University of Washington , placing third . This year , these boats will battle a men ’ s field loaded with post-Olympic talent .
Returning to Boston in 2012 will be a modified version of the 2009 Men ’ s Great Eight , remembered for their dramatic win in a nearly rudderless shell in the middle of a freak , fall snow storm . Comprised of talented scullers from eight different nations and led by Olympic 1x Champion Mahe Drysdale from New Zealand , the Great Eight will once again take on the field . No doubt , the returning medalists from 2011 will take up the challenge .
In 2011 , the University of Virginia Women ’ s Championship Eight won
Challenging the UVA women ’ s Championship Eights will be a starstacked Great Eight of Women ’ s scullers .
the Head Of The Charles for the first time , besting a strong Radcliffe entry which went on to win the Ivy League Championships and reach the finals of the Henley Royal Regatta . Michigan placed third , just two seconds behind Radcliffe . UVA began a strong season with their win at the HOCR and went on to claim the Varsity Eight event at the 2011 NCAA Championships in New Jersey .
Challenging these returning women ’ s Championship Eights will be a star-stacked Great Eight of Women ’ s scullers . The chemistry in this entry should be electric as it includes the Gold , Silver and Bronze medalists from the London Olympics , Miroslava Knapkova ( CZE ), Fie Erickson ( DEN ) and Kim Crow ( AUS ). They will be joined by
Gevvie Stone ( USA ), Julia Michalska ( POL ), Annakatrin Theile ( GER ), Donata Vistertaite ( LTU ), Anna Watkins ( GB ), and coxed by Jill Carlson ( USA ). These decorated women will face other Olympic athletes from Canada , Great Britain , the Netherlands , and our very own US Olympic Gold Medalists .
These outstanding athletes will share water time with rowers of all ages and backgrounds as a result of the organizational work of our generous and hardworking volunteers , Race Operations Group and Race Committee . Thanks to the even-handed leadership of Senior Race Director Steve James and steady support of co-chair Maureen Keefe , meticulous planning has occurred throughout the year . The heart of the Regatta
truly is the year-long effort of thousands of volunteers who freely give their service and energy . Please take a moment to thank them in your interactions this weekend .
Finally , I want to recognize and give thanks to the board of directors of the Head Of The Charles for their continued guidance and counsel in plotting the course of this historic event . The Head Of The Charles holds a cherished position in the world of rowing and it is in no small part due to the skillful and generous leadership of the board .
We hope you enjoy America ’ s Fall Rowing Festival this year and please come back again for the 49th edition next October .
Row hard ,
edward j . smith , jr . is a longtime Regatta visionary , current Secretary , and Chairman of the Board of Directors , and fervent master sculler . organization
HEad of the Charles regatta
Board of Directors William R . Becklean Roger Borrgaard John Carlson Blair Crawford Timothy Fulham Marcia Hooper Katherine R . Kirk John M . Lambert Mary C . Mazzio Charles Pieper Jim Pierce Christopher Richards Richard Sampson Denise Seegal Edward J . Smith [ Chair ]
Executive Director Frederick V . Schoch
Assistant Director Mason D . Cox
Director of Operations Elizabeth M . Diamond
ASSISTANT of Operations Kate Broderick
Chief Financial Officer Thomas H . Martin
Publicity Team Jim Connelly Elevate Communications , Inc . Casey Ford Meghan Campbell
HOCR FEllow Brendan Mulvey
Head Of The Charles ® is a registered trademark of the Cambridge Boat Club , 2 Gerry ’ s Landing Road , Cambridge , MA .
2012 regatta race committee
Race Directors Steve James [ Co-Chair ] Maureen Keefe [ Co-Chair ]
Race Committee Brack Baker Maura Conron Nigel Gallaher Jamie Hintlian Bob Mannino Jay Manson Tracey Neret Jim Pierce James Poulos Joy Stark Vancs
The 2013 Head Of The Charles Regatta will take place on Saturday and Sunday , October 19-20 , 2013 . For more information call the Head Of The Charles general information number , 617 868-6200 , visit www . hocr . org or email regatta @ hocr . org
2012 program production
design Carlos Ridruejo | Caridossa . com
photography James Aulenback | sportgraphics . com Mason D . Cox Carlos Ridruejo | Caridossa . com
© Copyright 2012 by Head Of The Charles No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the Regatta staff .
8 2012 Head Of The Charles Regatta