Harvard–Yale Regatta


The Harvard–Yale Regatta or Yale-Harvard Boat Race is an annual rowing race between the men's heavyweight rowing crews of Harvard University and Yale University. First contested in 1852, it has been held annually since 1859 except during major wars fought by the United States. The Race is America's oldest collegiate athletic competition, pre-dating The Game by 23 years. It is sometimes referred to as the "Yale-Harvard" regatta, though most official regatta programs brand it "Harvard-Yale."
Originally rowed on Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire, it has since moved to the Thames River, near New London, Connecticut. Although other locations for the race have included the Connecticut River at Springfield, Massachusetts, and Lake Quinsigamond at Worcester, Massachusetts, the Thames has hosted The Race on all but five occasions since 1878 and both teams have erected permanent training camps on the Thames at Gales Ferry for Yale and at Red Top for Harvard.
The race has been exclusively between Yale and Harvard except for 1897, when the race was held as part of a three-boat race with Cornell on the Hudson River at Poughkeepsie, New York, where, although it lost to Cornell, Yale was deemed the winner of the Harvard-Yale race. Due to COVID-19, there will be no Yale-Harvard Regatta in 2020, the first cancellation since 1945.

History

On May 24, 1843, with the arrival of the shell Whitehall in New Haven, Yale University founded the first collegiate crew in the United States. A year later, Harvard founded their boat club. These boat clubs served primarily a social purpose, until Yale's 1852 issuance of a challenge to Harvard "to test the superiority of the oarsmen of the two colleges". The first Harvard–Yale Boat Race—and the first American intercollegiate sporting event—took place on August 3, 1852. In this two-mile contest, Harvard's Oneida prevailed over Yale's Shawmut by about two lengths, with Yale's Undine finishing third. The first place prize was a pair of black walnut, silver-inscribed trophy oars. The trophy oars were awarded to Harvard by General Franklin Pierce who in 1853 became the 14th President of the United States of America. Today the 1852 trophy oars are the oldest intercollegiate athletic prize in North America.
The race distance was increased to for the second rendition in 1855 and to the current in 1876. The Oxford–Cambridge Boat Race is the only longer side-by-side rowing event in the world, though slower stream makes the Yale–Harvard Race one to three minutes longer.
Originally the race was just between the varsity crews but there are now three events: the 2-mile freshman race, the 3-mile junior varsity race, and the 4-mile varsity race. The varsity crews compete for the Sexton Cup, the junior varsity for the F. Valentine Chappell Trophy, and the freshman for the New London Cup. The Hoyt C. Pease and Robert Chappell Jr. Trophies are awarded to the team that wins the majority of the three races.
Typically the day before the freshman, junior varsity and varsity races, there is a two-mile race between the spares for both crews. These "combination" boats are made up of second freshman boat and third varsity boat rowers. The winner of this race gets the James P. Snider Cup, as well as the right to paint its school's colors on the "rock" at Bartlett's Cove for the next day's races.
Currently Harvard leads the varsity series at 95–55, the second varsity at 75–38, and the freshman series at 72–39–1. Yale holds the upstream course record with its time of 18:35.8 in 2015. The Crimson set the downstream—and Thames River course—mark of 18:22.4 in 1980.

