"These guys haven't rowed together since Seoul," Jones said. "If they raced together [at the Head], they're inviting challengers to defeat them. They've got everything to do."
The U.S. Women's Lightweight Four will race together as a team and for the first time, the crew will officially represent the U.S. Last year, the crew was listed under the Groton School.
Unlike normal racing conditons, the winner of each event is determined by time. Boats will start from the B.U. Bridge every 10 seconds. There is no head-to-head at the Head. It's just the boat battling the clock and the Charles' winding course.
Yet despite the race against time, the action on the river probably will still get heated, especially when faster boats gain on slower boats and when all the boats try to challenge for inside position on the river, Jones said.
Fatal Stroke
"Coxswains go out of their minds. It's a coxswain's course." Jones said. "Every boat needs the finesse to thread the course and pass other boats. Everone wants to be on the inside curve."
This year's Head will also feature a new event, the Grand Masters Singles. With the rise of more rowers in older age brackets, Jones said, organizers have created the Grand Masters for rowers aged 50 to 60.
The Veterans Singles includes any rower 60 and over. Tom Crosby, a 87-year old rower, is the oldest Head participant.
The biggest concern for reggatta organizers is the same concern that has plagued the Head in past years--the party scene on the river's banks. Such a scene detracts from the nature of the regatta, Jones said.
"It's pretty ugly," Jones said, "The Metropolitan District Commission has juridiction over the banks and will crack down."
Another concern is how to safely manuever 840 boats from the water to the banks. Magazine Beach will be the port of call for the boats, which, according to Jones, are worth from $3000 to $10,000. Add the fact that these boats are not that flexible when it's easy to see why such a feat must be smoothly run.
If boats misjudge their landing, Jones said, they could be penalized for being on the course when they shouldn't have. Penalties add time to a boat's final time.
And time is what every boat wants to conquer at the Head.