Navy to Enter Five Boats into Head of the Charles

Heavyweights to compete in championship four and eight races

	Navy Crew

Oct. 19, 2006

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - One week after posting strong showings at the Navy Day Regatta, the three Navy crew programs will enter a total of five boats into the Head of the Charles Regatta Sunday in Boston.

Navy's heavyweight and lightweight teams won their respective championship eight events at the Navy Day Regatta, while the top women's boat finished in second place by two-tenths of a second in it's race.

Now in its 42nd year, the Head of the Charles Regatta is the largest two-day rowing event in the world. The field, comprised of club, college and national teams from around the world, race upstream on the Charles River for 2.5 miles starting near Boston University and ending near Harvard. The event features head racing, with all boats launching individually and racing single file through the course.

Navy will enter a varsity eight boat from each of its three programs, with both men's team also entering a four-man crew.

Navy's heavyweight team saw its varsity eight boat place 10th overall and fifth among U.S. colleges last year, while its four-man entry placed 10th against the field and fourth in comparison to fellow U.S. college crews.

Thirty of the 43 boats entered into this year's championship eight race (4:10 p.m. start) represent U.S. colleges, as are nine of the 18 boats in the championship four race (3:13 p.m. start).

"I felt that was a very strong row for us last year," said Navy heavyweight crew head coach Rick Clothier of the efforts of his 2005 varsity boat. "This year's field is loaded!! All of the major Division I schools will be competing Sunday. In addition, the varsity four field is a very strong one, as well."

Navy's women's team placed 17th among U.S. college crews and 21st against the field in the championship eight race last year. This year's edition of the race (4:26 p.m. start) includes 46 boats, with all but six coming from U.S. colleges.

"Last year was our highest finish in about eight years," said Navy women's head coach Mike Hughes. "Our goal again is to place among the top-20 boats. We will have to be able to handle the two major turns in the course, which causes so many variables in how the remainder of the race goes for the boats."

Both of Navy's entered lightweight boats are looking to improve upon their top-five finishes from last year. The Mids placed fourth overall and second among U.S. colleges in the varsity eight race, while also placing fifth overall and third among U.S. colleges in the varsity four contest.

Eight U.S. college crews and 14 overall boats are entered into the lightweight four race (2:19 p.m.), with 19 of the 27 boats entered into the lightweight eight race (2:44 p.m.) representing U.S. colleges.