Members of Space Coast Crew will be traveling to Chattanooga, Tenn., to race in the Head of the Hooch, one of the world’s largest rowing regattas. The race used to take place on the Chattahoochee River in Roswell, Ga., giving it the name Head of the Hooch. But due to a large increase in the number of entries the race was moved, first to Gainesville, Ga., in 1997 and in 2004, to Chattanooga. The regatta is a head race in which competitors row 5,000 meters down the Tennessee River and end at Ross’s Landing Park. The annual event is held the first Saturday and Sunday of November.

Clay Mathieu, coach of Space Coast Crew’s Women’s Team, said he’s optimistic about the races this weekend.

“The expectation of perfection is carried whole-heartedly throughout the entire women’s varsity crew team,” Mathieu said. “The team has really come together in the past few weeks and has gained a lot of speed. I think that will reflect on all of the boats racing this weekend.”

Last year at Head of the Hooch, several races were canceled due to harsh weather conditions. Senior Katrina Pichardo said she’s hoping for good weather conditions this weekend.

“It was raining and it was way too cold, so we weren’t allowed to race on Saturday,” Pichardo said. “My races were on Saturday, so I didn’t get to race last year and it was really sad. I’ve been looking at the weather, and it might rain Saturday but I hope that’s wrong. I hope it changes because I want to race.”

By Summer Rhodes