Think HOCR is Special? You’re Not Alone

The Head of the Charles holds a special place in the heart of every rower, as evidenced by these remarks heard on the docks, boathouses and riverbanks during the 2024 Regatta.

This was a race that was started by a small group of rowers for the benefit of rowers and it has survived for now 59 years. It has always been run for the benefit of the rowers, the underlying principle of the Head of the Charles is that this is a race run by rowers, run for rowers, run for the pleasure of rowers. It’s a celebration of rowing.” – Bill Becklean, 1956 Olympic Gold Medalist, United States.

“The Head of the Charles holds a mythical status around the world.” – Imogen Grant, 2024 Olympic gold medalist, Great Britain.

“It’s the best competition you’ll get anywhere, but it’s also a fun festival. If you don’t have the best race of your life, you can still have an incredible experience because you got to see all your friends and old teammates.” – Michelle Seshser, two-time United States Olympian and 2023-2024 HOCR 1x Champion.

“It’s a really, really big regatta and it’s fun to race here. It’s in the middle of the city, there’s a lot of people on the bridges, it’s so different than 2K race course on six lanes. – Oliver Zeidler, 2024 Olympic Gold Medalist, Germany, 2024 HOCR Mixed 2x Champion.

It’s definitely on the to-do list of every rower.” — Sofia Meakin, member Swiss National team, 2024 HOCR Mixed 2x Champion.

“The atmosphere here is incredible. We’ve been to other big regattas, like the one in Belgium, but there’s nothing like this. The community in Boston is amazing—everyone seems to know about rowing, and the bridges were packed with people cheering us on. It’s so different from Shanghai.” – Julie Gu, age 17, Shanghai, first HOCR.

“I’ve never been to anything quite like it. It’s just incredible. I mean, all the people, the crowds on the bridges, you know, yelling at you? An amazing event.” – Finn Hamill, 2024 HOCR 1x Champion.

It’s always a good atmosphere and the more you come back, the more people you meet, and I suppose the more friendly you get with people that you keep meeting over the years. So it’s always enjoyable to come back and see some of them and meet some new people as well and to do some rowing as well.”  – Paul O’Donovan, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Ireland.

“It’s really fun that it’s just such a mix of people that are racing at an elite level and racing at a novice level and all coming together. Some people are taking it really seriously and they just want to win it all costs. And other people are out there to have a lot of fun. So, to me, it’s like a festival of rowing and it really is about enjoying the sport.” – Jamie Koven, two-time United States Olympian and 1998-99 HOCR 1x Champion.

“The winning’s great, the competing’s great, the racing is great. But if you don’t come away with any meaningful relationships with people that you’ve either trained with or raced against or raced with, I think you’re missing the point of why we get into sport in the first place. For me, with the whole weekend, I’m just really excited to have that celebration. There’s not any more perfect event to showcase the positive qualities and the reason that people fall in love with the sport than the Head of the Charles.” – Oliver Wynne-Griffith, 2024 Olympic Silver Medalist, Great Britain.