CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — 

The United States Coast Guard Academy women's rowing team competed at the historic Head of the Charles regatta this past weekend. Often regarded at the rowing world's largest event, the Bears sent their 2V to compete in the club eight race on Saturday while the 1V raced the collegiate eight on Sunday.

Steered by senior coxswain Alexa Hartley (Vienna, Va.), the second eight put forth a strong performance in a deep field of competitors despite a strong headwind. The Bears completed the course in a time of 19:57.8, ultimately finishing in 34th out of a 39-crew field made up of mostly Division I talent. Yale University were the event's victors, followed by Northeastern and Princeton, while the Bears beat out Division III fellows Wesleyan (Conn.) on the day.

Coast Guard's 1V lined up against some of the top crews in DIII for Sunday's collegiate eight race. Conditions were clear on the day and the Bears were able to work with an uninterrupted line down the course, allowing freshman cox Maggie Sipala (Wethersfield, Conn.) and her boat to put up a 17:40.3 time to cross the line. Tufts University were the victors, with the Bears' New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) foes Wellesley College taking second place. Coast Guard was 16th in the 29-team field, finishing right behind another NEWMAC side in WPI.

Full results for the Head of the Charles' three-day schedule can be viewed here. The Bears will be back on the water this Saturday at Lake Quinsigamond in Massachusetts for the Wormtown Chase.