UPDATE FROM EARLIER VERSIONS OF THIS STORY:

Due to worsening erosion of the marsh at the traditional starting line at West Corner, the Hull Lifesaving Museum has moved the starting line a quarter mile downstream — all vessels must now launch at Steamboat Wharf at Nantasket Pier and row to the starting line, a distance of 1-3/4 miles.

Full details are at this link: Head of the Weir Logistics 2022 as some important details are changed due to moving the starting line.

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The tide will be high at 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8, setting the stage beautifully for the launch of the Head of the Weir River Race at 11 a.m.

The Hull Lifesaving Museum’s 36th annual Head of the Weir River Race is a celebration of the estuary at the height of its fall beauty and the fabulous array of the region’s open water rowers. As many as 60 boats jockey for position racing out of the narrow estuary and onto open water, traveling from West Corner on the Hull/Hingham/Cohasset line, past Bumpkin Island, across Hull Bay, to the museum’s Windmill Point Boathouse at Hull Gut.

A highly contested 5-1/2 miler, the Weir draws coxed youth and adult rowers in gigs, single and double livery and workboats, currachs, and ocean shells, as well as experienced kayakers. In the “head of the river” format, boats kick off the starting line at closely-timed intervals, and times are collated at the finish to determine the race winners. The Weir is an exceptionally exciting race and a great spectator event, featuring more than 200 of the region’s finest rowers from all over New England and New York.

There is no day-of-event registration – online registration at www.hulllifesavingmuseum.org ends on Friday, Oct. 7 at noon. Entry fee is $45 per person

On race day, check in is between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. at the Hull Public Works building,

9 Nantasket Ave. at West Corner. The Coxswain’s Meeting will be at 10:45 a.m., with the race beginning at 11 a.m.

Being mindful of current safety protocols, all participants are required to wear masks while gathering for the coxswain’s meeting. The museum will be providing an abbreviated food and beverage service on the beach at the boathouse.

For details regarding registration, launching, parking, etc., visit hulllifesavingmuseum.org, email mike@hulllifesavingmuseum.org, or call 781-925-5433.