Every fall, the Fords’ crew team is hard at work both on land and on the water, vigorously training for the season ahead. Of the many fall events, one race stands above all: the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta.
“The Head of the Charles Regatta is a great opportunity for athletes each year to experience one of the largest, most advertised regattas of the fall. Hundreds of thousands of spectators line the river banks to not only cheer on the crews but also watch athletes from all over the world,” Head Coach Mr. Jonathan Stephanik said.
Since 1965, the Head of the Charles Regatta has drawn top crews from around the world.
“I was very surprised by the sheer size of the race, with over 2,800 crews racing. Besides the volume of boats at the race, the atmosphere was electric—an amazing mix of competition and community celebration,” Fourth Former Will Komada said.
“The guys put in a lot of work on land to get in shape for the 5000-meter race, along with quite a bit of technical rowing and training on the river to prepare for such a difficult race.”
Head Coach Jonathan Stephanik
This year, Haverford sent ten boys to Boston to compete in the three-mile race along the Charles River, known for its challenging course and vibrant atmosphere.
“The Charles is infamous for its large and sharp turns that make steering the course half the job for a good time,” Fifth Former Captain Benas Antanavicius said. “It is widely regarded as a race for the coxswains as much as the rowers because the rowers have virtually no control over the steering when there is a cox.”
Leading up to the race, the team prepared extensively.
“The guys put in a lot of work on land to get in shape for the 5000-meter race, along with quite a bit of technical rowing and training on the river to prepare for such a difficult race,” Coach Stephanik said.
Still, the team did lack previous racing experience.
“Going into the Head of the Charles, our boat had no race experience due to our first race being canceled. This definitely hindered our ability to do well,” Antanavicius said.
On the day of the race, excitement could be felt in the air.
“Race day was like nothing else. Seeing never-ending crowds of people at the three main bridges, cheering as you pass through them, only fuels the energy of the race,” Antanavicius said.
“The hope is that the athletes who attended realize where we stand compared to the top competition in the country and how much work needs to be done in order for Haverford Crew to be remembered as one of the top teams in the 2025-26 rowing year,” Coach Stephanik said.
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