The 101st Harvard-Yale Regatta will take place this Saturday on the Thames River at New London. Started in 1852, the Regatta is the oldest intercollegiate event in the United States.

Over the years the Crimson varsity crew has won 53 races and the Yale Varsity 47. The undefeated Harvard oarsmen beat Yale last year by more than 10 lengths, and the Crimson is favored to win again this year -- but maybe not by such a whopping margin.

"Everyone says we're not as fast as we were a year ago." Crimson Coach Harry Parker said last night at Red Top. Conn., "but that shouldn't surprise anyone. In '65 we had an outstanding crew composed almost entirely of veterans. I don't really know how fast this boat is, but I think it's a good outfit."

The Big Red boat will be composed of the same oarsmen that won the Eastern Sprints Championship last month at Worcester. But Yale Coach Jim Ratschmidt has juggled his manpower considerably since arriving at Gales Ferry, Conn., in early June; three new men have been moved into his Varsity boat. The Elis placed third in the Eastern Sprints.

A win this year would make it four in a row for Harvard. Although the Crimson has dominated the recent races, competition in all three divisions has been extremely close through the last ten years. Harvard has a 6-4 edge at the Varsity level, while each side has won five JV and freshmen races.

It wasn't too long ago that Yale enjoyed the same kind of domination, which presently belongs to Harvard. From 1954 to 1953, Eli crews under Ratschmidt won five consecutive varsity races.