Radcliffe Rowing Impresses at Head of the Charles

The Radcliffe rowing teams impressed at the Head of the Charles Regatta, with the women's lightweight 8+ boat securing a victory.

Head of the Charles Banner

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.

Ben Lundie

Men's Lightweight captain Ben Lundie

ben Scott Captain

Men's Heavyweight Captain Ben Scott

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.

Newell Boathouse

The Newell Boathouse on the Charles River.

Newell Wide View

Newell boathouse, where Harvard men's teams practice.

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.

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.

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.

HOTC views

The Head of the Charles race features three miles of scenic viewing.

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.

One Year In: Inside the Newell and Weld Boathouse Renovations

The newly restored Weld and Newell Boathouses, long symbols of Harvard’s storied rowing legacy, recently underwent a historic renovation after 50 years.

Rewind: HOCR Turns 60 Years Old

Competitive rowing has had a long and storied history, both nationwide and abroad, with many of the sport’s most prominent regattas having been held for centuries. The sport’s most famous and prestigious race, the Henley Royal Regatta, first debuted in 1839, followed soon after by the first intercollegitate competition in the United States, the Harvard-Yale Regatta, or “The Race,” two decades before its football counterpart, The Game.

Views from the Boats

The Charles River runs for 80 miles throughout the cities and countryside of eastern Massachusetts. Spanning from Echo Lake in Hopkinton until it deposits its water in Boston Harbor, the Charles crosses historical landmarks and varied geography.

Editor's Note: The 60th Annual Head of the Charles Regatta

Welcome to the 60th annual Head of the Charles Regatta!

Lindsey Brail

Radcliffe Heavyweight Captain Lindsey Brail

Newell Boathouse Oars

The oars are lined up in the newly-renovated Newell Boathouse.