Princeton Sends Three Boats To Compete At The Henley Royal Regatta

June 30, 2024 | Heavyweight Rowing

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The very name itself — the "Henley Royal Regatta" — suggests that this is not the average sporting event. Oh no. There is nothing that compares to the week of racing that happens on the River Thames, and has every year since 1839.

"We often say that this is not a race," says Princeton's heavyweight men's rowing coach Greg Hughes. "It's an event that happens to have a race in the middle of it."

It is, to be sure, an event, and a joyous one at that. Both sides of the river are filled with spectators and partiers, with more than 300,000 expected in all. Those on the near side who fill the Stewards Enclosure by the finish line will without exception adhere to the strict dress code as they sip their champagne, with gentlemen required to wear suits, ties and hats and ladies required to wear dresses below the knee and hats. Gentlemen are not permitted to remove their jackets at any time, regardless of how hot it might be. \

This tradition, and so many others, go back forever. One of those traditions is the presence of crews from Princeton, who come to compete against some of the biggest names in rowing, including top American boats and of course Oxford and Cambridge. There is also the rowing powerhouse such Oxford Brooks (not affiliated with the University) and the Leander Rowing Club.

In between the parties is a 2,212-meter course that winds down the Thames. The format is a single-elimination head-to-head tournament, with 27 different championships featuring 772 boats contested, ranging from youth and high school clubs up through national teams.

"The depth of the crew's racing here from all over the world makes it really exciting," Hughes says. "You get to line up against boats you would never get the chance to race. We're excited when we race and there are 300 fans on the shore. Now there's 300,000. It makes you know that you're part of something big."

Princeton has sent three boats this year, all from Hughes' heavyweight team. While scheduling at this time of year can be challenging, Princeton has managed to bring each of its top three 8s over in full.

The first varsity will compete in the Ladies' Challenge Plate, which is one level below the Grand Challenge Cup, the event with the national team boats. Because Princeton has four rowers who have won medals at the U23 World Championships, it is not permitted to race in the intercollegiate divisions. The second and third 8s can, and as such they will be in the Temple Challenge Cup.

There are eight boats in the Ladies' Challenge Plate. Princeton will not row until Friday, when its opening race is against the Thames Rowing Club. The Temple Challenge Cup begins Tuesday, when the 2V — racing as "Princeton A" — goes against Durham University "B" at 11:40 local time (6:40 am Eastern Time), while the 3V — as "Princeton B" — rows against Exeter University Tuesday at 2:15 UK time/9:15 Eastern Time.

The winners advance. The losers are out. That's how Henley works.

Princeton flew to England last week, and each of the boats has been staying in its own house within walking distance of the course, which sits about 40 miles west of London. In addition to the rowing, Princeton has spent time with rowers from Oxford and Cambridge and has organized events with some of the British programs.

"This is a great chance to spend time together with teammates in a way that's not possible during the school year," Hughes says. "We're so happy that it worked out so everyone could come. We owe so much to the PURA [Princeton University Rowing Association] for so much generous support to make this happen for us and to give everyone this experience. Every one of our guys will remember this forever."

Here are Princeton's lineups:

1V
C Connor Neill
8 Patrick Long
7 Marco Misasi
6 Theo Bell
5 Marcus Chut
4 Hanno Brach
3 Nick Taylor
2 Pat Shaw
1 Zach Vachal

2V
Cox Wes Hirschman
8 Keelan Good
7 Kian Aminian
6 Ed Nutt
5 Nic McAdam
4 Lachlan Toovey
3 Andrew Wilkinson
2 Trygve Bye Loken
1 Nic Rath

3V
Cox Joseph Cutaia
8 Oscar Patton
7 Matt Wagner
6 George Lathrop
5 Connor Bohlmann
4 Noah Silverstein
3 Josh Yin
2 Joe McCauley
1 Sam Kleiner