October 22, 2023, started as a perfect fall morning. It was chilly but beautiful, with little wind and clear skies, all while the leaves showed off their bright colors of orange, red, and yellow. Conditions stayed dry, but clouds started to blanket the blue throughout the day, and cold winds began to whip through Boston by early afternoon. 

The Head of the Charles Regatta is an annual 3-day rowing held every October along the Charles River, separating Cambridge and Boston. Although rowing is not a sport held in a stadium or field, the crowds do not disappoint. Seas of people bundled up in their team’s color lined the river with cowbells, cheered, and yelled as loud as they could as their boat passed by. Senior rower Marissa Matthews comments: “ I can hear the screams and cheers even from the water with the wind in my face. I always love and find it funny how loud everyone is.”

In this particular race, thousands of boats from clubs, colleges, and high schools from all around the nation participated, including boats from Hingham High School’s crew team. Highlighted in this article is the women’s youth boat, number 54, filled with eight rowers (Meave Schnorr, Maisie Knies, Sophie Kerr, Izzy Wagner, Ava, Sugrue, Lynnayah Ryan, Marissa Matthews, and Lydia D’Arcy) and a Coxin (Alexa Fox). Their heat started at 12:03 pm, after the wind picked up for the rest of the day. They raced strong with a few hiccups turning early, but kept their rhythm and placed well at 50 out of 90 teams. After crossing the finish line, Senior Sophie Kerr Stated: “ It’s one of our biggest races all year and it’s definitely one I look forward to rowing, and it’s sad this was my last one!”

Also racing from Hingham were both the men’s youth boats of four eight. Each rowed earlier in the morning at 8:22am and 9:37am. The four boys placed 64th and eight boys placed 72nd.