It's a personal thing.

Below the surface of the spectacle and festivity, apart from the thousands of visiting competitors, the Harvard oarsman has a special relationship with the Head of the Charles.

For him it is more a ritual than a race.

Fall rites.

It is certainly a reunion. Crews from the previous spring's campaign re-assemble, and get another chance to perform...

Perform for themselves.

On the same river. In the same boat.

The summer months begin to fade.

Coach Parker provides the initial spark in early October when he suggests that the squad begin thinking about boating up. But it is only a spark. His role soon diminishes as the crews are responsible for their own training.

And this goes on for the few weeks before therace. Rowing with the Head boat in the morning,and with the team in the afternoon.

And although each oarsman has rowed the entirelength of the river many times over, he looksforward to those mornings. Alone with his crew andhis river. For the time being he is convinced that'this is what the Head is all about.'

And then the day arrives.

It's a personal thing.

Walking down to the boathouse.

Putting on the racing shirt.