Each year in late October, spectators from around the world gather on the banks of the Charles River in Boston — nervous and excited, waving posters and cheering — in celebration of the  Head of the Charles Regatta, which enters its 55th year this weekend. Spanning three days, the biggest regatta in the world attracts the best rowing teams for a race, which starts at Boston University’s DeWolfe Boathouse and ends three miles upstream at the Eliot Bridge in Brighton.

Northeastern men’s and women’s rowing teams will be among many local colleges competing, and the teams look to leave their mark at this iconic event.

The Head of the Charles began Oct. 16, 1965, and its organizers took inspiration from Head of the River races in England. Under the guidance of Harvard University sculling coach Ernest Arlett, Cambridge Boat Club members D’Arcy MacMahon, Howard McIntyre and Jack Vincent started the largest rowing competition in history on the Charles River.

Colleges in the Boston area, including Northeastern, Boston University, Boston College, Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, share the advantage of practicing regularly on the Charles River, fueling an intense rivalry as they compete against one another in the regatta. 

“Everyone is trying to establish themselves as the powerhouse school, a name brand, driving more recruits, more funding and more money,” Northeastern senior men’s captain Braden Porterfield said. 

With its diverse roster of participants, Northeastern is making a name for itself, growing its reputation in the rowing world. 

“I see Northeastern as an underdog team,” Porterfield said. “They never give up a fight.”

Team culture plays a significant role in Northeastern’s success, Porterfield said, and Alex Perkins, Northeastern men’s rowing head coach, emphasized this sentiment. 

“It’s something we’ve worked on a lot, and I think it’s developed and changed a lot in the past couple of years,” Perkins said. “A strong team culture helps us mold what we want out of our team members when they’re not around the coaches.” 

Northeastern’s rowing teams include a variety of athletes, from freshman competitors to experienced seniors. Freshman Sophia Sattar-Reiss expressed her excitement about going into her first Head of the Charles with the Huskies. 

“I hope that I will be able to contribute to the team just by working hard and pushing it for the girls behind me in the boat,” Sattar-Reiss said. 

Junior women’s captain Heather Taylor is in her third season with the Huskies and encouraged newcomers to embrace the collaborative atmosphere the team created. 

“When you’re confident, the older athletes will push you, and you’ll get more comfortable,” Taylor said. “You can sit next to anyone on the bus and have a good time. Everyone is very inviting and willing to talk to anyone.”

Porterfield echoed the importance of creating a close team camaraderie, a responsibility he said he puts on himself as one of the older members of the group. Having a strong, determined mentality that is shared among teammates is crucial, he said.

“I try to do my best to create a culture where everyone’s excited to come down to the boathouse,” he said. “When it’s time to get in the boat and get in the water, it’s go time. Don’t be afraid to start a race or a piece or a workout hard. You feel more regret if you come away knowing you didn’t give it your all.”

Balancing academics with athletics is a priority for many team members and crucial surrounding preparation for the Head of the Charles, followed by the Foot of the Charles Nov. 9, another regatta during the fall season in Boston. 

“I have a bunch of resources, like the people in the athletic department and the student-athlete support services,” Porterfield said. “They’re really great resources to have. I want to ensure that I perform as well in the classroom as I do on the water. My goal is to leave everything better than I found it.”

Sattar-Reiss stressed the importance of time management and relying on teammates to stay focused. 

“With rowing, you’re around a lot of dedicated, hard-working people, so it’s easy to stay motivated. We do our homework together. It’s awesome,” she said. “The family we have in rowing is really rewarding. … Every stroke you take is not for yourself; it’s for each other.” 

Success for both the men’s and women’s teams extends beyond race results and physical strengths. For many, this season marks the end of their collegiate career. There is a lot to be grateful for, senior women’s captain Piper Larin said, and team members embrace an open-minded mindset centered around supporting one another. 

“This year is a time to reflect on how different I was as a freshman,” Larin said. “I’ve grown a lot both as a rower and as a teammate.” 

Larin advised younger rowers to “trust that you can do it,” encouraging them to push themselves beyond their perceived limits.

Northeastern women’s rowing head coach Joe Wilhelm reflected on the rewards of his role, specifically in seeing his athletes grow each year.

“The most rewarding part of my job is watching someone come in as an 18-year-old freshman and seeing them graduate from Northeastern University as an adult with a much higher level of maturity and skills than when they arrived,” Wilhelm said. “If we have people come in and improve athletically, academically and meet their goals, then that’s success.”

Though the competitive season doesn’t start until the spring, the Head of the Charles Regatta provides an excellent opportunity for rowers to apply what they’ve learned in practice. Wilhelm described this regatta as “an amazing opportunity to handle the intensity of a world-class event.” He emphasized how crucial it is for his athletes to follow the race plan precisely and not allow the magnitude of the event to interfere with their rowing.

Northeastern’s rowing teams compete in various events throughout the year. The men’s team participates in the championship eight, alumni eight and club eight, while the women’s team competes in club fours, club eights, championship fours and championship eights. 

“We’re looking at it being over three miles, so the time can be anywhere from 14 to 20 minutes, which is two to three times longer than most races in the spring,” Wilhelm said.

Perkins stressed the significance of consistency as his athletes work tirelessly to build upon every practice throughout the year. 

“It’s all about the consistency of training that yields results. We’re looking to make steps each week and each month throughout the year,” he said. “What really draws me to coaching is helping people be the best they can be in rowing and developing them into individuals ready to contribute to society.”

As Perkins seeks potential rowers during recruitment, he looks for those “who aren’t afraid to work hard, are driven and committed to a goal.” Similarly, Wilhelm is in search of rowers who are “really passionate about the sport, enjoy training and are committed to performing at the highest level.” 

During the Head of the Charles Regatta, spectators gather at various bridges, including Boston University Bridge, Grand Junction Railroad Bridge, River Street Bridge, and Eliot Bridge, to witness the action as races go off every 15 seconds in staggered starts.

In 2023, the second varsity men’s boat secured victory in its race while the first varsity men’s boat finished in fourth place. The women’s team finished a remarkable 24th overall in the championship eights. 

Going into this weekend’s regatta, Northeastern hopes to emerge as a united front.

“When we push from the bottom up, the whole team improves,” Porterfield said. “No one gets left behind, and we all rise together with our success.”