BOSTON - The Boston University men's, women's openweight and women's lightweight rowing teams will compete at the 54th Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR) on Saturday and Sunday. The three teams will send 11 boats combined to compete in the two-day competition.
The Head of the Charles attracts more than 11,000 athletes competing in more than 1,900 boats in 53 races and is the largest two-day regatta in the world. The event will run 3 miles along the Charles River with the official start line once again being Boston University's DeWolfe Boathouse. The competition attracts tens of thousands of spectators to the banks of the Charles River each year. For a map of where to watch click HERE
Start times for the Boston University races are below.
Saturday, October 20:
12:59 p.m. – Men's Alumni Eights (50 entries)
1:18 p.m. – Women's Alumni Eights (43 entries)
1:33 p.m. – Men's Club Fours (55 entries)
1:53 p.m. – Women's Club Fours (54 entries)
2:19 p.m. – Men's Club Eights (36 entries)
Sunday, October 21:
1:38 p.m. – Women's Championship Fours (19 entries)
1:38 p.m. – Women's Lightweight Championship Fours (16 entries)
1:55 p.m. – Men's Championship Eights (32 entries)
2:26 p.m. – Women's Championship Eights (27 entries)
2:26 p.m. – Women's Lightweight Championship Eights (9 entries)
Men
The Terriers will look to improve on last year's remarkable performance at the HOCR when they recorded three top-three finishes over the two-day regatta.
The BU men's team will send out four boats to compete over the weekend. The men's club four will start things off on Saturday at 1:33 p.m. looking to improve on last year's impressive third-place finish. The Terriers will then compete in the club eight race beginning at 2:19 p.m. Last year, BU's club eight finished first in the field of 36 boats.
On Sunday, BU will send out two boats to compete in the championship eight race beginning at 1:55 p.m. in a field of 32 boats. Both V8 boats will look to improve on last year's performance when BU V8 finished 11th.
"Every year we look forward to the Head of the Charles," said men's rowing head coach Thomas Bohrer. "It is a big event not only for the sport of rowing, but also for the City of Boston and for Boston University. This is our home course and the race begins at DeWolfe Boathouse. This year we are entering 2 eights in the high level "Championship Eight" event as well as a club eight and four. It will be an early barometer to assess our speed relative to all our competitors as well as international crews. The weekend also is highlighted by many of our alumni and friends coming back to the boathouse to reconnect with former teammates and to cheer on all of teams. It is certainly one of the best weekends of the fall."
Women - Openweights
The women's openweight team will send out three boats to compete over the weekend. The club 4 will take to the water in 1:53 p.m. on Saturday. On Sunday, the Terriers championship four boat will race at 1:38 p.m. and the openweight championship eight boat will race at 2:26 p.m. in a field of 27 boats.
"We're all really looking forward to the Head of the Charles as our first real test of speed in the 2018-19 season," said director of women's rowing Madeline Davis. "The team showed up this fall excited for the new year and ready to work. This is a great opportunity for our new rowers to experience the premier rowing event in the country and for the returners to showcase their skill in front of a home crowd."
Women - Lightweight
The women's lightweight rowing team also will compete on Sunday. The lightweights will send out four boats this year with two boats competing in both the lightweight four race (1:38 p.m.) and the lightweight eight race (2:26 p.m.). The Terriers finished second last year behind archrival and reigning IRA National Champion Stanford while the lightweight four "A" finished fifth among lightweight fours in 2017.
"The Head of the Charles is an amazing experience for our student athletes," said lightweight head coach Malcolm Doldron. "The opportunity to compete on our home waters against domestic rivals and international crews is a welcome challenge. We looking forward to exciting racing all or our events, and to welcoming our alumni back home to DeWolfe Boathouse."
Alumni and Staff
Also on Saturday, several coaches and BU alumni will be racing. Men's head coach Thomas Bohrer will once again take on BU boatman Russ Cone in the men's grand master singles race beginning at 9:06 a.m. Assistant lightweight coach Abby Knight will compete in the women's alumni eight race which begins at 1:18 p.m. BU will also send out both a men's alumni eight boat (12:59 p.m.) and a women's alumni eight boat (1:18 p.m.) which will feature BU Athletics administrative secretary Annalise Routenberg (CAS '17). In addition, men's assistant coach Alex Perkins rowing for his alma mater Washington in the men's alumni eight race.
Open House
In addition to the competition, Boston University Rowing will be hosting an Open House for the general public at the DeWolfe Boathouse (619 Memorial Drive in Cambridge, Mass.) during the Head of the Charles weekend. Attendees will be able to meet with coaching staff, team-members and tour the facility. Open House hours are Saturday (Oct. 21) between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
To RSVP for men's rowing contact burowing@bu.edu if you plan to take part in the Open House.
To RSVP for women's rowing contact wcrew@bu.edu if you plan to take part in the Open House.
TEAM LINEUPS
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