The 2022 Head of the Charles Regatta took place this past weekend with picture-perfect late October weather along the Charles River.
As they tout on their website, the Head of the Charles is “The world’s largest 3-day rowing competition attracting 400,000 spectators, 11,000 competitors and 2,400 volunteers.” The regatta’s maiden voyage was way back in 1965, organized by members of the Cambridge Boat Club as a way to break up the monotony of training season. Few thought it those days that a boating event held in mid-autumn would draw many spectators or have much success. But time has proven the doubters wrong. The event was expanded from one day of races to two in 1997, and is now viewed not only in Boston and Cambridge but worldwide as a classic.
I have a funny Head of the Charles story to share. Back in my years working at WBCN in the 2000s, I was the midday host, but I also hosted 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday mornings. On the Saturday of the Regatta in 2003, our Promotions Director was scheduled to be on the banks of the Charles River, calling into my show with hourly updates. Shortly after I signed on at 9, I called him to set up the first update. After about 5 or 6 rings, he picked up his phone, and groggily informed me that he had gone down to the river to set up the WBCN tent early that morning, called into the DJ who was on before me to record his updates, and gone back home to bed. So much for live, local coverage of the Head of the Charles.
Head of the Charles 2022: Photos and Recap
I’ve gathered up some pre-race photos from this year’s Regatta below. A full list of finishers can be found here. Two unrelated racers named Carlson finished atop the men’s singles event, and the women’s singles event top two were separated by less than five seconds!
