Thank you for all your help during the 2025 Head of the Charles Regatta. We hope to see you again in 2026!
Please first read the overview for general information about River Control positions and roles, even if you are experienced and returning to volunteer with us, particularly the “New since 2024” section.
Marshals operating in River Control boats in the basin are expected to:
Ensure the safety of competitors at all times.
When possible, refer to crews by name rather than by bow number.
Use a megaphone to call crews to order, move boats forward and warn against unsafe behavior.
Be affirmative and polite.
Facilitate and monitor basin warm-up traffic pattern. Be particularly alert to cross traffic between warm-up pattern and queuing area.
Facilitate and monitor safe river crossings at all times, taking no risks.
Assist the starter by locating missing crews and identifying crews out of sequence.
Ensure all competitors are upstream of the 500 meter markers in the start funnel 5 minutes prior to start of racing in their event.
Facilitate odd and even queuing of boats in the queuing zone.
Ensure appropriate timing and spacing (4 boat lengths) of boats going into the start chute.
Stay in open communication with MIT; Start/BU; and FALS Dock. Be the “eyes and ears” of the regatta.
Communicate issues immediately to River Control Co-Chairs; the Start Line and/or MIT ops; or FALS ops.
Report egregious safety violations to Umpire Central.
This position is on land, at the MIT Boathouse.
Announce races as they are being called/queued in the Basin. Announce bow numbers that are being sought.
This position is on land, at the MIT Boathouse.
Use binoculars to look for any shells that have flipped. Work with basin marshals to get to them quickly.
This position is in a launch, floating throughout the basin as needed.
Staffed by River Control Co-Chair. Provide guidance/support to all River Control Basin Marshals.
This position is in a launch, patrolling the area by the Mass Ave Bridge.
Prevent boats from leaving the practice pattern. Keep crews moving in circulation and encourage crews of the upcoming event to move toward the queuing zone. Provide support for RC03 and RC04. Do NOT allow crews through the Harvard (Mass Ave) Bridge (unless they are returning to Union Boathouse).
This position is in a launch, near the corner of the circulation rectangle by the Harvard (Mass Ave) Bridge and the Boston shore.
Make sure crews know how much time remains to their event. Monitor water/wind conditions. Do NOT allow crews through the Harvard (Mass Ave) Bridge (unless they are returning to Union Boathouse).
This position is in a launch, near the corner of the circulation rectangle by the Harvard (Mass Ave) Bridge and the Cambridge shore (MIT side).
Keep crews moving through circulation. Identify crews who should be headed to the start. Do NOT allow crews through the Harvard (Mass Ave) Bridge (unless they are returning to Union Boathouse).
This position is in a launch, on the Boston side of the circulation rectangle, between RC03 and RC07.
Keep crews moving through circulation. Spot bow numbers for crews missing from the start queue. If a half-lap circulation is necessary (as called by RC06), direct 1xs and 2xs through the center of the rectangle.
This position is in a launch, on the upstream Cambridge side of the circulation rectangle.
Oversee circulation pattern in lower basin. Facilitate splitting off crews and pushing them to the chute, continuing to “plunge the chute” (or “prime the pump”) with higher bow numbers for the current event, and first bow numbers for the next event, as crews move towards RC11, RC12 and the start line. Stay attuned to the time and ensure that crews are heading towards the chute an appropriate amount of time, e.g. 20 minutes, before the start of the next event-division.
This position is in a launch, on the upstream Boston side of the circulation rectangle.
Facilitate crews merging into circulation. Make sure crews know how much time remains to their event. Find late crews and turn them directly into the chute and up to RC08. Keep focused upstream towards RC09 and coordinate with them to ensure that crews heading downstream into the warm-up look do not try to turn directly into the starting chute entry without permission. Radio communication with RC06 is critical to avoid crew collisions, as late arrivals will be moving opposite of the traffic rotation.
This position is in a launch, in the middle of the chute entry.
Move crews from RC06 to RC11. “Open the zipper:” split even and odd bow numbers as they move into the chute.
