The event itself is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, but the Head of the Hooch regatta has made a splash in Chattanooga since moving here six years ago.
It is the second-largest regatta in the country behind the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston. More than 1,500 crews -- high school, college and masters rowing teams -- are expected to race on the Tennessee River on Saturday and Sunday.
Spectators can take in the sight of 9,248 rowers and coxswains, a record number, for free.
Races will run from 7:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and from 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday. In addition to being able to watch the races, visitors to the riverfront will find Chattanooga Market on-site. The 50 vendors will include arts and crafts artists and a variety of prepared food sellers.
"I was blown away last year," said market manager Chris Thomas. "I'm a sailor, and my impression is it is perhaps the coolest event that Chattanooga does. It is just gorgeous and makes Chattanooga look so cool."
The Head of the Hooch was begun by the Atlanta Rowing Club and originally held in Roswell, Ga., along the Chattahoochee River. It outgrew that venue and moved in 1999 to Gainesville, Ga., before moving to Chattanooga in 2005.
It is co-hosted by the ARC and the local Lookout Rowing Club.
Last year, Chattanooga was voted Best Town for a Race by Rowing News readers. It was selected over Boston, Philadelphia, Seattle and Oklahoma City.
In 2009, more than 8,600 rowers participated, with the majority of them being women for the first time in the race's history.
As part of the regatta, there will be several special Row for the Cure events. Part of the proceeds from these will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure in the fight against breast cancer.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@times freepress.com or at 423-757-6354.
BEST VIEWING SITES
* Chattanooga Pier: Teams launch and recover on three floating docks near the pier. The logistics involved in getting hundreds of racing shells in and out of the water is half the show.
* Ross's Landing: The finish line is directly downstream of the Market Street Bridge. The race announcer will be here, keeping spectators updated on the competition and sharing team history and accomplishments.
* Walnut Street Bridge: The rowers will sprint for the finish as they pass by Maclellan Island and under the south end of the bridge.
* Bluff View Art District: The view from the Sculpture Garden overlook will allow spectators to see the teams pouring it on from upstream.
* Tennessee Riverpark: From the Chattanooga Rowing Center to the Boathouse Restaurant, the teams will come very close to the south shore as they make their last turn onto the final straightaway. Expect to hear lots of grunting, yelling and perhaps some salty language from the coxswains.
* Coolidge Park: Though most of the racing action will be along the south shore of the river, the teams warm up as they row upstream to the start along the north shore.
Source: Chattanooga AreaConvention & Visitors Bureau