The Head of The Charles Regatta, Boston Massachusetts in October. It’s the largest three-day regatta in the world; 11,000 athletes in 1,900 boats in 61 events, projections of 225,000 spectators on the Charles River that separates Boston from Cambridge. The World Rows and The World comes to Boston.
Yearly since 1965, The Head of The Charles brings together the very best Junior Men’s Eights in the world. Early in the season, head racing along the banks of the historic Charles River, crews compete for the title of HOCR Champion, despite occasional fall weather (forecasters say it will be perfect for competition this year). The challenge of winning at The Head of the Charles still drives elite programs and coaches toward excellence and hopefully to the podium.
St Paul’s School
Last year’s champions return to the Charles as front-runners after driving through the field to secure the win in 2023. That crew went on to claim the coveted quadruple of schoolboy titles, including two national victories and The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta. St Paul’s early-season form shows no signs of abating, after they secured the win in the junior pairs category at the Pairs Head of the River 48 hours ago. With five returners from last year’s Henley-winning boat – combined with a coach in Bobby Thatcher who knows what it takes to win at this level – Paul’s are unlikely to have made the trip unless they felt their chances of winning were high.
St. Joseph’s Preparatory School
Silver in the 2024 USRowing Youth National Championships, St. Joe’s returns with cox Michael Kain, who summered with the US junior men’s eight, securing a silver medal at the U19 World Rowing Championships. This boat will exude experience and skill and have experience in winning at the highest level.
RowAmerica Rye
The defending national champion, RowAmerica Rye finished in Sarasota a full length ahead. After opting not to race at Henley Royal Regatta – and pit their wits against the likes of St Paul’s – they’ll get their chance this weekend on home turf. The club continues to develop athletes, boat speed and a culture of excellence.
Greenwich Crew
Fighting to restore its podium placement in the summer months, they are “Fall Strong” every year and produce fast and resilient crews well suited for racing down The Charles. A victory here would send out a defiant message heading into a long winter of grind.
Saugatuck Rowing Club
Placing seventh at the 2024 USRowing Youth National Championships and always a top-performing crew, this boat club travelled to Henley Royal Regatta last summer, falling on day two to eventual finalists from Shiplake College. They were second at this event last October, and are well coached with a critical culture of performance.
Princeton National Rowing Association/Mercer
Fifth at the USRowing Youth National Championships in Sarasota FL was followed by a trip to Henley Royal Regatta, where they reached the quarter finals. Coach Jamie Hampton, who worked with the US junior men’s coxed four last summer, will have the athletes ready to race.
King’s College School Wimbledon
Under new stewardship, after long-time Director of Rowing Patrick Duggan left for new pastures at Radley, this boat club will aim to stick with some of the frontrunners. Firing out seventh – between heavyweights Rye and Marin – King’s College School will aim to better their 2023 finishing position of seventh.
Prediction
St. Joe’s and RowAmerica Rye should manage the course and the competition. However, Saugatuck, Greenwich and Mercer are historically early fall programs that invested heavily in 2023 with a second, third and fifth-placed set of finishes. St Paul’s are the UK program to throw cats amongst the US pigeons and I expect them to be the crew to beat.
The Final Call and Order:
St Paul’s, RowAmerica Rye, St. Joe’s, Greenwich, Mercer, Saugatuck
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