The Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR) is one of the most iconic and prestigious rowing regattas in the world. It is held every year in October on the Charles River in Boston since 1965. This competition attracts high-level rowers, amateurs and professionals, from many countries. The race takes place over a distance of 3 miles (approximately 4.8 km) and is a challenge of endurance and technique, particularly due to the many bends of the river. The event is also very popular with spectators, who gather in large numbers along the banks to encourage the crews (nearly 400,000 people each year).
This year again the figures are impressive: more than 11,500 rowers registered, 2,650 committed!
Several French clubs and boats have made the move for this 2024 edition: The Society for the Encouragement of Water Sports (Mayne, Cornelis, Lefebvre, Fau, Brosse, Lotti, Lebras, Garcia, coxswain: Mercier) in women’s eight. The Ile-de-France rowers took the initiative to come ahead of the competition to perfect their preparation.We came before the competition to get some bearings on the pool, whether for us rowers or the coxswain as well. It is a fairly winding basin with many bridges to cross.“The girls are beginning to realize the importance and popularity of this competition.”We realize how lucky we are to be able to experience this kind of moment, to participate in this race which is world famous! We are finally realizing the importance of the event, we can’t wait to run on Sunday and come back with a head full of memories!”
A mixed quadruple scull CA Nantes, Haute-Seine and Meulan-les-Mureaux with Antoine Lefevbre, Jules Cresson, Romain Harat et Martin Bauer.
Our Olympic rower Laura Tarantula will compete in women’s eight also with other international rowers who were her opponents on the international scene in lightweight doubles. It is therefore an “all star” eight who will want to have fun! A great initiative!
Cornelius Palsma will also be present in single sculls in the “Men’s championship singles” category. He will be facing renowned rowers like Paul O’Donovan and Fintan Maccarthy (double Olympic champion in lightweight double), Philip Doyle (bronze medalist at the Paris Olympics in double TC).
The rower from AUNL Lyon, Hector Guimet will represent the University of Washington in the eight. Just like Gislain Bohrer with the Riverside Boat Club.
Also note the presence of an eight-woman Aviron Santé du Lyon Rowing Circle for the second year in a row! An important project for these girls who will be keen to give their all in this race with their coxswain and coach Pauline Kozak: “This is the first time that a race reserved for women who have faced cancer will be open during an international competition of this scale. The pressure is present but the pleasure of being here takes over. 11 boats including 1 Italian crew and our French team will take the start for this world premiere which aims first and foremost to highlight these women, these rowers who have taken on the crazy challenge of participating in the HOCR sometimes when the treatments and operations are not yet complete. not finished.” They were able to discover the basin by rowing several times already on the Charles River.We were able to train 3 times which allowed us to get to grips with our boat and our settings and above all to get our bearings on this very special basin between the severe bends and the 5 bridges with arches! The boat showed great progress as we got our bearings and we just can’t wait to race now.”
You can follow the races live in clicking here !
SATURDAY :
Sunday :
-
14h25 SESN (Women’s Championship Eights)
-
12:56 Mixed Nantes/Haute-Seine/Meulan-les-Mureaux (Director’s Challenge Men’s Quads)
-
13h50 Hector Guimet – University of Washington (Men’s Championship Eight’s)
