RegattaCentral

Head of the Housatonic Expands to Two Days of Racing

Oxford, CT – January 8, 2025. The New Haven Rowing Club announced that it will expand the Head of the Housatonic Regatta to a two-day format, beginning this year. The inaugural two-day regatta is scheduled for Saturday/Sunday October 11-12, 2025, at Indian Well State Park in Shelton, Connecticut.

From its modest beginnings in 1994, the Head of the Housatonic has grown to become one of the largest one-day regattas on the East Coast, attracting high school, college, club, and masters rowers from Washington DC to Maine, and as far away as New Zealand. Held every year on Columbus Day weekend, the Head of the Housatonic provides an outstanding tune-up event with high-level competition for crews preparing for the Head of the Charles. In a typical year, more than 1,500 athletes participate across 700 entries, with scores more athletes turned away for lack of space.

The expanded format will include several new events and will make it easier for coaches to provide multiple racing opportunities to their athletes. Saturday will feature races for colleges, clubs, and masters rowers, while Sunday events will be dedicated to high school rowers. New events on the schedule include mixed masters eights and quads; junior novice singles, doubles, quads and fours; and a dedicated coxed quad race for experienced junior athletes.

The two-day regatta will have no entry caps for individual events, a welcome change from the waiting lists that were typical of the one-day version of the regatta.

“Hosting the Head of the Housatonic is the highlight of our year at New Haven Rowing Club,” said club President Matt Broder. “We offer great competition in a beautiful venue, and the two-day format will make the event even more appealing to coaches and athletes alike.” The club plans to share additional details about the expanded racing format and new regatta amenities in the months ahead, Broder said.