Head races, picturesque riverbanks, and historic rowing courses—find one near you and register today!
Head race season is upon us! In New England, we get to savor beautiful fall foliage from one of our favorite vantage points: the banks of a winding river, dotted with crews and shells. From classic local regattas full of personality and heritage to the international highlight that is the Head of the Charles, there is truly a race for everyone.
As supporters of rowers local and international, we follow each of these fall events with enthusiasm and even, when we can, take part in some respectable masters and alumni racing.
Learn more about the excellent rowing events taking place across New England for October and November 2024. We hope to see you at one or more!
Quinsigamond Snake Regatta, October 5, 2024
Lake Quinsigamond is a rowing haven, nestled between the city of Worcester and the town of Shrewsbury in Worcester County, Massachusetts. The 4-mile-long lake, formed by glaciers, at times resembles a river, with a deep, narrow northern section and a more shallow southern basin full of coves and islands. We can’t say for certain, but we’d guess its winding shape is how the Snake Regatta, hosted by the Quinsigamond Rowing Association, got its name.
A traditional head-style race, the course is approximately 2.5 miles. Rowers begin at Sugarloaf Island and finish at the Donahue Rowing Center, located at the lake’s north end. The regatta is for collegiate crews, attracting many of New England’s top racing programs (18 clubs have entered this year)—many of which call Lake Quinsigamond home (e.g., College of the Holy Cross, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Clark University, among others).
Poughkeepsie Regatta, October 5, 2024
So…New York is not technically part of New England, BUT those of us who love a great fall head race along a historic body of water can make an exception, and allow for some extra travel time when the occasion arises. The Poughkeepsie Regatta Head Race is such an event, a relatively new offering for the fall lineup consisting of a 4,800-meter head-style race along the beautiful Hudson River.
Race organizers describe the route like so: “Shadowing the route of the old Junior Varsity (3-mile) course, crews will race downstream from the Culinary Institute of America’s main campus in Hyde Park to the Mid-Hudson Bridge in Poughkeepsie, passing under Walkway Over the Hudson State Park and rowing by several other Poughkeepsie Waterfront landmarks.” (Fans of the best-seller rowing book The Boys in the Boat will recognize the historic 1895-1949 Intercollegiate Rowing Association course featured in its pages.) Co-hosted by the Hudson River Rowing Association and the Mid-Hudson Rowing Association, both based out of Poughkeepsie, the regatta is open to juniors, collegiate, and masters rowers.
Spectators line the banks of the Merrimack River during the 2023 Textile River Regatta. Photo credit: Carl Popolo via TRR website.
Textile River Regatta, October 6, 2024
Set along the historic Merrimack River in Lowell, Massachusetts, this beloved annual event is now in its 45th year. Wondering about the race’s name? According to event organizers, the Merrimac (historic spelling) and its system of locks and canals fueled the industrial revolution in the area, transforming the river region into the country’s center of textile production in the early to mid 1800s. The river’s rich history also includes the Pawtucket Indians, who paddled canoes and made their summer camps along these banks before the Pilgrims landed. In fact, the rocks just below the regatta starting line are part of an original dam used by the Pawtucket Indians for fishing.
Today, the popular head race features a 4,500-meter course with great areas for viewing along the esplanade downriver from the boathouse. Schools and clubs from throughout New England, New York, and Pennsylvania compete in numerous events across all levels—meaning the energy level is traditionally high. New for this year is the addition of a mixed juniors 4+ as the last event of the day. It’s informally known as the Coach Jody Invitational.
Head of the Housatonic, October 13, 2024
This unique and tightly organized head race hosted by the New Haven Rowing Club takes place at Indian Well State Park along Connecticut’s Housatonic River. This year 69 clubs are registered to participate, which means the shores of the river will be lined with team tents and spectators, who arrive by shuttle from off-site parking lots.
We’ve seen plenty of regattas in our day, but the Head of the Housatonic Regatta, held in the southern reaches of Shelton, Connecticut, offers a different kind of race format. Competitors launch from the sandy beach by walking boats into the water (there is no dock). Boats follow a very specific traffic pattern involving colored buoys and must adhere to “right of way” guidelines. This race demands your full focus in more ways than one! Watch this cool video on the NHRC site for a glimpse at all the action.
New Hampshire Championships George Dirth Memorial Regatta, October 13, 2024
What better way to warm up for one of the world’s most famous head races (HOCR) than with another widely renowned fall rowing competition? Up for the challenge? Then head to the George Dirth Memorial Regatta, which takes place the weekend before Head of the Charles and has the distinction of being the largest New England rowing event north of Boston. How large? More than 2,000 athletes rowing nearly 400 sculling and sweep boats.
Hosted by the Amoskeag Rowing Club in Pembroke, New Hampshire, the 3-mile head race begins upriver on the Merrimack and finishes at Memorial Park. In addition to providing a wonderful day of racing in a beautiful fall setting, this event awards a New Hampshire Cup team trophy for the best overall team performance and is raced in memory of George Dirth, a former Amoskeag club member and rower at Derryfield and Oregon State University who died tragically at the young age of 27. Registration is still open.
Rowers on the Charles in front of the River Street Bridge, in October 2023. Credit: iStock.
Head of the Charles, October 18-20, 2024
Since 1965, this beloved annual head race has been delighting spectators and competitors alike with its top-level racing and most scenic environs of the Charles River. With its prestigious roster of athletes and charming Boston backdrop, who could resist? This year 837 clubs have registered, with 2,626 entries, according to the Head of the Charles event page on Regatta Central.
One special moment scheduled to take place amid the rowing action is a ceremony for the 2024 National Rowing Hall of Fame® inductees. The announcement will take place Saturday, October 19, at 3 p.m. at the National Rowing Foundation U.S. Team Reunion tent. This year’s roster includes, among others, the members of the 1984 Olympic Silver Medal Women’s Quadruple Sculls. Find more details on Hear the Boat Sing.
Rowing Pad’s founder, Victor Pisinski, a Northeastern rowing alum, has quite a streak of participation in the event, in which he debuted during year three. This year he will once again return to the river basin in the Men’s Grand Master Eights, taking place Saturday morning, accompanied by a crew of rowing compatriots eager to give it their all for 2024.
If you see him there, give him a big cheer (and ask to check out a Rowing Pad seat pad while you’re at it!).
Wormtown Chase, October 26, 2024
A regular last fall season hurrah for collegiate programs in the region, the Wormtown Chase is the longer of the two head races held on Lake Quinsigamond each autumn. (The Snake Regatta, listed above, is the other.) The Chase is also a relatively new fixture on the New England regatta calendar; the inaugural race took place in 2019 and was conceived as a way to offer a head race opportunity for masters rowers as well as a second fall event for schools.
Both college crews and masters now flock to the four-mile lake between Worcester and Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, for the 3.25-mile head race. The course begins at Quinsigamond State Park beach, proceeds south around Coast Guard and Blake Islands, and finishes at the Donahue Rowing Center. Why “Wormtown,” you might be wondering? Apparently this is a nickname for Worcester—one that can ignite debate, so be warned—coined by a local DJ in the 70s to refer to the city’s underground music scene.
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