Wisconsin Badgers
Head of the Charles
F(oar) things to know: Badgers head to Head of the Charles
October 14, 2026 | Lightweight Rowing
Lightweights look to approve on last years fourth-place finish in the eight
MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin women's lightweight rowing team is heading to the most prestigious race of the fall season, the Head of the Charles Regatta on Sunday, Oct. 18.
Here are f(oar) things to know before the Badgers head to Boston:
1. THE RACE: The Head of the Charles Regatta attracts more than 12,000 competitors and more than 2,000 boats annually. The course itself presents a challenging three-mile competition that will take rowers down the Charles River, between Boston and Cambridge.
Last year the Badgers lightweight eight crew placed fourth with a time of 16:48.255, just short of Georgetown in third. The lightweight four crew faced a challenge, after their boat was in a collision with another team. However, they still secured a ninth place finish with a time of 18:59.326.
2. THE LAST SWING: The team earned two second-place finishes in racing at Eastern Michigan University last weekend, Oct. 10. The lightweights had one of their crews finish as runners-up in both the women's four and women's pair against the Badgers' openweight crew, as well as Eastern Michigan's openweight and lightweight teams. The Badgers lightweight team beat out all of the Eastern Michigan lightweight boats.
3. FOLLOW ALONG: The race livestream can be found on the Head Of The Charles website along with race results, as well as the women's lightweight rowing Instagram.
4. UP NEXT: To finish the fall season, the Badgers will race Minnesota on Lake Mendota on Saturday, Oct. 31.
