World's largest multiday rowing event, world record in Boston, Massachusetts

October 27, 2025

Boston, Massachusetts, United States--The Head of the Charles Regatta, also known as HOCR, is a rowing head race held on the penultimate complete weekend of October; with 11,000 athletes rowing in over 2,500 boats in 73 events, it sets the world record for the World's largest multiday rowing event (World's largest 3-day regatta), according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

Photos: Facebook/Head Of The Charles Regatta

"The world's largest multiday rowing event is the Head of the Charles Regatta, held over three days in Boston, Massachusetts.

"The event began in 1965 and now draws over 12,000 athletes from around the world to compete in more than 60 events on the Charles River." (AI Overview)

Event: Head of the Charles Regatta
Location: Charles River in Boston, Massachusetts
Duration: Three days, from Friday through Sunday
Participants: More than 12,000 athletes from around the world
History: Founded in 1965, the event has grown to become the world's largest multi-day rowing event

"Since it began in 1965, the Head of the Charles Regatta has been one of rowing’s biggest events. Now the world’s largest multiday rowing event, the regatta celebrates its 60th anniversary this year when it returns to Boston this weekend. An estimated 11,000 athletes from around the world will race while more than 200,000 spectators gather to cheer them on.

"Among them will be Boston University’s three rowing teams—men’s, women’s, and women’s lightweight—who will compete in a total of 11 races this weekend," the Boston University says.

"For the BU rowing teams, the regatta is a chance to compete on their home turf. They are intimately familiar with each bend of the three-mile timed course that begins at BU’s DeWolfe Boathouse and winds under six bridges."

"First held on October 16, 1965, the Head Of The Charles® Regatta is the world’s largest three-day rowing event. Founders and Cambridge Boat Club members D’Arcy MacMahon, Howard McIntyre, and Jack Vincent, created the Regatta on the advice of Harvard University sculling instructor Ernest Arlett," the Head Of The Charles Regatta official website says.

"Arlett proposed a “head of the river” race (similar in tradition to races held in his native England) be held on the Charles River. “Head” races are a class of regattas generally three miles in length. Boats compete against one another and the clock, which starts sequentially, approximately fifteen seconds apart. Winners of each race receive the honorary title “Head of the River” or, in this case, “Head Of The Charles.”

"Since 1965, the Head Of The Charles Regatta has grown tremendously. Today, more than 12,000 athletes from around the world compete in 74 different race events. In 1997, the Regatta grew to a two-day event and now attracts thousands of spectators during race weekend in October," the Head Of The Charles Regatta official website says.

"Support from numerous boat clubs, colleges and universities, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), as well as 2,400 hardworking volunteers help make the HOCR a continued success year after year."

"Rowing, often called crew in the United States, is the sport of racing boats using oars. It differs from paddling sports in that rowing oars (called blades in the United Kingdom) are attached to the boat using rowlocks, while paddles are not connected to the boat. Rowing is divided into two disciplines: sculling and rowing.

"In sculling, each rower (or oarsman) holds two oars, one in each hand, while in rowing each rower holds one oar with both hands. There are several boat classes in which athletes may compete, ranging from single sculls, occupied by one person, to shells with eight rowers and a coxswain, called eights.

"There are a wide variety of course types and formats of racing, but most elite and championship level racing is conducted on calm water courses 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) long with several lanes marked using buoys." (Wikipedia)

"Head races are time trial / processional races that take place from autumn (fall) to early spring (depending on local conditions). Boats begin with a rolling start at intervals of 10 – 20 seconds, and are timed over a set distance. Head courses usually vary in length from 2,000 metres (1.24 mi) to 12,000 metres (7.46 mi), though there are longer races such as the Boston Rowing Marathon and shorter such as Pairs Head.

"The oldest, and arguably most famous, head race is the Head of the River Race, founded by Steve Fairbairn in 1926 which takes place each March on the river Thames in London, United Kingdom. Head racing was exported to the United States in the 1950s, and the Head of the Charles Regatta held each October on the Charles River in Boston, Massachusetts, United States is now the largest rowing event in the world." (Wikipedia)

"The Head of the Charles Regatta, also known as HOCR, is a rowing head race held on the penultimate complete weekend of October (i.e., on the Friday that falls between the 16th and the 22nd of the month, and on the Saturday and Sunday immediately afterwards) each year on the Charles River, which separates Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts United States.

"It is the largest 3-day regatta in the world, with 11,000 athletes rowing in over 2,500 boats in 73 events. According to the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, the three-day event brings 225,000 people to the Greater Boston area and $72 million to the local economy.

"The last races of the Regatta are generally the most prestigious: Championship 4s, and Championship 8s (both men and women). Championship sculling events (1x/single and 2x/double) race on Saturday afternoon. The Championship events usually include U.S. National Team athletes, as well as national team athletes from other top rowing nations. (Wikipedia)