This position is in a launch, on the Boston side of the chute entry.
Order odd-numbered boats and work with RC06 and RC07 to find missing crews. Keep focused downstream towards RC07 and coordinate with them to ensure that crews heading downstream into the warm-up look do not try to turn directly into the starting chute entry without permission. Push late crews up to RC11. Keep waiting crews close together: “bow to stern” the entire way to RC11. If there is a cross-wind, encourage boats to point their bows into the wind.
This position is in a launch, on the Cambridge side of the chute entry.
Order even-numbered boats and work with RC06 and RC07 to find missing crews. Push late crews up to RC11. Keep waiting crews close together: “bow to stern” the entire way to RC11. If there is a cross-wind, encourage boats to point their boats into the wind. In the event of using the 1x rotation pattern on the Cambridge shore, RC10 will operate the upstream turn of the singles rotation.
This position is in a launch, anchored in the center of the chute.
Hold low bow numbers at flags. Keep crews in order and get them ready to row so that they have good spacing as head towards the start line. “Close the zipper.”
This position is in a launch, in the final section of the chute before the Start line.
Move boats towards the start as the starter calls them. Work with Start and RC11 to get the next event in line. Spot late bow numbers as they head downstream.
RC12 should have a RegattaSpotter tablet or another means of access to the RegattaSpotter website.
This position is in a launch, across from the start line, near the Boston side of the river.
Keep downstream crews moving towards the warm-up area. Ensure that downstream crews do not interfere with boats queuing for the start in the center of the river.
This position is on land, on the Boston side just downstream of the BU Bridge, near the BU Sailing Dock.
Identify crews warming up which have not come downstream through the BU Bridge into the basin yet by interacting with Regatta Spotters (via tablet or phone app). Work with Start and RC12 to inform them of any late crews appearing in the basin and communicate immediate instructions to any late crew, e.g. proceed to RC11 to receive further instructions regarding their ability to start in order, or otherwise, based on the situation and opinion of Start and RC12.
RC14 should have a RegattaSpotter tablet or another means of access to the RegattaSpotter website.
For the Emergency Short Course, this position is on the Boston side at the downstream end of the river wall on the downstream side of the River Street Bridge.
This position is in a launch patrolling the travel lane between BU Bridge and SADL.
Coordinate with RC21 (pre-2024 RC13), RC22 (pre-2024 RC14) and SADL to facilitate safe crossing and return of Riverside and SADL crews. SADL is on Channel 15.
This position is in a launch, anchored in the middle of the river on the Boston side of the buoys and across from SADL/Riverside.
Coordinate with RC22 (pre-2024 RC14) and SADL to facilitate safe crossing and return of Riverside and SADL crews. SADL is on Channel 15.
This position is on land, on the Riverside dock.
Work with RC21 (pre-2024 RC13) to facilitate safe crossing and return of Riverside crews.
This position is on land, on the downstream Boston side of Weeks Bridge.
Coordinates: 71.1184°W, 42.36807°N
Plus Codes: 87JC9V9J+6JH
what3words: descended.wooden.name
Instruct downstream crews to keep moving through bridge and around the turn. Make sure crews do not interfere with racing boats.
This position is on land, on the upstream Boston side of Weeks Bridge.
Coordinates: 71.1192°W, 42.36817°N
Plus Codes: 87JC9V9J+787
what3words: handed.venues.limes
Instruct downstream crews to keep moving through bridge and around the turn. Make sure they are prepared for a sharp turn to starboard.
This position is in a launch, anchored on the Boston shore, across from Weld Boathouse.
Facilitate the crossing of crews to and from the Weld dock. Communicate with RC41 (pre-2024 RC19) and RC42 (pre-2024 RC23) regarding traffic from upstream and with RC31 (pre-2024 RC16) regarding race traffic.
This position is on land, on the dock at Weld Boathouse.
Facilitate the crossing of crews to and from the Weld dock. Communicate with RC32 (pre-2024 RC18).
