The Hull Lifesaving Museum’s 37th 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 the headwaters of the Weir River downstream, past Bumpkin Island, across Hull Bay, to the museum’s Windmill Point Boathouse at Hull Gut.

This year’s race will be held on Saturday, Oct. 14, beginning at 12:30 p.m., from the starting line at Steamboat Wharf Marina. Check-in will be held from 9-11 a.m., and the entry fee is $45 per person.

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.

Due to worsening erosion of the marsh, the traditional starting line has been moved. All vessels must now launch at Steamboat Wharf and row 1-3/4 miles to the starting line..

The traditional after-race party will be held at the boathouse. All race competitors are welcome to nourishing chow and refreshments at the Boathouse Bistro. After competitors have gone through the line, friends, family, and spectators are welcome to enjoy the offerings with a $5 suggested donation.

There is no day-of-event registration: Online registration at hulllifesavingmuseum.org ends Friday, Oct. 13 at noon.

The race committee also is seeking food donations. Are you a secret soup specialist? Brilliant bread baker or master sandwich maker? If so, we need your help feeding hungry rowers and spectators.

Please RSVP (details below) as soon as possible to let staff know if you will be making a food donation, what you’ll be bringing, and the quantity, so they can plan accordingly.

What is needed: Soup, chowder, or chili (minimum donation enough to fill a crockpot: 8 quarts, please drop off in large Ziplock baggies); bread or rolls; sandwiches (must be individually wrapped); and snacks (fruit, snack bars, chips, and cookies).

Cooking not your thing? If you have a few hours to give and want to lend a hand on race day we’re looking for volunteers: 11:00 a.m. to noon: Set up food service; 12:30 p.m. to  3 p.m.: Serve food; 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Help clean up.

If your talent lies in service rather than culinary arts, let us know how you’d like to help. 

Visit the museum’s website for all the details regarding registration, launching, and parking, or email info@hulllifesavingmuseum.org or call 781-925-5433.

See you at the race!