Photos from the 2014 Head of the Charles Regatta

The world's largest two-day regatta took place on the Charles River over the weekend, celebrating its 50th anniversary.Photo by Olga Khvan

Participants row under seven bridges on the three-mile course, including the Grand Junction Railroad Bridge near the starting line at Boston University's DeWolfe Boathouse.Photo by Olga Khvan

Birds flew overhead as Heart of the Crude, a team consisting of Harvard alumni, competed in the Men's Alumni Eight race on Saturday. They finished in 14th place, while first place went to alumni from Northeastern. Photo by Olga Khvan

Spectators watched the race from the Eliot Bridge, located just past a sharp loop on the course.Photo by Olga Khvan

Geese swam alongside rowers near the halfway point, where visitors watched from the Weld Exhibition on the Cambridge side of the river.Photo by Olga Khvan

Across from the Weld Exhibition, the Reunion Village on the Boston side of the river offered spectators food, refreshments from a beer tent, and prime seating.Photo by Olga Khvan

Spectators cheered on the Cambridge side of the river near the halfway point.Photo by Olga Khvan

A young Head of the Charles spectator played a drum on Riverside Boat Club's dock.Photo by Olga Khvan

Rowers passed some fall foliage in the Charles River.Photo by Olga Khvan

Harvard students watched the race from the balcony of a graduate housing complex.Photo by Olga Khvan

The MIT team (back) rowed past Harvard's Weld Boathouse during the Club Men's Eights race.Photo by Olga Khvan

Umpires and spectators kept a lookout for rowers at the Weeks Footbridge near the halfway point.Photo by Olga Khvan

Spectators gathered at the River Street Bridge, the third bridge that rowers have to pass under during the course.Photo by Olga Khvan

A family took a break from watching the race near the Anderson Bridge.Photo by Olga Khvan

The Fenerbahçe team (#11) from Istanbul prepared to pass the A.S.R. Nereus team from Amsterdam during the Men's Lightweight Eights race on Sunday. Turkey and the Netherlands were two of 28 countries represented at the 2014 Head of the Charles.Photo by Olga Khvan

The Naval Academy participated in the Men's Lightweight Eights race on Sunday.Photo by Olga Khvan

Approximately 1,500 people volunteered at the 2014 Head of the Charles.Photo by Olga Khvan

The regatta set up its headquarters at the Cambridge Boat Club.Photo by Olga Khvan

Spectators watched the race from the Cambridge Boat Club.Photo by Olga Khvan

A group gathered near the halfway point on Sunday to cheer for a friend participating in the race.Photo by Olga Khvan

The finish line of the Head of the Charles is located just before Northeastern's Henderson Boathouse. The three-mile course is equivalent in length to 52.8 football fields.Photo by Olga Khvan

Visitors got to try out an indoor rowing machine at the Rowing and Fitness Expo located near the finish line.Photo by Olga Khvan

Head of the Charles sponsor Gentle Giant Moving Company invited visitors to take on their workout challenge on a mobile staircase at the Rowing and Fitness Expo.Photo by Olga Khvan

The 2014 Head of the Charles raised $88,780—an all-time high—for this year's official charities: Community Rowing Inc.'s Para-Rowing program and the Cambridge Community Foundation. Photo by Olga Khvan

Olympic rower Susan Francia, who won gold with Team USA in the women's eight competition both in London in 2012 and Beijing in 2008, awarded Head of the Charles champions at the first ceremony on Saturday.Photo by Olga Khvan

Chuck Cook from the St. Louis Rowing Club received the Jerome Olrich Trophy for winning the Men's Veteran Singles, the first race of the regatta. Other winners were recognized at award ceremonies throughout the weekend and at the 50th anniversary gala.Photo by Olga Khvan

This year's edition of the first place medal commemorates the 50th edition of the regatta by embossing the HOCR50 logo on the reverse side of the original 1965 design. Photo by Olga Khvan

A history exhibit was set up near Hospitality Row with artifacts and memorabilia from 50 years of the regatta.Photo by Olga Khvan