RegattaCentral

The Head of the Tennessee Regatta was the brainchild of Rodman Townsend Sr., who returned from watching the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston in 1974 with the idea that such an event should happen in Knoxville.

At the time, rowing was a new and undeveloped sport in the Southeast; the University of Tennessee's program had only begun in 1972.

The first regatta in Knoxville was small. All the timing and officiating was handled by George Wilson, a Harvard alumnus, and Jim Ramsey, still the District Attorney of Anderson County and former Dartmouth oarsman. All timing was by wristwatch, and final results were announced by Wilson, with Ramsey, who is over 6-foot-6, towering behind him with crossed arms and hardened stare. There were no protests.

As one of the few major regional fall crew competitions, the Head of the Tennessee quickly grew into an important meeting ground for programs from the Southeast and Midwest.

In 1984, participants numbered about 200 and they came from far and wide: Oklahoma, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, as well as Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia. The largest event had six entries.

In 1985, the regatta turned a corner when 17 clubs from 10 states showed up with some 400 participants. In the most exciting race of that year, Purdue men's open eight beat Wichita State's by only 35-hundredths of a second, in a time of 15:40.65.

After the 1985 events, the regatta had a reputation as a well-run, friendly event with a beautiful course. The Head of the Tennessee had shifted among several courses before 1985, but since that time has been run on the three miles of the river between the University Club and the western end of Sequoyah Park. As the fog lifts in the morning with the leaves in full color on the bluffs across the lake from the finish line, the launching of the first races has a grace all its own.

Enthusiasm for the Head of the Tennessee continues steadily to grow. By 1998, in its 23nd year, the Head of the Tennessee had 1,800 individual competitors and ranked as one of the largest events of its kind.

Things have changed for the Head of the Tennessee.  From humble beginnings in 1975, the event has grown and progressed. The Knoxville Rowing Association looks forward to many more years of presenting the Head of the Tennessee to  more and more rowing enthusiasts.

Adapted from a history written by former UT Professor and former Knoxville Rowing Association President George Hutchinson.