A Google map summarizing approximate locations of the River Control positions along the Eliot turn (described below) is available here.
We also provide locations for several positions by geographic coordinates (links to Google Maps), Plus Codes and what3words, including recent photographs, to facilitate finding a spot that we have previously determined is a good lookout point with reasonable visibility. Just click on a link to open a map with the recommended location marked.
This position is on land, on the Cambridge shore, opposite RC41 (pre-2024 RC19) and the Newell Boathouse dock. You must be clearly visible to crews on the water.
Coordinates: 71.12449°W, 42.37116°N
Plus Codes: 87JC9VCG+F66
what3words: scar.rating.marker
Communicate with RC41 (pre-2024 RC19) to receive boats crossing to return to CBC and BB&N Boathouses. Ensure that crossing crews are able to see you clearly. Instruct crossing crews to quickly turn parallel to the shore, then proceed carefully along the Cambridge shore towards their boathouse. They must stay fully within the return lane buoys (green buoys will be on their port side) at all times. Oars must not cross the green buoys and they must not interfere with racing traffic.
Have and use binoculars to monitor for any shells that are moving slowly or otherwise causing a backlog between the Newell Boathouse, at RC41 (pre-2024 RC19), and where the river widens upstream of the Newell Boathouse, at RC42 (pre-2024 RC23). Identify and report any choke points or backlogs to RC41 (pre-2024 RC19) and RC42 (pre-2024 RC23) on the Boston side to get traffic flowing smoothly again quickly because they cannot see everything along the inside of the bend so clearly.
Also identify and quantify (by timing) significant gaps in between racing crews in the event currently on the course, and communicate these to RC45 (pre-2024 RC21/RC22) and RC50 (pre-2024 RC27) to facilitate planning for crews needing to cross the course at CBC and BB&N.
This position is in a launch, on the Boston side of the river, just upstream of the Newell Boathouse dock.
Communicate with crews returning to CBC and BB&N Boathouses. Hold crossing boats at your position, but make sure they do not interfere with downstream traffic flow. Communicate with RC31 (pre-2024 RC16) and RC32 (pre-2024 RC18) regarding racing traffic. Cross boats at the end of events only, and only if there is a significant gap (some events are run with very minor gaps). Direct boats to cross perpendicular to the river, quickly and safely to RC40 (pre-2024 RC20), on the opposite shore. Ask RC40 (pre-2024 RC20) to wave flag so boats know where to aim.
This position is on land, along the Boston side of the Eliot turn.
Coordinates: 71.12721°W, 42.37243°N
Plus Codes: 87JC9VCF+X4C
what3words: vines.butter.power
Keep boats moving along the downstream lane. Instruct boats to move using the maximum number of rowers, while maintaining a safe distance. As the river widens, crews will naturally pick up speed. Instruct boats that wish to return to CBC or BB&N that they must check in with the next launch downstream, RC41 (pre-2024 RC19). Communicate with RC41 (pre-2024 RC19) about upcoming boats.
This position is on land, along the Boston side of the Eliot turn.
Coordinates: 71.12857°W, 42.37334°N
Plus Codes: 87JC9VFC+8HM
what3words: mull.weedy.stress
Keep boats moving along the downstream lane, single file. Instruct boats to move using the maximum number of rowers, while maintaining a safe distance. You must be forceful and clear about keeping them moving! Instruct boats that wish to return to CBC or BB&N that they must check in with the next launch downstream, RC41 (pre-2024 RC19).
This position is on land, along the Boston side of the Eliot turn.
Coordinates: 71.13009°W, 42.37363°N
Plus Codes: 87JC9VF9+FX3
what3words: think.crowd.leans
Keep boats moving along the downstream lane, single file. Instruct boats to move using the maximum number of rowers, while maintaining a safe distance. You must be forceful and clear about keeping them moving! Instruct boats that wish to return to CBC or BB&N that they must check in with the next launch downstream, RC41 (pre-2024 RC19).
Remind coxswains that the turn has not yet finished so they will likely have to drop out one or two starboard rowers to keep moving and stay within the buoys.
