March 17, 2020

A Message from Fred Schoch and the HOCR Board of Directors:

Life in America is changing quickly and dramatically in response to Coronavirus (COVID-19). As events continue to unfold, the Head Of The Charles stands in solidarity with rowers living near and far who have had their upcoming competitions, qualification regattas, and entire spring seasons cancelled. We also extend our deepest sympathies to the community of international rowers who have had their competitions cancelled as a result of this outbreak.

These unforeseen circumstances are disappointing and frustrating to those who have worked tirelessly only to have their competitions cancelled or postponed. As junior and collegiate athletes clean out their lockers and return home from school, rowing clubs across the nation and the world shut their doors to limit social gathering in large numbers. This crisis also comes at a particularly bad time for Olympic-level athletes who have trained tirelessly over the last four years. With most of their upcoming qualifying regattas cancelled, they now wait in hopes of another opportunity to represent their country on the world stage.

For now, we continue to organize the 56th Annual Head Of The Charles Regatta scheduled for later this year. Our staff, board of directors, and organizing committees are working from home and meeting virtually to coordinate details of the Regatta and ensure that everything is in order when it is time to race in October. Please stay tuned as some dates for entry applications may shift. The enormity of this crisis is evident, and we support the actions of local and national authorities to abate the spread of this virus.

We will do our best to keep the rowing community informed as events surrounding Coronavirus continue. Look out for more from us in the coming days and weeks.