rowing
Head of the Charles 2025
This weekend marks the 60th annual Head of the Charles Regatta. Below, The Crimson has put together stories explaining the history of the storied competition, sharing student and alumni perspectives on Head of the Charles traditions, and chronicling a few of the famous names who once rowed the Charles.
A Guide to Rowing and The Head of the Charles
Your guide to this weekend's rowing, including the training, emotions, format, course, and strategies that define the course.
Editor's Note: The 60th Annual Head of the Charles Regatta
Welcome to the 60th annual Head of the Charles Regatta!
Charles River Cover
The Head of the Charles takes place on the banks of the Charles River in Cambridge and Boston.
‘It’s Unbeatable’: Sam Davidson’s Experience as a Walk-On Rower
Sam Davidson, a senior on the heavyweight rowing team, is one of a handful of walk-on rowers who join the team each year. Learn about the life of Harvard's walk-ons.
Head of the Charles preview
The Head of the Charles regatta features many opportunities for Harvard's athletes to showcase their skills on the river.
Meet the Captains: Harvard & Radcliffe Crews Take on the Head of the Charles Regatta
Meet the captains of Harvard's crew teams and hear how they're preparing for the home course regatta.
Celebrating Rowing: Harvard’s Rowing Teams Look Forward to Head of the Charles on Home Turf
Thousands of members from the rowing community will traverse to the banks of the Charles River ahead of the 60th Head of the Charles — the largest multi-day regatta in the world. Here's what to expect from Harvard's teams
Before They Were Presidents, They Were Harvard Rowers
Decades before he began to steer Harvard from Massachusetts Hall, University President Alan M. Garber ’76 learned to steer from the stern seat of a boat on the Charles River, along with other prominent alumni.
Alumni Spotlight: Calliste Skouras ’24 on Returning for Head of the Charles
As rowers from around the country gather to compete in the Head of Charles Regatta, a few boats each year are filled not by undergraduates, but by former college athletes who make their way to Cambridge to race one more time on a familiar course. One of these alumni was Calliste Skouras ’24, a former Harvard-Radliffe lightweight rower who returned to Harvard’s campus only a few months after graduating to join the alumni boat for the first time.
Cyanobacteria Advisory Expected To Lift Before Head of the Charles Regatta
The Charles River has been under a Massachusetts Department of Public Health advisory for a cyanobacterial bloom since August, but the advisory is expected to lift by the time thousands of rowers and spectators flock to Cambridge for the Head of the Charles rowing regatta this weekend.
Henley Champs Men's Lightweights
The men's lightweight rowing team poses after capturing victory at the Henley Royal Regatta, capping off its undefeated season.
Harvard Men’s Lightweights Capture Victory at Henley Royal Regatta, Capping Off Undefeated Season
Against the cheers of spectators rooting for the home team along the Thames, Harvard made history — taking home its first ever Henley-on-Thames Temple Cup. The finals race caps off the Crimson’s undefeated season, with five consecutive wins during the regatta to take home the championship.
Harvard Rowing 2000 Season
The Harvard heavyweight crew team lines up dockside during the 1999–2000 season.
Enduring Power: Revisiting the 2000 Harvard Men’s Crew Team
For the Class of 2000, the final spring on campus included one of Harvard crew’s most memorable seasons in recent memory. The men’s heavyweight team, under Coach Harry Parker, delivered key rivalry wins, set a Charles River course record, and created a formidable team that left a legacy of success that rippled into future years.
Harvard Lights Make History and Heavies Earn Victory at Eastern Sprints
The Harvard Lightweight Rowing team continued its fairytale run at the Eastern Sprints, where the team swept the event. Similarly, the Heavyweight team also dominated the event, with its first varsity eight boat winning for the first time since 2014.