RegattaCentral

First Coast Head Race is the oldest Head Race in Florida.

The First Coast Head Race was conceived in 1989 by Mark Beckenbach and Pete Keegan. Mark was the coach at Jacksonville University and Pete was the president of the Jacksonville Rowing Club. At the time there were no Head Races sponsored in the State of Florida. The nearest race of this kind was the Head of Chattahoochee near Atlanta. It seemed appropriate to establish an event in Florida.

Jacksonville University was the official sponsor of the first two Head Races. In the third year (1991), the Jacksonville Rowing Club became the sponsor for this event with the assistance of Jacksonville University. In 1994, the Stanton Rowing Foundation accepted the challenge of organizing and running the First Coast Head Race and has done so each year since. The Stanton Rowing Foundation is a charitable 501(c)(3) non-profit established to promote junior rowing by providing rowing equipment and facilities. The Foundation is made up of interested members of the community, parents of rowers, and alumni.