Lasting Legacy: 60 Years of the Head of the Charles

cultureracing & regattassafetytraining
Written By Rachel Freedman
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Let’s set the scene. It’s 1965 and:

  • Lyndon B. Johnson is sworn in as President

  • Malcolm X is assassinated

  • The Freedom Rally on Boston Common sees thousands of people protest racial imbalance in housing and schools

  • Bloody Sunday pits Alabama State Troopers against civil rights demonstrators in Selma

  • The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is passed by the Senate

  • Bob Dylan's releases the single "Like a Rolling Stone"

  • The Beatles perform the first stadium concert in the history of rock

  • The Tom & Jerry cartoon makes its world broadcast premiere on CBS

  • The first American combat troops arrive in Vietnam

And on Oct. 16, with a dream of bringing something fun and unique to the rowing community, The Head Of The Charles Regatta debuts in Boston.

Reports indicate it was a chaotic first running of the regatta. Timing wasn’t precise, it wasn’t clear who won events, and co-founder D’Arcy MacMahon boldly claimed there were “countless thousands” of spectators lining the course (even though there weren’t).

We tracked down D’Arcy – who at 86 is preparing to row the course in the same wooden single he rowed in 1965 – and recorded a chat for Steady State Podcast. Long-time (now retired) HOCR Executive Director Fred Schoch also joined us, and togther they rummaged through six decades of rowing memories to get us behind the scenes from the time HOCR was just a figment of an idea, through tough fiscal years, to today when the regatta has become a pilgrimage for rowers around the world.

GUESTS:
D’Arcy MacMahon, HOCR founder
Facebook: darcy.macmahon / newbedfordrowing
Instagram: newbedfordrowing
Affiliations: Cambridge Boat Club, New Bedford Rowing Center

Fred Schoch, HOCR Executive Director (ret.)
Affiliations: University of Washington, Cambridge Boat Club, Leander, Union Boat Club

This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons

QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Episode intro and welcome
03:53 - Rowing Week
05:41 - The Huddle
08:22 - Hot Seat Q&A
13:24 - D’Arcy’s fun childhood racing at CBC was the inspiration for HOCR
16:44 - Fred’s youth was dominated by time at the Princeton boathouse where his Dad was coach
19:22 - D’Arcy and Fred are no strangers to racing at HOCR
22:46 - The true life (and death) story of a made up man: Charles Attager
25:14 - D’Arcy is dumbfounded by the longevity and growth of HOCR
30:23 - On carrying the legacy forward
32:30 - Setting the course in 1965 with D’Arcy’s mom’s bike odometer
36:36 - Volunteer spirit of service (starts with a great t-shirt)
39:12 - Support from the MDC, Massachusetts, and corporate sponsors
42:18 - Getting results: taking a cue from golf’s leaderboards 
43:39 - HOCR and the community
45:40 - Growing the  international field, and considering travel logistics for all crews
50:38 - Best place to watch the races
52:05 - Head of the Charles Charity
52:49 - Spirit of the regatta: fun!
54:24 - Steady State Network news and notes

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Steady State Podcast is hosted and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering, books show guests, and is our sponsor and donor coordinator. Rachel writes our scripts and e-newsletter, and manages the website and social media. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.

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Rachel Freedman http://www.steadystatenetwork.com
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