Rowing in Color Makes Waves at the Head of Charles Regatta
10/27/2022 - Written by SJ
This year, for the first time ever, two boats featuring entirely rowers of color took part in the world’s largest rowing regatta, the Head of Charles in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The crews, one comprised of all-Black women rowers, and another comprised of all-BIPOC rowers, were both sponsored by Rowing in Color, a podcast committed to amplifying “what it’s like to navigate the topic of race within the white-dominated sport of rowing.”
In a press release for Rowing in Color’s historic participation in the Head of Charles, the podcast’s co-founder, Patricia Destine, explained, “We’re not the diversity boat or ‘different.’ We’re fast, competitive, and American.”
She continued, “All the young kids of color who will see our boats and hear about our stories, will know that there’s a place for them too…”
Former rowers, Patricia Destine and Denise Aquino, founded Rowing in Color in 2020 to promote and encourage people of color to enter into the sport. The duo, both women of color, have spent nearly 30 years combined as rowers, coxswains, and now coaches.
According to last year’s Diversity Scorecards put out by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, there were no athletes, coaches, or non-athletes of color on the US national rowing team.
Furthermore, rowing is an expensive sport, with eight-person boats costing easily $40,000 or more. The cost of participation has created barriers for many individuals and programs, making opportunities disproportionately available in wealthy and white communities. However, groups like Rowing in Color are working hard to ensure rowing is accessible for all who wish to participate.
During last weekend’s HOCR, the two Rowing in Color crews competed in a women’s club eights and a mixed eights, with ‘eights’ referring to the number of rowers in each boat. The boats came in 31st and 32nd, respectively, in their races.
If you want to learn more about Patricia, Denise, and their crews, check out the Rowing in Color podcast and follow them on Instagram.
If you’d like to explore rowing, the podcast’s website contains a helpful list of inclusive groups, clubs, and meet-ups.
[Featured image from Instagram: @rowingincolors]