The San Diego Crew Classic opens Saturday at Crown Point on Mission Bay, with thousands of rowers set to hit the water.
Continuing through Sunday, the events include collegiate competition for men and women, junior races for high school rowers and open, masters’ and alumni contests.
Competition begins at 7:15 a.m. each day. Practices also are open Thursday and Friday.
Spectators are welcome at Mission Bay Park to watch the boats go by or catch the action on the Jumbotron. The races are live streamed as well.Â
UC San Diego and the University of San Diego among local teams competing. Top-ranked campuses – the University of Texas, University of Washington and Stanford University – are slated to take part as well.
The regatta has grown since its beginnings as three-hour event with 300 entrants almost 50 years ago. It is now a two-day regatta with 4,000 competitors in more than 100 races.
Past champions include teams from Harvard University, Washington, Penn, UC Berkeley, UCLA and Stanford.