The Fairfield University rowing teams will travel to Philadelphia’s famous Boathouse Row on Oct. 25 to compete in the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta, one of the largest and most historic rowing events in the country. The race, which is held every fall on the Schuylkill River, brings together college, club and high school programs from across the United States for a weekend of competitive races.
The regatta itself has a long tradition dating back more than 50 years, and today attracts more than 10,000 athletes and more than 30,000 spectators each fall. The banks of the Schuylkill River in Fairmont Park are lined with tents, teams and cheering fans, creating one of the most exciting atmospheres in collegiate rowing. Crews launch just upstream of the Columbia Railroad Bridge and race through a series of challenging obstacles, finishing near historic Boathouse Row, home to some of the oldest rowing clubs in the country.
For Fairfield, the event marks a major test in the middle of their fall racing season. The Stags will face strong competition from some of the best programs along the Northeast, including regional rivals all the way to the Ivy League.
“There are a lot of strong teams at the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta. I feel confident because last year, the boat I was a part of did pretty well in our category, and I’m excited to see our newfound speed on the water,” said sophomore port Vincent DiPalo.
The racecourse runs about two and a half miles and features several sharp turns, narrow bridges and changing currents that test both the strength and steering skills of each crew.
The Head of the Schuylkill is a head race, meaning each crew is timed individually to determine their place within their category, rather than racing side by side with other boats. The format rewards not just power, but also endurance and pacing, which Fairfield’s coaches have been emphasizing during practice.
Director of Rowing and Head of the Fairfield Women’s Rowing Team David Patterson said, “In very broad strokes we use the fall to learn how to row together so that in the spring season we have done the ground work to then learn how to race together. All fall we focus on the sequencing of the movement of the body inside the boat and the shape of the bladework outside the boat.”
The Stags enter the regatta with confidence after a strong showing at the Head of the Housatonic earlier this month in Shelton, Conn. The men’s first varsity eight finished second in their event and the women’s first varsity four earned third place, showing depth and potential of both squads as they continue to build on their success.
Before heading to Philadelphia, both teams competed in the Head of the Charles, the world’s largest three-day regatta on Oct. 18 in Boston. The men placed 24th with a time of 15:26.18, while the women came in 17th overall. The Charles draws elite collegiate and international crews to the three-mile course on Charles River. This event offered the Stags a valuable chance to test their abilities against top national programs and rowing on one of the most famous courses around before entering the Schuylkill.
Patterson adds, “Every race we look to see whether we controlled the controllables. Were we consistent in our rating, in our power application, in our technique, individually and collectively for the full distance covered. With so little time between races the likelihood of wholesale changes is probably not on the cards but we can always strive to do better and in our sport better typically equates to more consistency.”
As the Fairfield rowing teams prepare for the Head of the Schuylkill, they look ahead to another competitive weekend. Following a series of strong performances earlier this season, the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta offers the Stags an opportunity to measure their progress against a wide field of athletes.