Trophies

The Sexton Cup is presented to the winner of the varsity heavyweight race. The trophy is actually a combination of two former rowing trophies: The bottom is the original base of the Sexton Cup, with year-by-year results of race winners, while the upper portion retains the Yale and Harvard seals from the trophy which was awarded to the winner of the graduate eights race.
The F. Valentine Chappell Trophy is presented to the winner of the second varsity heavyweight race. Previously used for a discontinued event in this regatta, it was redesignated in 1983 to be awarded to the victor in the junior varsity contest.
The New London Cup is presented to the winner of the freshman race. The city of New London donated this silver award in celebration of its bicentennial and it is inscribed with the Seal of the City of New London and engraved with a ship bearing "Mare Liberium". As of 2014, both schools began boating a 3V lineup for this race, rather than an all-freshmen lineup.
The Hoyt C. Pease and Robert Chappell Jr. Trophy is presented to the crews who win two or more of the varsity, junior varsity, and freshmen races. This sterling silver bowl was donated by George Pew, Yale Class of 1958, in honor of Pease and Chappell with the inscription: "Named in honor of their great contribution over four decades to the spirit and success of The Boat Race."
The James Snider Cup is awarded to the winning crew of the Combination race of the Harvard–Yale Regatta, which is held annually in New London, Connecticut. The Combination crews are typically composed of rowers from the third varsity and second freshman boats of their respective programs. Traditionally the two crews race a 2-mile course the day before the Regatta, with the winning crew earning both possession of the Cup and the right to paint the large rock surface south of Bartlett's Cove—typically the most popular viewing spot for the Regatta's main events the next day—with their school's colors.
The James P. Snider Cup was dedicated in honor of James P. "Jamie Sniderman" Snider by the Yale Heavyweight Crew Class of 2005 following the Harvard–Yale Regatta held on June 11, 2005. The cup was donated in honor of Jamie's years of dedicated service to both the Yale Heavyweight Crew and the Yale Crew program as a whole. In 1995 and 1996 Jamie served as an assistant coach of the Yale Women's Crew, leading the 1995 Third Varsity to a 10–4 record. After becoming an assistant with the Men's Heavyweight squad, Jamie led the 1997 Third Varsity Crew to an undefeated season, an Eastern Sprints Gold Medal, and a victory in the Combination Race of the Harvard–Yale Regatta. Jamie's 1999 Combination crew earned the right to paint the rock as well. Currently, Jamie serves as the assistant coach of the Women's Program. In 2006 he led his Third Varsity Four to a third-place finish at the Eastern Sprints, and in 2007, 2008, 2009 he coached the Varsity Four to gold medals at Eastern Sprints and a sixth, sixth and third-place finish at NCAAs.
In addition to coaching Yale crews during the season, Jamie has served as caretaker of Gales Ferry, the home and training site for the Yale Men's Heavyweight Crew during preparation for the Harvard–Yale Regatta since 1878. He has also served as Director of the Yale University Community Rowing Program since its inception in the summer of 1999. Originally established as a small pilot program, the program has since grown to include over 100 youth participants annually, providing rowing opportunities for organizations such as the National Youth Sports Program, American School for the Deaf, and the Connecticut Special Olympics.

