CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia rowing team under first-year head coach Wesley Ng opens its fall season at the Head Of The Charles Regatta in Boston on Sunday (Oct. 20).
The 59th edition of the Head of the Charles will feature approximately 11,500 athletes in 73 events. Hundreds of thousands spectators are expected to visit the Charles River over the three-day event, which begins on Friday, Oct. 18.
The Cavaliers will have two boats racing at the event. The Varsity Four will compete in the Women’s Championship 4+ at 1:10 p.m., while the Varsity Eight will compete in the Women’s Championship 8+ at 2:25 p.m. Alums Kate Kelly will race in the Penn AC Championship 4+ and Heidi Long in the Oxford Championship 8+. Senior Sky Dahl will race in the PR4+ on Saturday (Oct. 19) at 3:41 p.m.
The Head of the Charles course is 5,000 meters along the Charles River, featuring seven bridges, multiple turns and passing in a head-race format. In head races, each crew starts single file about 10-15 seconds apart and the results are based on time.
UVA’s probable lineup for the Championship 8+ race is Coxswain: Brie Joe, Stroke: Lauren Jochims, 7-seat: Catherine Williams, 6-seat: Jenna Hajji, 5-seat: Paige Loh, 4-seat: Meagan Goldsmith, 3-seat: Ava Schetlick, 2-seat: Sydney Fratamico and Bow: Sofia Coppola.
The Cavaliers’ probable lineup for the Championship 4+ race is Coxswain: Chloe Lee, Stroke: Kate McGee, 3-seat: Riley Richardson, 2-seat: Skylar Morrison and Bow: Paula Lutz.
“The Head of the Charles is one of the most memorable events for rowers across the globe, and we’re excited to be a part of it,” Ng said. “We want to compete with the fastest teams in the nation all year long, and competing with international universities, clubs, and national teams is a bonus that illustrates the high quality of preparation at the NCAA level.
“We’ve had a productive fall, and I sincerely appreciate our team and new staff’s focus. There is much to learn from the buildup to racing and the excitement of performing on one of the rowing world’s widely viewed stages. Go Hoos!”
Fans can follow the Head of the Charles Regatta online at HOCR.org and @HOCR on Twitter.