Everything You Need to Know About the 2023 Head of the Charles Regatta: The 2023 Head of the Charles Regatta is rapidly approaching, and you won’t want to miss this iconic Boston sporting event whether you’re an ardent crew enthusiast or merely looking for a way to enjoy autumn camaraderie along the river.
The Charles River will be the venue for over 11,000 athletic competitors from around the globe, ranging in age from high school students to rowers aged 80 and older, from Friday, October 20 to Sunday, October 22. Among the hundreds of thousands of spectators, there will be opportunities to drink, eat, and cheer on crews, including one recently free riverside venue.
The following information is essential for fans: how to get there, where to view the regatta, and how to participate in the festivities.
Everything You Need to Know About the 2023 Head of the Charles Regatta: How to get there?
The Head of the Charles is set along the Charles River between Herter Park in Allston-Brighton and the DeWolfe Boathouse of Boston University in Cambridge. That is the section of the river bordered by Memorial Drive in Cambridge and Soldiers Field Road/Storrow Drive in Boston, for those who are new to the race or to Boston.
Between the Cambridge Boat Club near the Eliot Bridge and Eastern Avenue, Memorial Drive will be closed. Soldiers Field Road and Storrow Drive will be accessible to motor vehicles. Parking is extremely limited on both sides of the river; therefore, Regatta officials advise people to utilize public transportation, an Uber, or Lyft. (The sole exemption to this regulation is when transporting a racing boat in a car.)
A half-mile stroll will bring you to the Charles River from the Harvard station on the Red Line in Cambridge if you are taking the T. An alternate route to approach the starting line is to utilize the Red Line to Central, which is situated at a distance of less than one mile. The Green Line’s B branch to the BU Central stop, which is located around the corner from the starting line, is the best option from the Boston side.
Although a shuttle bus is not operating this year, numerous MBTA bus routes traverse both banks of the river. We recommend boarding bus number 47 to Central Square or bus number 1, 66, 71, 73, 74, 75, or 77 to reach Harvard Station in the closest proximity to the river. Further information regarding the available transportation options can be found at this location.
Mastering NHL 24 with Realistic Sliders: A Comprehensive Guide
Where and when to watch?
Observers are granted access to a cumulative count of 75 races throughout Head of the Charles, commencing the earliest at 7:45 a.m. on each day of the regatta. At approximately 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, vessels depart for the final race of the day.
Crew enthusiasts will inform you that during the final hours of the three-day event, two of the most prominent competitions take place: the championship fours and the championship eights. The participants in those competitions will enter the water on Sunday afternoon, with the men’s and women’s championship fours commencing at 1:21 p.m. and 1:35 p.m., respectively, and the eights at 1:57 p.m. and 2:32 p.m. (Remain vigilant for the victors from the previous year: The Leander Club and US Rowing.)
Although those are noteworthy, there are others as well. Throughout the regatta, several hometown and alumni clubs will compete alongside numerous crews from prestigious Northeastern institutions including Harvard, Boston College, and Boston University, in addition to secondary schools. Here, you can locate a team to view races on and search for their schedule.
One may explore various locations along the Charles River contingent upon their preferred style of race day experience. Continue reading for suggestions suited to any regatta agenda.
The finest vantage point from which to observe the competitors is from one of the bridges connecting Storrow Drive and Memorial Drive. Consider observing the race from the Eliot Bridge, the BU Bridge, the Weeks Footbridge (the most hazardous section of the race), or the Finish Line at Herter Park for lively audiences.
Officials from Head of the Charles suggest observing the race from the launch area at Magazine Beach, which is situated on the Cambridge side of the river, in close proximity to Riverside Boat Club, for a more tranquil experience.
The Rowing & Fitness Expo will be held at Attager Row, which is situated in Herter Park. It serves as the primary location for athletes to assemble and is also the venue where sponsors and vendors will display and sell their products. Pay a visit in order to acquire regatta merchandise, crew apparel, and fashion items.
The regatta offers an abundance of delectable food options, with the Weld Exhibition at Riverbend Park featuring the most popular. Weld Exhibition, located near Harvard Square, is an excellent location to purchase refreshments (and complimentary race sponsor merchandise).
In close proximity on the Cambridge side is the Reunion Village, which features a dining tent offering food and beverages for an admission charge of $15. Alternatively, one may observe the finish line from the FALS Bar, a popular establishment established in Herter Park, which serves canned cocktails, beer, and wine. This year, there is no cover charge at the FALS Bar, allowing anyone to participate in the sporting celebration, whether they are dressed for regatta festivities or merely passing by.