Results

Varsity race

No.DateSiteLength
DirectionWinnerHarvard
time
Yale
time
Harvard
total
Yale
total
1
1853-1854 no race
Winnipesaukee2Harvard1
2Springfield3Harvard22:4724:002
3Worcester3Harvard19:1820:183
4Worcester3Harvard18:5319:05.54
5Worcester3Yale19:43.519:0141
6Worcester3Yale19:0918:42.542
7Worcester3Harvard18:43.519:1052
8Worcester3Harvard18:12.7519:25.562
9Worcester3Harvard17:48.518:38.572
10Worcester3Harvard18:0218:1182
11
1871 no race
Worcester3Harvard20:3092
12Springfield3Harvard16:5718:13102
13Springfield3Yale16:59103
14Saratoga3Harvard16:56113
15Saratoga3Harvard17:0517:14.5123
16Springfield4Yale22:3122:02124
17Springfield4Harvard24:3624:43134
18New London4DownstreamHarvard20:44.7521:29144
19New London4DownstreamHarvard22:1523:58154
20New London4DownstreamYale25:0924:27155
21New London4DownstreamYale22:1922:13156
22New London4DownstreamHarvard20:47.520:50.5166
23New London4DownstreamHarvard25:46.525:59176
24New London4DownstreamYale20:4820:31177
25New London4DownstreamHarvard25:15.526:30187
26New London4UpstreamYale21:0520:42188
27New London4DownstreamYale23:10.522:56189
28New London4DownstreamYale21:2420:101810
29New London4UpstreamYale21:5521:301811
30New London4DownstreamYale21:4021:291812
31New London4UpstreamHarvard21:2321:571912
32New London4DownstreamYale21:42.520:481913
33New London4DownstreamYale25:1525:01.51914
34New London4DownstreamYale24:3823:45.51915
35
1896 no race
New London4DownstreamYale22:0521:301916
36Poughkeepsie4Yale21:0020:441917
37New London4UpstreamYale24:3524:021918
38New London4DownstreamHarvard20:52.521:132018
39New London4DownstreamYale21:37.421:12.82019
40New London4DownstreamYale23:4523:372020
41New London4DownstreamYale20:3320:202021
42New London4DownstreamYale20:29.620:19.82022
43New London4UpstreamYale22:1021:40.52023
44New London4UpstreamYale22:3622:33.52024
45New London4DownstreamHarvard23:0223:112124
46New London4UpstreamYale21:1321:102125
47New London4UpstreamHarvard24:102225
48New London4UpstreamHarvard21:5022:102325
49New London4DownstreamHarvard20:46.521:042425
50New London4DownstreamHarvard22:4423:40.52525
51New London4DownstreamHarvard21:43.522:042625
52New London4DownstreamHarvard21:4222:202725
53New London4UpstreamYale21:16.221:162726
54New London4UpstreamYale21:13.520:522727
55
1917 no race
New London4DownstreamHarvard20:0220:172827
56Derby, CT2Harvard10:5811:042927
57New London4DownstreamYale21:47.621:42.22928
58New London4UpstreamHarvard23:1123:463028
59New London4DownstreamYale20:44.220:413029
60New London4UpstreamYale22:0621:533030
61New London4DownstreamYale22:3522:103031
62New London4DownstreamYale22:1121:58.43032
63New London4UpstreamYale20:32.420:263033
64New London4UpstreamYale20:21.620:14.43034
65New London4DownstreamHarvard22:35.122:393134
66New London4DownstreamYale20:5620:21.63135
67New London4UpstreamYale21:3921:203136
68New London4DownstreamYale20:30.820:09.43137
69New London4DownstreamHarvard22:2122:303237
70New London4DownstreamHarvard21:2921:423337
71New London4DownstreamHarvard22:46.622:53.63437
72New London4DownstreamYale20:01.619:51.83438
73New London4UpstreamYale21:0420:193439
74New London4UpstreamHarvard20:1920:40.63539
75New London4UpstreamHarvard20:0220:06.23639
76New London4UpstreamHarvard20:2020:23.83739
77New London4DownstreamHarvard20:48.420:533839
78New London4UpstreamHarvard21:3822:093939
79New London4DownstreamHarvard20:4020:53.44039
80
1943-1945 no race
Derby2Harvard10:09.610:20.84139
