Head of the Charles

Rowing is the epitome of a team sport. On every stroke, each rower slides their seat up, unfeathers their oar, places their oar in the water, and pushes their legs back at the exact same time to catch water and move the boat forward.

Rowers depend on one another to work in synchronization for the success and speed of the boat. An eight-person boat is typically 62 feet long and only 36 inches wide, necessitating the team to balance the boat as they move in unison.

The Cape Fear River Rowing Club practices on the Cape Fear River, near the River Lights community. Rowers of all skill levels gather at daybreak to exercise, enjoy the outdoors and wildlife of the river, and build community. The club offers a learn-to-row program for beginners, as well as practices for veterans.

In October, the club will compete in the world-renowned Head of the Charles Regatta on the Charles River in Boston. Founded in 1965, this yearly regatta has hosted hundreds of thousands of rowers and is expected to attract 400,000 spectators and 11,000 competitors in 2023.

From Oct. 20-22, rowers will row the famous 4,702 meters that so many others have before them, through the crisp Boston fall air as colorful leaves blur by.

The three-day event holds races of various categories including men’s, women’s and mixed lightweight, collegiate, masters, senior-master, grand master, veteran, senior veteran, youth, alumni and more. The boats vary in size from singles, doubles, fours and eights.

The regatta garners far more applications than it can logistically hold, leading it to host a lottery for applications each year. Not having a guarantee of entry makes being accepted to race even more special for athletes.

Former Cape Fear River Rowing Club president Jana Moore had her sights set on the club competing in the Head of the Charles. She visited Boston several times to watch the regatta. Moore unexpectedly passed away in December 2022, but left a strong legacy with the team aiming to compete in the event.

The club entered a Head of the Charles virtual race in early 2023. The event was competed individually, on indoor rowing machines. More than 25 members competed, and the club received two entries into the lottery. Fortune was in their favor, as the club was notified that it won an entry on Feb. 9.

“Jana always had big aspirations for our little club,” says head coach Allison Potter. “She will be on our minds and in our hearts as the team fulfills her dream to row on the Charles. It will be a bittersweet day for all of us who called her a friend.”

The club has entered a women’s eight, and the team is training six days a week in preparation.

Longtime men’s double partners Joe Bell and Mark Basquill entered the general lottery that opened Sept. 1. They received notification a week later that they had won an entry and will also represent the club.

“Preparing for and racing in the 2023 Head of the Charles Regatta, the most prestigious regatta in the U.S., is an amazing opportunity for the Cape Fear River Rowing Club crew,” says club president Kim Futrell. “We are excited and working hard to prepare — building strength, improving our rowing technique, and preparing mentally to function as a team; months of training for less than 30 minutes of rowing our hearts out! For me, it will be one of the very best days of my life and I am honored to be part of the team that will represent our club.”