Head Of The Charles Regatta

Since its inception in 1965, The Head Of The Charles Regatta has attracted hundreds of thousands of rowers to the banks of the Charles River.

THE REGISTRATION PROCESS
Competitors must submit an on-line application form to compete in the 2019 HOCR. Learn More.

THE DRAW
Each year the Regatta receives far more applications than we can accept. Read more about how entries are selected online in our Rules and Guidelines.

Since its origin in 1965, the Head Of The Charles® Regatta has welcomed the world’s best crew teams to the banks of the Charles River for the ultimate two-day rowing competition.

Preparing for an event that attracts over 11,000 athletes and tens of thousands of spectators requires a great deal of preparation. The HOCR consists of a 15 member Board of Directors, six of which are in charge of race management and overseeing an eleven-member race committee (including two race co-chairs). The race committee meets year-round to discuss the operational and logistical details of the event. They are assisted by 115 leading volunteers on 30 separate committees that begin meeting weekly in the fall. A full-time, professional staff of four, headquartered in the Cambridge Boat Club, works year-round to plan the event, obtain sponsorship and communicate with the rowing community.

In 1991, the trustees appointed Frederick V. Schoch as Executive Director of the Regatta. Schoch, a former secondary school English instructor, coached rowing for many years at Princeton, the U.S. Naval Academy and Georgetown. He founded the Challenge of the Hudson Regatta in New York and has been an active member of the U.S. Rowing National Team Coaching Staff. Currently, Schoch serves on the National Rowing Foundation Board of Directors.