The annual Head Of The Charles Regatta celebrated its 60th anniversary as rowers, spectators, and volunteers banded together to celebrate the sport of rowing.
The regatta is one of Boston’s largest events, with both it and the Boston Marathon drawing in thousands of spectators and athletes every year. This year, more than 12,000 rowers attended from 852 different clubs from around the world. The event drew about 400,000 spectators and is consistently a huge economic boost for the Greater Boston area, generating upwards of $88 million in spending.
Boston collegiate teams had a good showing on the podiums. Harvard University Men’s Rowing had particular success, winning gold in the men’s lightweight fours and eights, and bronze in the men’s championship eights and men’s club eights. Tufts University also won silver in the men’s collegiate eights. Massachusetts Institute of Technology received bronze in the men’s alumni fours and women’s alumnae fours.
Club teams around the Greater Boston area also had success on their home turf. Riverside Boat Club won silver and bronze in the men’s lightweight singles, gold in the women’s lightweight single, and bronze in the men’s club fours. Cambridge Boat Club also won bronze in the women’s championship singles.
See photos captured by Beacon photographers covering the event.
The Cambridge Boat Club looms in the background as rowers pass by in the water below. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)Two spectators look out at rowers, dwarfed in size by the Boston skyline. (Sophia Schiappa/ For The Beacon)From Anderson Memorial Bridge, eights can be seen battling it out on the course. A triumph of the race is when a boat can overtake the team in front of them, who represent a 15” gap. (Iselin Bratz/ Beacon Staff)A crew of four fights to get ahead during the 2025 Head of the Charles. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)Rowers race down the Charles. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)Official Head of the Charles 2025 merchandise on sale. (Riley Goldman/ Beacon Staff)Three lone rowers wade through the Charles River. (Sophia Schiappa/ For The Beacon)Two Collegiate fours race for the best race course as they head under Weeks Bridge. (Iselin Bratz/ Beacon Staff)Many spectators watched from the bridges along the Charles. (Riley Goldman/ Beacon Staff)Two women’s eights battle each other on the Charles River. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)Rowers glide by the Cambridge Boat Club as spectators watch from its balcony. (Riley Goldman/ Beacon Staff)Free drinks were given out at the HOCR-branded Dunkin stand. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)The view of the Head of the Charles start line from the BU Bridge. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)Rowers pass by each other during the singles event. (Sophia Schiappa/ For The Beacon)A spectator takes a video of rowers as they pass beneath them. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)Rowers race down the Charles River between Weeks and Anderson Memorial Bridge with the Boston skyline behind them. (Iselin Bratz/ Beacon Staff)Rowers pass just beneath Eliot Bridge, packed with spectators. (Riley Goldman/ Beacon Staff)A HOCR course judge looks through binoculars as rowers race past. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)Columns of rowers work their way down the Charles. (Riley Goldman/ Beacon Staff)A lone rower slices through the water. (Sophia Schiappa/ For The Beacon)At Cambridge Boathouse, spectators get a glimpse as boats have to make way for each other going under Eliot Bridge. The bridge’s location along a harsh turn makes crashes and mistakes common. (Iselin Bratz/ Beacon Staff)Rowers pass each other on the regatta course. (Arthur Mansavage/ Beacon Staff)
About the Contributors
Arthur Mansavage, Photo Editor, Website Editor & Newsletter Editor
Arthur Mansavage (he/him) is a senior Journalism student from Carmel, Indiana. He is the Photo Editor, Website Editor, and Newsletter Editor at The Berkeley Beacon. He oversees all photo content, manages reader experience & engagement, and manages the newsletters.
Iselin Bratz is a Senior journalism major and political communications minor from Camden, Maine. Her work has earned her several awards from Emerson, including an Evvy for Outstanding Sports Article and a Community Journalism award for Ethical Reporting. Outside of the Beacon she has interned at The Maine Monitor and Maine Public Media. When she takes off her journalist hat she can be found enjoying the outdoors—skiing, hiking, paddle boarding, and rowing—or relaxing with crochet and reality TV.
