The 59th edition of the Head of The Charles will once again transport a global community of rowers to Boston, Massachusetts. This year’s junior women’s eight race holds a fair share of excitement with all the key teams represented. For the youth events, the question is whether programs can maintain depth and consistently perform as they graduate their top rowers.
RowAmerica Rye
This past season, RowAmerica Rye finished their year as national champions in the women’s youth eight. In addition, they rowed to first and third place in the eight at Head of The Charles in 2023. Disappointingly for them, they didn’t quite manage to round off a sensational season in style after travelling to the UK for Henley Royal Regatta and falling in the final to Headington School. A powerhouse program out of New York, Rye will come into this event looking to dominate the competition from pole position.
Greenwich Crew
Greenwich placed fifth at the 2024 USRowing Youth National Championships. Their track record at HOCR is similarly impressive; the program came second in 2022 and 2023. Greenwich will be looking to reclaim their first victory in this event since 2021. Undoubtedly hungry to beat first-seed Rye, the Greenwich girls should put on an impressive chase from bow number two.
Saugatuck Rowing Club
Another strong program out of Connecticut, Saugatuck also holds a pair of top-five finishes at Head of The Charles after placing fourth in 2022 and 2023. Saugatuck held their speed through to the spring season, pulling off a fourth-placed finish at Sarasota, Florida this past June. This year, Saugatuck’s goal will be to break into the top three with a strong row on Sunday.
Marin Rowing Association
Last fall, Marin and Newport were the only two West Coast crews to place in the top ten at the Charles. With Newport’s notable absence from this year’s regatta, Marin will look to capitalize. The program’s varsity women have only grown from last year’s result; at the USRowing Youth National Championships 2024, Marin’s varsity eight placed third, only trailing Rye and Newport. A strong Henley Royal Regatta campaign this past summer saw Marin get to the semifinal of The Prince Phillip Challenge Trophy. In a duel between American crews, Marin were again unable to beat RowAmerica Rye. However, they will continue to improve, with several members coming off a summer of racing with the US junior national team.
Headington School
Rye’s nemesis and one of the UK’s top-performing programs year-on-year, Headington are racing at the Head of the Charles after a stunning 2024, which saw them take wins at the Schools’ Head of the River, Henley Women’s Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta. Whether this is Headington’s top boat – and what sort of shape they’ll be in after losing a handful of their top athletes over the summer – remains to be seen but this proud boat club nestled in the heart of Oxfordshire would not have travelled if they weren’t confident they could produce, even from 81st position on the docket.
Prediction
For the past three years, Rye, Greenwich, and Saugatuck have held a stranglehold on the top five podium positions in the junior women’s eight. This edition should see a similar result. I predict Rye will claim a third consecutive win. I place Marin as runner-up backed by their strong performance at the 2024 USRowing Youth National Championships. Then, I predict Greenwich placing third and Saugatuck placing fourth.
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