81Cambridge1.75Harvard9:189:384239
82New London4UpstreamHarvard20:4020:464339
83New London4DownstreamHarvard19:21.419:234439
84New London4UpstreamYale19:54.219:52.84440
85New London4DownstreamHarvard21:36.421:37.24540
86New London4DownstreamHarvard21:2621:48.84640
87New London4UpstreamYale22:52.822:48.84641
88New London4UpstreamHarvard20:0920:204741
89New London4DownstreamYale22:0221:58.44742
90New London4UpstreamYale20:1020:054743
91New London4DownstreamYale19:47.419:264744
92New London4UpstreamYale21:0420:35.24745
93New London4UpstreamYale22:5222:394746
94New London4DownstreamHarvard19:5220:024846
95New London4DownstreamHarvard19:41.220:08.64946
96New London4DownstreamHarvard22:0022:29.55046
97New London4UpstreamYale21:2721:265047
98New London4DownstreamHarvard19:4720:155147
99New London4UpstreamHarvard20:48.221:065247
100New London4DownstreamHarvard19:41.620:215347
101New London4UpstreamHarvard19:4420:065447
102New London4DownstreamHarvard22:43.423:08.25547
103New London4DownstreamHarvard20:2121:05.45647
104New London4UpstreamHarvard19:37.220:09.25747
105New London4DownstreamHarvard22:0522:345847
106New London4UpstreamHarvard20:0620:525947
107New London4DownstreamHarvard20:34.820:55.36047
108New London4DownstreamHarvard19:52.820:39.36147
109Cambridge3UpstreamHarvard16:2317:346247
110New London4UpstreamHarvard22:0722:496347
111New London4UpstreamHarvard23:43.924:47.96447
112New London2UpstreamHarvard9:42.69:57.76547
113New London4UpstreamHarvard23:2623:396647
114New London4UpstreamHarvard19:22.919:25.46747
115New London4DownstreamHarvard18:22.418:30.86847
116New London4UpstreamYale21:39.621:28.66848
117New London4DownstreamYale20:07.819:51.86849
118New London4UpstreamYale21:0320:456850
119New London4UpstreamYale21:23.1621:106851
120New London4UpstreamHarvard19:41.119:57.96951
121New London4UpstreamHarvard20:22.420:357051
122New London4UpstreamHarvard22:0722:39.97151
123New London4UpstreamHarvard20:50.420:58.97251
124New London4DownstreamHarvard19:15.319:53.67351
125New London4UpstreamHarvard19:36.020:06.57451
126New London4DownstreamHarvard21:18.521:30.57551
127New London4DownstreamHarvard19:08.319:45.67651
128New London4UpstreamHarvard19:09.319:21.77751
129New London4UpstreamHarvard18:52.418:59.97851
130New London4UpstreamHarvard18:41.918:45.57951
131New London4DownstreamYale20:08.520:01.97952
132New London4UpstreamHarvard22:06.822:10.38052
133New London4UpstreamHarvard21:32.321:53.78152
134New London4DownstreamYale20:51.9820:45.948153
135New London4UpstreamHarvard19:44.419:54.28253
136New London4UpstreamHarvard18:55.619:32.78353
137New London4UpstreamHarvard19:02.519:43.88453
138New London4UpstreamHarvard18:54.419:44.28553
139New London4UpstreamHarvard18:42.119:06.88653
140New London4UpstreamHarvard19:20.420:00.08753
141New London4UpstreamHarvard23:22.623:30.48853
142New London4UpstreamYale19:58.019:57.58854
143New London4UpstreamHarvard18:54.119:01.68954
144New London4DownstreamHarvard21:25.621:45.19054
145New London4UpstreamHarvard19:40.319:46.29154
146New London4UpstreamHarvard19:05.719:19.19254
147New London4UpstreamHarvard19:41.319:51.29354
148New London4UpstreamHarvard21:17.621:41.39454
149New London4UpstreamHarvard19:32.319:46.49554
150New London4UpstreamYale18:52.618:35.89555
151New London4UpstreamNo Official ResultBoat Sunk30:419555
152New London4UpstreamYale19:02.118:56.19556
153New London4UpstreamYale18:58.918:51.09557
154
2020 no race
New London4UpstreamYale18:35.818:30.99558

