Head of the Yarra – The Coxswains race

There is arguably no more iconic eights race in the Southern Hemisphere (and perhaps even the world) than the Head of the Yarra, hosted by Hawthorn Rowing Club (disclaimer: my club!). And I say that with considerable pride.

First held in 1957, the Head of the Yarra has become one of the great traditions of Australian rowing. With the exception of COVID-19 and a few years when flooding has intervened, it has been held every year since. Today, it attracts more than 250 eights, all competing over the same course, with no weight classes and, importantly for the coxswains, no weigh-in!

The Yarra River is not only a fantastic place to train but also an extraordinary venue to race. It’s a course that has a bit of everything. There are some lovely fast straights where you can really get the boat moving, but there are also plenty of winding bends, changes in direction and other challenges that will keep both the crew and, particularly, the coxswain busy.

And that’s the thing about the Head of the Yarra. It’s not simply a matter of getting the crew into a rhythm and sitting back. A coxswain needs to be switched on, thinking ahead, reading the river, choosing the right lines and making sure they don’t give away valuable seconds through poor course management. You need to be “on point” from start to finish!

In this episode, I’ll run through a few ideas and practical tips to help you navigate the course, make the most of the river and hopefully get your crew to the finish line in the best possible time.

And one final piece of advice: don’t leave your course familiarisation until race morning. Make sure you’ve walked (or ridden) the course beforehand. Knowing what’s coming around the next bend can make all the difference. After all, a little preparation can save you a lot of steering on race day!

Also be sure to listen to our full Series on the Head of the Yarra where we cover much more than just the course. Click Here

Guy Besley is the author of Beyond the Call: The Art of Being a Rowing Coxswain. If you'd like to learn more, it's available as a two-volume edition on Amazon.