The traditional start to the Washington rowing season comes this Saturday, March 16, as the UW hosts the 123rd annual Class Day Regatta on Montlake Cut.
 
Fans are encouraged to line the Cut to watch the races. For those unable to make it in person, however, there will be a live video feed (see link at top-right of this page).
 
Class Day events are centered around the main men's and women's races, which pit an eight-oared crew each of freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors against each other in a standard, 2,000-meter race that ends in the Montlake Cut.
 
Last year, for the first time since 2004, the seniors won both the men's and women's races, meaning that no class will have a chance to win a second in a row. Prior to last year, and for nearly a decade, the juniors and seniors had won both the men's and women's races in alternating years, but now the senior men have won four straight. On the women's side, last year's win by the seniors broke a streak of three straight for the junior class.
 
Saturday's schedule includes four races: men's and women's freshman/varsity challenge races, followed by The Seattle Times Women's Eight and the George M. Varnell Men's Eight.
 
10:00 a.m. PT – Women's Freshman/Varsity Challenge
10:15 a.m. PT – Men's Freshman/Varsity Challenge
10:30 a.m. PT – The Seattle Times Women's Eight
10:45 a.m. PT – George M. Varnell Men's Eight
 
Along with the live video stream, fans can follow live results at HereNow.com.
 
Class Day was first held in 1901 for the men and in 1907 for the women (after a long period of dormancy, the women's races returned in 1976).
 
Following Class Day, the UW men will travel to Chula Vista, Calif., for a spring break camp, where they'll also take on UC San Diego (March 20) and the University of San Diego (March 23) in dual regattas. The women will open their season in earnest at the San Diego Crew Classic April 6-7.