a. Yale ran into Harvard, which was leading at the turning stake.
b. Yale collided with Harvard.
c. Yale stroke broke oar and dove overboard. Yale still won the race.
d. Triangular races included Cornell. Cornell won.
e. Yale stroke ejected from shell near three-mile mark.
f. Shortest race in series history.
g. Yale's seven seat lost oar and dove overboard at two-mile mark.
h. The Harvard boat swamped in rough conditions, and the race was abandoned with Yale ahead. The race was declared to have no official result in January 2017, following an appeal.

Junior Varsity race

No.DateSiteLengthDirectionWinnerHarvard
time
Yale
time
Harvard
total
Yale
total
1Harvard10:511
2Harvard2
3Harvard3
4Harvard4
5Yale10:59.441
6Harvard51
7Harvard61
8Yale62
9Yale63
10Yale10:33.564
11Harvard74
12Harvard84
13Harvard94
14Harvard104
15Harvard114
16Harvard124
17Yale125
18
1917 no race
Harvard135
19Yale136
20Harvard146
21Yale147
22Harvard157
23Harvard167
24Yale10:28.410:10168
25Yale10:4510:41169
26Yale10:029:501610
27Harvard10:36.610:43.61710
28Yale9:299:23.41711
29Yale11:04.810:45.41712
30Yale11:12.211:001713
31Harvard11:07.211:10.61813
32Yale10:5410:431814
33Harvard8:00.68:05.21914
34Harvard11:48.211:49.22014
35Yale9:48.69:40.22015
36Yale9:56.49:562016
37Yale11:08.410:52.42017
38Yale11:59.411:56.22018
39Harvard10:2710:30.42118
40Harvard9:359:392218
41Harvard11:33.411:41.22318
42Harvard10:06.810:10.62418
43
1943-1945 no race
Harvard10:30.810:39.42518
44Harvard2618
45Harvard9:429:472718
46Harvard9:309:34.42818
47Yale9:42.69:36.02819
48Harvard10:59.211:08.02919
49Harvard10:08.010:11.63019
50Yale11:05.411:05.23020
51Harvard9:46.09:56.43120
52Harvard10:44.810:52.43220
53Yale10:01.09:53.43221
54Yale9:51.09:44.03222
55Yale16:15.216:04.23223
56Yale17:29.617:05.63224
57Harvard15:50.016:00.03324
58Harvard15:20.015:22.23424
59Yale16:28.016:22.53425
60Yale15:56.615:49.03426
61Harvard15:4516:02.43526
62Harvard15:33.215:41.23626
63Harvard15:54.916:11.03726
64Yale14:23.014:12.03727
65Harvard18:15.418:27.43827
66Harvard16:02.016:14.03927
67Harvard14:43.515:07.04027
68Harvard17:35.018:24.04127
69Harvard15:10.815:20.64227
70Harvard15:32.115:43.14327
71Harvard15.19.416:02.44427
72Harvard10:5811:384527
73Harvard16:4617:094627
74Yale17:43.817:344628
75Harvard10:01.610:15.84728
76Harvard18:01.018:29.44828
77Yale14:3814:284829
78Yale14:45.814:18.04830
79Yale17:04.715:44.24831
80Yale15:32.015:19.04832
81UpstreamHarvard15:24.715:30.84932
82Harvard16:48.517:13.115032
83Harvard14:23.514:47.05132
84Harvard15:05.915:21.05232
85Yale17:05.016:53.65233
86Harvard15:10.015:18.05333
87Harvard15:05.215:20.75433
88Harvard14:57.015:09.45533
89Yale16:00.815:43.55534
90Harvard14:40.614:55.45634
91Harvard14:27.714:56.85734
92Harvard13:51.714:00.65834
93Harvard13:54.714:11.85934
94Yale16:42.416:37.65935
95Harvard13:57.214:11.66035
96Harvard16:12.616:18.46135
97Harvard16:17.716:26.66235
98Harvard15:01.215:15.76335
99Harvard14:23.714:37.56435
100Harvard14:19.014:45.86535
101Harvard13:57.014:31.26635
102Harvard13:46.114:16.46735
103Yale14:32.914:12.96736
104Harvard16:22.016:30.16836
105Yale15:45.015:27.06837
106Harvard14:03.214:23.46937
107Harvard16:16.916:19.27037
108Harvard14:46.815:02.47137
109Harvard13:3814:087237
110Harvard14:55.515:27.27337
111Harvard16:24.916:30.97437
112Harvard14:15.714:33.17537
113Yale13:47.913:43.67538
114Harvard18:06.918:14.57638
115New London3UpstreamYale14:39.014:30.97639
116New London3UpstreamYale13:58.713:53.27640
117New London3UpstreamHarvard14:11.114:23.17740

