The Wayland and Weston crew team (WWRA) competed in the 60th annual Head of the Charles Regatta on Sunday, Oct. 19. The Head of the Charles Regatta is the largest three day rowing event in the world, running from Friday to Sunday, while drawing an estimated 400,000 spectators from across the globe. The three mile race started at the Boston University DeWolfe Boathouse and finished at Herter Park, just past the Eliot bridge. Sunday’s events ran from 7:45 a.m. to 4:19 p.m, with teams starting at different times throughout the day.
The race attracted over 852 rowing clubs and 11,000 athletes from across the United States and beyond, with teams representing countries such as South Africa, Romania and Norway. To be admitted for Head of the Charles, teams have different application guidelines, but all pay a non refundable fee and need to be deemed eligible for their event.
“Watching [Head of the Charles] is really cool because we’re watching [the rowers] at a completely different level and Olympians even compete there,” senior Mario Purser said. “It was really cool to see everyone who shared the same passion for the sport be in one place at one time.”
The Wayland-Weston girls varsity boat didn’t place in the top 50% during last year’s race for the women’s youth eights event, which would have qualified them automatically for this year’s race. However, because of the lottery system, the girls team was able to receive a spot in the race. The boys varsity team did not qualify for entry this year and wasn’t able to earn a spot through the lottery system.
“This year, the boys did not make it the easiest way, which is through the raffle because last year we did not get in the top 50,” Sophomore Sam Katz said. “I think there is a good chance we could make it next year though.”
This year, the girls team placed 66th in the women’s youth eights event, which means that the girls team will not receive a guaranteed entry for next year and will instead have to be entered into the lottery system again. However, they were able to go 40 seconds faster than their recorded time last year.
“We were overall pretty proud of ourselves for the race,” senior Ashley Maddocks said. “[We were able] to win against boats that we were aiming to beat, which was pretty exciting.”
Some members of the Wayland-Weston team who didn’t qualify for the race gathered near the Elliot Bridge to watch their teammates race to the finish line. While four other Boston bridges attracted a lot of spectators, the Elliot bridge seemed to attract the most. One of these spectators was WHS english teacher Sara Snow.
“When I first came to live in Cambridge, about 25 years ago now, it was relatively small, and since then it’s grown out and has become this incredibly fine and well attended rowing regatta,” Snow said. “Boats come from England, so I’m always interested to see the rowers coming from Oxford, from Cambridge, from some British high schools and then also from all across America.”
Snow’s two daughters both competed in the Head of the Charles this year, but in different events. One of her daughters rowed in Stanford University’s alumni race on Saturday, while her other daughter rowed in one of Yale University’s boats on Sunday.
“It’s funny, because I live near the river, I used to go [to the Head of the Charles] even before my kids started to row, and I didn’t really understand what was going on,” Snow said. “[When] my kids started to row, I began to understand, and then you have a connection to it and it becomes much more meaningful.”
According to Snow, one of her daughters has teammates from countries such as England, Denmark and Greece. Purser also mentioned how he has made friends from Weston and other neighboring towns because of rowing.
“I really like the team aspect of [rowing],” Purser said. “I’ve made so many friends from Weston, and I like pushing myself mentally and physically.”
The event featured numerous stands and tents along the Charles River that were selling goods and fundraising for various causes. Some of these included Delta Airlines, the U.S. Marines, The Chicken and Rice guys and other local vendors. The food vendors allowed visitors to sit down and enjoy their meals along the waterfront with a view of the race.
“The rowing community, so not only are they rowing, but they’re seeing friends of theirs from maybe high school when they rode together or if they’re in graduate school, maybe college when they rode together,” Snow said. “So there’s just this incredible community. It’s really fun, really positive.”