The banks of the Charles River transformed into a spectacle Oct. 18 to 20 for the largest regatta in the world. Athletes, spectators and passersby gathered in Boston for the 59th annual Head of the Charles Regatta. With more than 12,000 athletes and roughly 400,000 fans in attendance across the three-mile course, this year’s event was a remarkable celebration of rowing culture. 

First held in 1965, the Head of the Charles has expanded dramatically over the years, featuring athletes from dozens of countries worldwide. Unlike the rainy weather last year, Boston’s sunny skies only added to the excitement. “It’s just awesome to be in Boston on such a beautiful day like this,” said Chloe Bayle, a student from Wesleyan University whose boyfriend competed in the race. “Seeing everyone come out to support their schools and teams has been so fun.” 

For many, attending this event is an annual tradition — a gathering of friends, family and other loved ones. Julian Frank, a Boston native also attending Wesleyan University, echoed this sentiment. 

“I’ve been coming here my whole life, and it’s a time for us to bond and engage in the community,” he said. “I love seeing all the people who come from around the world.”

Rowers dedicate hours on end for a chance to compete on the Charles River. And for the parents of these athletes, it’s an equally surreal experience to watch their children compete.

“This is the event; it’s like the Olympics,” said Stacey Merenstein, a parent from Maryland whose daughter was competing. “Being in the event is really sort of the culmination of their rowing career.”

And the festivities continued beyond the river’s bank. The banks of the Charles buzzed with activity, filled with food vendors and exhibitors, creating a sense of community surrounding the John W. Weeks Footbridge and Harvard University’s Weld Boathouse. Shari Latunski, a resident of Michigan who traveled to Boston to watch her daughter in the race, commented on the impressive scale of the event, “Just the sheer capacity of everything and what a show the whole regatta is.”

Her husband Ryan Latunski added to this, highlighting the welcoming atmosphere of the regatta. 

“Being here, it feels like a community,” he said. “Lots of people out, people who have no idea about rowing, just stopping by to look at it. It’s just good energy.”

Volunteers played a crucial role in making the event run smoothly, with a dedicated staff of roughly 2,400 helping to create an inviting atmosphere and make sure the three-day event runs smoothly. Holly Chueh, a Cambridge resident and a seventh-year volunteer stationed at the Reunion Village, talked about the camaraderie, “The atmosphere is always great, very collegial and everyone’s in a great mood. It’s just meeting people from all over the world.”

Featuring athletes from all different countries, ranging from 10 to 90 years old, the Head of the Charles is not lacking in diversity of participants. Marisa Adams, volunteering alongside her parents and sister, emphasized how everyone’s various walks of life make the event so special. 

“I think it’s really fun just getting to see all the people coming from different places,” she said. 

Despite the global pull of the event, local schools still represent in the competition. Northeastern University, joined by other nearby colleges like Boston University, Boston College and MIT, looked to leave its mark at the regatta.

This year, the Huskies sent four women’s boats and men’s boats to the regatta. The men’s Championship Eights A boat finished seventh collegiately and 10th overall with a time of 14:04.130, just four seconds behind Harvard. The Championship B boat excelled as well, placing third in the  junior varsity event with a time of 14:20.434. 

The women’s teams also performed admirably, with the Club Four finishing 20th overall at 19:17.631, and the Club Eight A achieved an impressive 11th place with a time of 17:04.356, advancing from its 24th overall finish last year.

Notably, Harvard’s Men’s Heavyweight Championship A boat finished in second place overall on Sunday, and first place collegiately. The Harvard Radcliffe’s Lightweight Four  A boat took third place with the B boat landing in sixth place, the Women’s Lightweight Eight finished in fourth place. Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Men’s Heavyweight Collegiate Eight A boat took second place in its category. Tufts’ Men’s Collegiate Eight boat finished sixth in the competition. Their women’s team took first place in the Collegiate Eight  competition for the second year in a row. 

And the work doesn’t stop yet. Northeastern’s rowing teams will be back on the Charles River competing in the Foot of the Charles Regatta Nov. 9.

The Head of the Charles Regatta continues to be more than just a competition; it is a celebration of sport, community and global connection, bringing together rowers and fans from all walks of life. As the event wraps up, the vibrant energy felt along the banks of the Charles River is sure to resonate until next year’s races.