The Radcliffe lightweight boat ranked first among collegiate crews at Head of the Charles this week, including victories over defending national champion Princeton and rival Wisconsin.

On one of the most celebrated weekends of the crew season, the Harvard Crimson and the Radcliffe Black and White rose to the occasion and turned in solid performances against premier competition in the 38th Annual Head of the Charles Regatta.

In particular, both lightweight crews finished with outstanding performances, beating archrivals in both divisions.

Harvard

Unlike Saturday’s dreary weather, yesterday the Charles River featured clear skies and only a gentle breeze against the direction of the rowers.

Harvard’s eight boats performed well, but came up short of winning any titles.

The varsity lightweight boat was seeded sixth, but staged an exceptional race to finish second, behind only the New York Athletic Club.

In second place after the first leg and in first at the midway point, the Crimson seemed poised to challenge for first. The New York Athletic Club, however, posted superior times in each of the final two legs and pulled away for a six-second victory, leaving Harvard in second.

Defending national champion Yale fell to fourth while Brock University Rowing Club finished third.

In the Men’s Championship Eight, the Crimson ‘A’ boat, ranked third, turned in a strong effort, but found itself in fifth place when all was said and done.

The top-ranked U.S. Rowing team finished more than seven seconds ahead of a tightly bunched pack.

Defending Eastern champion Wisconsin and Charles River rival Northeastern found spots among the top crews, as they placed second and third respectively. Last year, Harvard earned the unofficial title as “fastest crew on the Charles” when the Crimson beat the Huskies during the spring dual season.

“It’s a little difficult,” said Harvard heavyweight coach Harry Parker. “Some of the events you have elite level crews, national teams—the United States, Canada, Germany.”

In this race, and for much of the day, Harvard’s rowers suffered as a result of falling behind early and never fully recovering. The Crimson fell five seconds off the lead by the end of the first leg, and 12 by the beginning of the fourth.

A strong effort moved Harvard’s boat one second closer to the U.S. boat, but still a distant 11 seconds behind.

The heavyweight second varsity boat, in the 11th seed and racing under the Charles River Rowing Association moniker, fell 13 seconds behind by the end of the first leg, a deficit which continued to grow as the race progressed.