Melodic singing drifted over the Charles River this morning as the 60th Head of the Charles Regatta began. For a fleeting moment, soprano Hanna Shanefield’s rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” brought peace to the river — still and calm — until the first oars broke the surface at 7:45, sending ripples through the morning quiet.

Friday’s races featured the masters events, both men’s and women’s, with ages ranging from 50s to 90s depending on the race. All events today are sculling, meaning two oars per person, and are small boats with one to two people per shell. The events have the joy of showcasing some of the rowing world’s icons, including one of the races founders D’Arcy MacMahon. Whether through coaching or competing, many of the athletes were familiar faces on the water.

With age comes a wealth of experience. Many competitors are longtime friends of the river, having rowed for 70 years or more. They are no strangers to victory at the Head of the Charles, such as Michael Hindery, racing in the Men’s Senior Veteran/Grand Veteran Singles event. A five-time Head of the Charles gold medalist, Hindery returned to the regatta after a 30-year hiatus. Some rowers have participated since the race’s inception in 1965, making the 60th anniversary all the more meaningful.

“Rowing is truly a lifelong sport,” the regatta broadcasters announced.

With such strong competition, margins between rowers were tight as boats vied for the best course, or the “best line,” in rowing terms, while heading down the river. In the struggle, racers had to do their best to avoid collisions. The early morning race time also brought the challenge of sun glare. For rowers passing under the Weeks Footbridge, the rising sun sat just on the horizon, making it difficult to see the course clearly.

Despite high wind reports, the morning races had relatively good conditions. For much of the stretch, the water did not get too rough, manageable for the singles that are shooting down the course.

The Head of the Charles Regatta was the first of its kind in North America. Now the world’s largest three-day rowing event, it was founded by Cambridge Boat Club members MacMahon, Howard McIntyre and Jack Vincent. 

The idea came from Ernest Arlett, then coach at Northeastern. Arlett proposed a “head of the river” race based on the style of races in England, where he was born and raised. “Head” races are typically about three miles long. Rather than starting all at once, boats race against the clock, beginning sequentially about 15 seconds apart. Winners of each event earn the honorary title “Head of the River” or, in this case, “Head of the Charles.”