This position is on land, on the Cambridge shore, upstream of the 2-mile marker on the course, near the biggest part of the long Eliot turn. You should be able to see the whole Eliot turn from the Anderson Bridge downstream to the CBC dock upstream.
Coordinates: 71.12864°W, 42.37418°N
Plus Codes: 87JC9VFC+MGH
what3words: fired.landed.ended
Have and use binoculars to monitor for any shells that are moving slowly or otherwise causing a backlog between where the river widens upstream of the Newell Boathouse, at RC42 (pre-2024 RC23), and the Eliot turn, at RC47. Identify and report any choke points or backlogs to RC42 (pre-2024 RC23), RC43 (pre-2024 RC24), RC44 (pre-2024 RC25), RC46 (pre-2024 RC26) and RC47 on the Boston side to get traffic flowing smoothly again quickly because they cannot see everything along the inside of the bend so clearly.
Instruct CBC and BB&N crews in the return lane to proceed slowly and carefully towards their boathouse. They must stay fully within the return lane buoys (green buoys will be on their port side) at all times. Oars must not cross the green buoys and they must not interfere with racing traffic. Communicate with RC50 (pre-2024 RC27) regarding boats approaching the CBC dock.
Also identify and quantify (by timing) significant gaps in between racing crews in the event currently on the course, or verify gaps reported by RC40 (pre-2024 RC20), and communicate these to RC50 (pre-2024 RC27) to facilitate planning for crews needing to cross the course at CBC and BB&N.
This position is on land, along the Boston side of the Eliot turn.
Coordinates: 71.13191°W, 42.37325°N
Plus Codes: 87JC9VF9+865
what3words: beams.tight.kicks
Keep boats moving along the downstream lane, single file. Instruct boats to move using the maximum number of rowers, while maintaining a safe distance. You must be forceful and clear about keeping them moving! Instruct boats that wish to return to CBC or BB&N that they must check in with the next launch, RC41 (pre-2024 RC19).
Remind coxswains that the turn has not yet finished so they will likely have to drop out one or two starboard rowers to keep moving and stay within the buoys.
This position is on land, just downstream of the apex of the Eliot Bridge turn.
Coordinates: 71.13254°W, 42.37277°N
Plus Codes: 87JC9VF8+4X8
what3words: fails.hands.boost
Keep boats moving along the downstream lane, single file. Instruct boats to move using the maximum number of rowers, while maintaining a safe distance. You must be forceful and clear about keeping them moving!
Remind coxswains that the turn to starboard has not yet finished, so they will likely have to keep one or two starboard rowers to keep moving and stay within the buoys, and that using their bow rowers preferentially, rather than their stern rowers, provides better steering and control.
This position is on land, on the apex of the Eliot Bridge turn.
Coordinates: 71.13265°W, 42.37252°N
Plus Codes: 87JC9VF8+2W9
what3words: swung.using.crab
Keep boats moving along the downstream lane, single file. Instruct boats to move using the maximum number of rowers, while maintaining a safe distance. You must be forceful and clear about keeping them moving!
Remind coxswains that the turn to starboard is very sharp and they must now be steering hard, so they will likely have to drop out one or two starboard rowers to keep moving and stay within the buoys if they haven’t already, and that using their bow rowers preferentially, rather than their stern rowers, provides better steering and control.
This position is on land, just upstream of the apex of the Eliot Bridge turn, across from the CBC dock and just downstream from Eliot Bridge.
Coordinates: 71.13265°W, 42.37219°N
Plus Codes: 87JC9VC8+VWH
what3words: smart.frock.grabs
Keep boats moving along the downstream lane, single file. Instruct boats to move using the maximum number of rowers, while maintaining a safe distance. You must be forceful and clear about keeping them moving! Instruct boats that wish to return to CBC or BB&N that they must check in with the next launch, RC41 (pre-2024 RC19). Communicate with RC50 (pre-2024 RC27) and RC51 (pre-2024 RC29) to hold boats in the downstream lane, if necessary, to allow crews launching from CBC and BB&N to cross quickly and safely.
