Rowers from all over the world make their way to the Charles River every year for the Head of the Charles Regatta. Few of them are decked out stem to stern in Harry Potter gear.
While most rowers go for as little flair as possible on their boats, the mixed rowing team of men and women representing Club Nautico De San Juan raced the Director's Challenge Mixed Eight Sunday in a shell that looked like it was heading straight for Hogwarts — and won. Onboard, there were a few Hedwigs, a Harry Potter and a Hagrid, among others, all in full costume. Though it's the Olympians sprinkled among the crew who might have been the magic ingredient in their push to victory.
"When they started doing these mixed races, they had a trophy for best costume," said Jeb Besser, who rowed the Charles in an impeccable Severus Snape wig. "They still technically mention it on the website, I think somewhere, but basically they haven't awarded it in a long time. But we feel that it's important to honor that tradition. People used to dress up for the Head of the Charles all the time."
It's important to perform well if you're going to wear a full costum, he pointed out — otherwise it's just unfortunate.
The team's win was a fitting way to cap off a perfect day for the regatta's return after the races were shut down in 2020 due to COVID-19.
Among the spectators was Luis Claro, who came to see the race from Newton with his son, Luis, Jr. They watched the regatta, which they attend every year, near the Cambridge Boat Club.
“You can see it’s packed full of people, the day cannot be better — it’s sunny, not a cloud in the sky, good weather,” he said. “Perfect Sunday.”
The regatta meant a little more to the Claros after they weren’t able to watch the boats go up and down the Charles last year. The same could likely be said for the thousands who clogged bridges between Cambridge and Boston and lined the banks of both sides of the river to cheer on the rowers.
James Moore had never been to the Head of the Charles before this year. His daughter, Sarique, was on the water with Johnson & Wales University's women's collegiate eight crew.
"It's pretty cool," he said. "Lots of boats, lots of people. I'm a runner, so this is bigger than a running event."
Teams descended from all over for the regatta — some meeting their marks, others falling short. But regardless of their final times, just being at the Head of the Charles may have been bigger than anything else this year.
Claire Collins was on the women's four team at this year's Olympics in Tokyo. The Princeton alum — a Hedwig on the Hogwarts shell — said the return of big events like the Olympics and the Head of the Charles means a lot to the tight-knit rowing community.
"I was reminded of that when I was at the Olympics, just watching — obviously rowing, but also watching other races, meeting other people," she said. "And even here, it's like everyone came out this weekend to watch and support. ... It's so fun that everyone is just excited to come back."
By day's end, the banks of the Charles looked like they had just been through a carnival after three days of rowing revelry and the Hogwarts boat had amassed a small group of admirers. Caryn Davies, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the women's eight, had her best Sybill Trelawney costume on. She said she couldn't compare the Olympics to the regatta, but she pointed out one key difference.
"Well, we don't wear costumes in the Olympics," she said.
