oarsmen and women.

Andrew Campbell, a Harvard University student and international competitor, made a huge mark at this year’s Head of the Charles by winning the Men’s Championship Singles event by over 10 seconds. Not only did he beat some very stiff competition, but he also set a new course record by a little more than one second. This impressive feat goes to show how the sport of crew is getting faster and faster every year, meaning that the rowing in general is becoming more popular within the athletic community.

Along with small boats, bigger boats dominated the field as well this past weekend. A tradition of the Head of the Charles is to put a crew together comprised of the best rowers from around the world. This year, there were two Great 8+’s; one having the best sweep oarsmen from around the world and one having the best sculling oarsmen from around the world. Both boats placed top two in the Men’s Championship Eight event and it sure was an exciting race to watch. The intensity that each of the rowers brought to the water was exhilarating to even look at; as each of the blades pierced the surface of the water, to be locked into a position to push away the water efficiently.

Every year the crews that come to race in fall on the Charles change their rower’s line-ups, because rowers graduate and eventually retire, leaving a legacy on the water to share. The major component to the Head of the Charles Regatta that never changes are the locations of the bridges and the course of the race. The tight and complex turns along the race course of the HOCR always seem to trip-up a few crews during the racing. This past weekend, there were a few crashes, but thankfully, nothing too serious that required emergency service.

Overall, the 2014 Head of the Charles Regatta created a huge turn-out of people and rowers, which allowed for two exciting days of racing in the warm and pleasant fall weather.