Oct. 18, 2007

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- A total of six boats representing the Navy crew programs will compete in the 43rd Annual Head of the Charles Regatta Sunday afternoon in Boston. Each of Navy's three squads will enter four and eight-oared crews into the three-mile race on the Charles River.

The largest two-day rowing event in the world, the Head of the Charles attracts over 7,500 competitors who will vie in 55 different events.

The Navy women's team put together its best showing at the event in school history last year. The Mids placed ninth among the 40 U.S. college crews who competed a year ago and 11th overall in the field of 46 entrants. Previously, Navy's best placing in the varsity eight race at the Head of the Charles was 13th when the field was half of its current size.

"The key to having a strong result at the Head of the Charles is to have a coxswain who is really on," said Navy women's head coach Mike Hughes. "Last year we couldn't have asked for our coxswain, Kristen Lyles, who was a freshman last year and competing in her first Head of the Charles, to do a better job.

"Our goal for this year is to row a race technically as good, if not better than last year. We have no control over what times the other boats will produce, but if we are able to row the entire course at an intense level we'll take our chances with the result."

The Navy lightweight team saw its eight-man boat place second among U.S. colleges and fifth overall last year, while its four-man entry placed second among fellow college boats and eighth against the the entire field.

"There will be some great competition in the lightweight eight at the Head of the Charles," said Navy lightweight head coach Rob Friedrich. "Three national-team caliber crews, plus every top collegiate lightweight school in the country will be racing for the top spots. It's a tricky course, so all we can do is put everything on the line and hope to have a clean race."

Navy's heavyweight team also entered a pair of boats into last year's event. The eight-man crew placed 11th among U.S. colleges and 18th overall (out of 43 boats), while the four-man shell placed fourth in the college division and seventh overall.

"We always look forward to the Head of the Charles," said Navy heavyweight head coach Rick Clothier. "It really is a festival of racing. There are many quirks to the course with all of its twists and turns and bridges, not to mention more competing boats than at any other event, which make this a very unique and challenging race."

Start Times for Races
2:09 p.m. -- Lightweight Four ... 23 boats ... 13 U.S. college crews
2:38 p.m. -- Lightweight Eight ... 29 boats ... 21 U.S. college crews
3:07 p.m. -- Heavyweight Four ... 19 boats ... 11 U.S. college crews
3:17 p.m. -- Women's Four ... 22 boats ... 14 U.S. college crews
4:00 p.m. -- Heavyweight Eight ... 44 boats ... 31 U.S. college crews
4:17 p.m. -- Women's Eight ... 39 boats ... 35 U.S. college crews