Freshman/Third Varsity race

No.DateSiteLengthDirectionWinnerHarvard
time
Yale
time
Harvard
total
Yale
total
1Yale1
2Yale2
3Yale3
4Yale4
5Yale5
6Harvard9:33.515
7Harvard25
8Yale10:24.526
9Tie10:1310:1326
10Yale9:4327
11Yale28
12Harvard38
13Yale39
14Harvard49
15Harvard9:38.559
16Harvard69
17Harvard79
18Yale710
19Harvard810
20Harvard910
21Harvard1010
22Yale1011
23
1917 no race
Harvard1111
24
1919-1922 no race
Harvard1211
25Yale10:4610:27.61212
26Yale10:4510:331213
27Yale10:019:57.41214
28Harvard11:0011:12.61314
29Yale9:22.49:181315
30Yale10:43.410:331316
31Yale11:09.611:071317
32Harvard11:02.811:17.61417
33Yale10:35.410:251418
34Yale8:30.88:16.21419
35Yale12:26.412:06.41420
36Yale9:519:47.61421
37Yale9:46.49:461422
38Harvard11:0111:051522
39Yale12:2312:14.21523
40Harvard10:0510:14.41623
41Harvard10:2010:30.81723
42Harvard11:5312:391823
43Harvard9:51.410:01.81923
44
1943-1946 no race
Harvard10:16.610:29.42023
45Yale9:479:432024
46Harvard9:349:41.42124
47Harvard9:32.09:34.62224
48Harvard11:06.211:16.02324
49Harvard10:27.410:42.32424
50Harvard11:33.411:40.42524
51Yale9:44.59:43.02525
52Harvard11:06.411:25.02625
53Yale9:499:402626
54Yale9:52.19:38.22627
55Yale10:35.010:29.02628
56Harvard11:1311:172728
57Yale10:45.910:44.42729
58Harvard10:12.1010:17.42829
59Yale11:14.010:54.82830
60Harvard9:43.89:48.42930
61Harvard9:35.09:45.03030
62Yale10:05.010:01.03031
63Harvard10:45.210:57.23131
64Harvard9:23.49:32.43231
65Harvard11:51.012:14.43331
66Harvard10:45.511:02.93431
67
1970 no race
Harvard9:53.310:01.13531
68Harvard9:29.49:48.43631
69Harvard9:58.73731
70Harvard10:29.510:34.93831
71Harvard11:1011:193931
72Harvard11:0111:054031
73Harvard11:13.611:27.64131
74Yale9:56.89:51.64132
75Harvard11:56.012:13.24232
76Harvard9:05.49:09.24332
77Yale9:48.09:42.94333
78Yale10:46.510:42.04334
79Harvard9:59.010:13.04434
80Harvard10:10.710:26.74534
81Harvard10:1810:36.44634
82Yale9:23.59:19.64635
83Harvard10:04.610:27.34735
84Harvard11:31.011:50.64835
85Harvard10:01.610:12.24935
86Harvard10:19.810:21.65035
87Harvard10:03.310:21.85135
88Harvard10:34.510:43.85235
89Harvard10:01.710:26.55335
90Harvard10:01.710:07.65435
91Harvard9:22.69:41.25535
92Yale9:018:495536
93Yale11:06.410:43.05537
94Harvard10:5310:575637
95Harvard10:4510:525737
96Harvard10:36.9710:47.145837
97Yale9:42.69:33.35838
98Harvard9:39.49:56.85938
99Harvard9:23.49:38.86038
100Harvard9:49.410:06.86138
101Harvard8:46.18:50.06238
102Harvard9:06.19:13.66338
103Yale11:05.011:04.56339
104Harvard10:01.1310:11.696439
105Harvard8:53.89:01.36539
106Harvard10:43.210:50.16639
107UpstreamHarvard9:32.79:47.66739
108UpstreamHarvard9:03.29:24.26839
109UpstreamHarvard10:25.610:34.16939
110UpstreamHarvard10:29.511:00.87039
111UpstreamHarvard9:19.69:22.87139
112UpstreamHarvard9:23.09:27.47239
113UpstreamHarvard11:39.712:23.17339
114UpstreamYale9:39.99:33.77340
115New London2UpstreamHarvard9:08.429:11.327440
116New London2UpstreamHarvard9:49.89:55.67540

a. Final time an entry was composed entirely of freshmen.
b. Yale's 3V8 competed in this event.

Combination race

Begun in 1920, the combination boat is manned by rowers from the third varsity and second freshman boats, the strongest substitutes available to the junior varsity and freshman boats.
No.DateSiteLengthDirectionWinnerHarvard
time
Yale
time
Harvard
total
Yale
total
1Harvard1
2Harvard2
3New London2Yale21
4New London2Harvard31
5New London2Yale+17 secs32
6New London2Harvard42
7New London2Yale43
8New London2Harvard10:09.410:18.053
9New London2Yale9:21.99:17.454
10New London2Harvard64
11New London2Harvard9:29.369:39.7974
12New London2Harvard8:55.39:07.484
13New London2Harvard94
14New London2Harvard+4 secs104
15New London2Harvard9:289:40114
16New London2Harvard11:2211:48124
17New London2Harvard11:55.011:58.6134
18New London2Harvard12:40.6413:54.20144
19New London2Harvard9:4810:16154
20New London2Harvard9:36.679:54.86164
21New London2Harvard9:5010:04174
22New London2Yale9:27.79:23.2175
23New London2Yale9:57.29:55.0176

a. This was the inaugural contest for the James P. Snider Cup.