Head of the Cuyahoga (hotc@clevelandrows.org)
Every year the Cleveland Rowing Foundation hosts a major regatta (the Head of the Cuyahoga - HOTC) the third Saturday of September, open to high school, collegiate and adult competition from around the country in both sweep and sculling events. The Cuyahoga River provides a unique opportunity for rowers to navigate the challenging turns of our crooked river on the two and one-half mile course. This racing distance, called a "head race," is the standard race format for regattas around the country in the Fall.

With its inaugural year in 1996, the initial HOTC was named a Cleveland Bicentennial event and attracted over 250 competitors. With continued success and the support of many volunteers and increased sponsorship, the 1999 HOTC regatta site was moved from our modest boathouse to the Nautica Complex in the Flats. In 2004, the race attracted 1,100 competitors representing 32 rowing clubs and programs from across the US.

Download the Head of the Cuyahoga Regatta Rules.

View photos from the 2006 HOTC.

Hammer Ergatta
Now in its 16th year, the Hammer Ergatta is the highlight of the winter training season for local rowers who spend weeks and weeks conditioning themselves on the erg - also known as a rowing machine. Since a "regatta" is what we do on the water when we compete, an "ergatta" is the indoor equivalent where dozens of ergometers await high school, college and adult rowers who try to out-do each other's time for a 2000 meter distance. The event is traditionally held on a weekend in February.

In rowing parlance, a "hammer" is a rower who can be counted on for all brawn, all guts, all the time. Being called a hammer is a true compliment, and it means you really help move the boat. The Hammer Ergatta not only awards medals, it also serves as a fundraising vehicle for our college teams, who rotate the hosting duties and collect entry fees.

Row for the Cure
Every year the Cleveland rowing community honors the memory of Karen Gustke, whose life was cut short by breast cancer, and who was the sister of rower Amy Valentino. We hold a day-long rowing event on the Cuyahoga River, collecting pledges and asking all local rowers to make a donation to row that day. Monies raised directly benefit the Northern Ohio Breast Cancer Coalition Fund, which provides education, advocacy and aid to breast cancer survivors and patients through research, access, influence, and financial assistance.

In the three years the CRF has held this event, our generous sponsors and local rowers have donated over $45,000 to fight breast cancer and assist survivors. A women's sculling double was named in Karen's memory.