Head of the Hooch 2019
Second in club points out of roughly 90 masters clubs — with gold in both the Men's 8+ and Mixed 8+, despite a fog delay that cancelled races CYC was favored to win.
The first weekend in November was the fifteenth anniversary of what the organizers call "The Last Great Regatta of the Season": the Head of the Hooch in Chattanooga, TN. This head race (a 5K course) is one of the biggest regattas in the world. Race organizers claim that more boats are launched at the Hooch on Saturday than at any other regatta.
CYC ended up second in club points out of approximately 90 clubs that compete in Masters races, despite a fog delay that resulted in the cancellation of races in which CYC had a good shot at winning a medal. Twenty-five rowers and our dedicated coxswain (along with two trailers of boats) made the trip to Chattanooga for the Hooch.
We came home with gold medals for the Masters Men's 8+ and the Masters Mixed 8+, a silver in the Masters Women's Pair, and a bronze in the Masters Men's Quad. It was a beautiful fall weekend in Chattanooga and the CYC rowers, together with Charlotte Youth Rowing, enjoyed the city, the camaraderie and the racing!
As always, the rowers send special thanks to the van drivers, everyone who helped launch boats and wrangle oars, and to our coxswain!