BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Lehigh University’s men’s and women’s crew will compete in the 43rd Head of the Charles Regatta this Saturday and Sunday in Cambridge, Mass. The Charles, as it is commonly referred to, is the largest two-day regatta in the world with more than 8,000 athletes rowing in approximately 1750 boats in 52 events. It attracts nearly 300,000 spectators throughout Regatta weekend.
The course is 3.2 miles long and stretches from the start at Boston University's DeWolfe Boathouse near the Charles River Basin to the finish just after the Eliot Bridge and before Northeastern University's Henderson Boathouse. The last races of the Regatta are generally the most prestigious: Championship 4s, and Championship 8s (both men and women). The Championship events include current National Team athletes.
The competitive field includes individual and team competitors from colleges, high schools, and clubs from nearly every state and from a number of foreign countries. The 2006 field included rowers from China, South Africa, Croatia, and the Netherlands, to name a few. The age of athletes spans from 14 to 85 years old with experience levels from novice to Olympian.
The Mountain hawks will row against some of the top crews in the nation including both the men’s and women’s national teams in the Championship 8 event. In addition to the Championship 8 event, Lehigh oarsman and women will compete in the Women’s Lightweight 8, Men’s Collegiate 4, and Men’s Club 4. Additional information can be found at the link above. 