Remind coxswains that the upcoming turn to starboard is very sharp, so they will likely have to drop out one or two starboard rowers to keep moving and stay within the buoys, and that using their bow rowers preferentially, rather than their stern rowers, provides better steering and control.
This position is on land, on the CBC dock.
Inform the crews looking to launch that they must wait to do so at your direction and may only proceed when it is safe. Work with RC49 (pre-2024 RC28), RC51 (pre-2024 RC29) and RC52 (pre-2024 RC30) to ensure safe crossing for launching crews. This may involve a delay at the dock for launching boats. Be forceful, be clear, be positive, and control your dock. Inform departing crews that when they are returning post-race, they must row through the downstream lane until RC41 (pre-2024 RC19), just upstream of Newell Boathouse, and they will receive instructions from RC41 (pre-2024 RC19) about crossing.
Note that if a racing crew is in imminent danger of hitting a bridge, dock or another boat, you may say “watch your course”, “bridge”, or “dock”. You may not direct them with any comments about “port”, “starboard”, or other specific instructions.
This position is on land, on the Boston shore, just upstream from Eliot Bridge.
Ensure crews are single file entering the bridge. Keep boats moving downstream single file. NO STOPPING, no turning, maintain safe distance between boats, no passing. Instructing crews to add a pause will reduce their speed so that they don’t need to stop. The goal is to keep them moving (slowly), rather than constantly stopping and starting, to avoid traffic waves.
This position is on land, on the Boston shore, between the Eliot Bridge and the last FALS dock.
Ensure crews are single file entering the bridge. Keep boats moving downstream single file. NO STOPPING, no turning, maintain safe distance between boats, no passing. Instructing crews to add a pause will reduce their speed so that they don’t need to stop. The goal is to keep them moving (slowly), rather than constantly stopping & starting, to avoid traffic waves.
This position is in a launch, anchored by the Boston shore just downstream of the last FALS dock.
Work with RC52 (pre-2024 RC30) to get crews prepared to be single file before going through the bridge. Instructing crews to add a pause will reduce their speed so that they don’t need to stop. The goal is to keep them moving (slowly), rather than constantly stopping and starting, to avoid traffic waves. Keep upstream crews headed towards finish line – NO TURNS.
This position is in a launch, just after the finish line, on the Cambridge shore.
Don’t let boats stop at the finish line! Notify 1xs and 2xs that they may turn after the red buoy. 4xs and 4+s may turn after the blue buoy. 8+s may turn after the yellow buoy. Any boats heading back to CRI should stay with the 8+s along the Cambridge shore.
This position is in a launch, at the end of the finish chute.
Notify 1xs and 2xs that they may turn after the red buoy. 4xs and 4+s may turn after the blue buoy. 8+s may turn after the yellow buoy. Any boats heading back to CRI should stay with the 8+s along the Cambridge shore.
If, at any time, boats begin backing up towards the finish line, push the “turning point” out to the next buoy (ie, 1xs and 2xs go to the blue buoy; 4xs and 4+s go to the yellow buoy).
This position is on land, on the Northeastern dock.
Ensure that boats turning at the red and blue buoys are doing so quickly and safely. Boats coming from upstream and heading downstream to race should be ready to merge with FALS traffic. Slow them down if necessary.
This position is in a launch, just after the Northeastern dock, near the center of the river.
4xs and 4+s may turn after the blue buoy. Ensure that turning boats are doing so quickly and safely. Direct 8+s to the yellow buoy and RC64 (pre-2024 RC36). Boats coming from upstream and heading downstream to race should be ready to merge with FALS traffic. Slow them down if necessary.
This position is in a launch, at the last buoy. 8+s may turn after the yellow buoy.
You should stagger four 8+s at a time to turn simultaneously. Any boats heading back to CRI should stay along the Cambridge shore. Be aware of boats coming downstream from CRI and instruct them to slow down as they head towards Northeastern and FALS.