Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Chase Regatta


The Colby–Bates–Bowdoin Chase Regatta is an annual rowing regatta between the men's and women's heavyweight varsity and club rowing crews of Bates, Bowdoin, and Colby College. The colleges have competed in the regatta since August 3, 1988 but have competed annually since August 3, 1997, when Bates President Thomas Hedley Reynolds instated the President's Cup to be contested by all three of the CBB schools. The President's Cup is given to the team that has won the most overall heats and races, while the overall winner is determined by who won the most varsity and heavyweight competitions in the regatta.
All three of the schools compete against each other in the Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Consortium and the New England Small College Athletic Conference. The consortium also features an academic exchange and other sports, most notably American football. Rowing is the most active boat sport of Bates and Colby, with Bowdoin being more active in Sailing. Bowdoin is the only college in the CBB to maintain a Club Rowing team, and suspended its varsity team at its founding.
The all-time leader of the Chase Regatta is Bates with a total of 14 composite wins, followed by Colby's 5 wins, concluding with Bowdoin's 2 wins. The regatta has been held on various waters, and is hosted by all three of the colleges; the most frequent waters occupied are: the Kennebec River, the Messalonskee Lake and the Androscoggin River; 2016 Chase Regatta was on the Androscoggin.

Regatta results

Overall winner and President's Cup

Results from the Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Chase Regatta.
No.DateSiteWinnerPresident's CupComposite timeBates totalBowdoin totalColby totalCite
11997Kennebec RiverBowdoinColby——1—
21998Messalonskee RiverColbyColby———1
31999Messalonskee RiverColbyColby———2
42000Kennebec RiverBatesBates—1——
52001Messalonskee RiverColbyColby———3
62002Kennebec RiverColbyColby———4
72003Messalonskee RiverBatesColby—2——
82004Messalonskee RiverBatesColby—3——
92005Kennebec RiverColbyColby———5
102006Kennebec RiverBatesBates—4——
112007Messalonskee RiverBatesColby—5——
122008Messalonskee RiverBatesBates—6——
132009Kennebec RiverBatesBates—7——
142010Messalonskee RiverBatesBates-BowdoinMV8 WV8 82—
152011Androscoggin RiverBatesBatesMV8 WV8 9——
162012Messalonskee RiverBatesCanceledMV8 WV8 10——
172013Messalonskee RiverBatesBatesMV8 WV8 11——
182014Androscoggin RiverBatesBatesMV8 WV8 12——
192015Kennebec RiverBatesBatesMV8 WV8 13——
202016Kennebec RiverBatesBates—14——

Note: The President's Cup is given to the team that has won the most overall heats and races, while the overall winner is determined by who won the most varsity and heavyweight competitions in the regatta.

Records

  • Number of wins: — 14 composite wins
  • Most consecutive victories:,
  • Smallest winning margin: —.9-second margin over Colby
  • Largest winning margin: — 59-second margin ahead of runner-up Colby.

    Trophies

The President's Cup — Bates President Thomas Hedley Reynolds instated the Presidents' Cup to be contested by all three of the CBB schools.
The Clayton — An unofficial contention between Bowdoin and Bates with their club and varsity races; named after their respective presidents' first names.