October 19, 2005

Hoya rowers will compete next weekend in Boston at the 41st annual Head Of The Charles Regatta, the world's largest two-day rowing event. "Head" races, a class of regattas, are generally three miles long: boats race against each other and the clock, starting sequentially approximately fifteen seconds apart. Winners of each race receive the honorary title of "Head Of The Charles."

If you are able to attend and are looking to meet someone, don't forget your cell phone. Up to 300,000 spectators will see more than 7,000 athletes from around the world compete in 24 different race events. Don't be surprised if, among others, you run into Fred Schoch, former head men's rowing coach on the Hilltop. Fred now is the executive director of the regatta.

In addition, you might want to plan to meet up with fellow Hoyas at the riverside barbeque. Along with the team and coaches, all alums, friends, and family are welcome for fine lunch of pulled pork, red hots, dirty rice, and the like on the banks of the Charles at noon on Saturday, October 22.

Look for the yellow Vespoli balloon. The event will take place at the Vespoli Tent near the finish line. For further info, contact Hoyas Unlimited at (202) 687-6285 or email hoyasunlimited@georgetown.edu. For those unable to make it, keep track of Hoya rowing and the status of the boathouse by bookmarking the crew website, set up and maintained by GRA.

This event is also part of a series of multiple celebration events during the year commemorating 30 years of women's rowing at Georgetown. For those former women's rowers living in the northeast, it will be an opportune occasion to stay part of the already rich and growing tradition of women's crew on the Hilltop.

Any mention of the boathouse naturally raises the age-old question of "when?" And so, courtesy of yesterday's issue of The Hoya, here's the latest student news article, reporting on the University's longest unbuilt facility. To prevent any misinterpretation of the article: 1) the referenced lawsuit by the WCC and the C&O Canal Association was in fact dismissed; and 2) while the commissioning of the environmental assessment report by the NPS may have been motivated by issues later raised in the lawsuit, it was not motivated by the lawsuit itself. The commissioning occurred prior to the lawsuit being filed.