The Bananas head to the finish at the 2024 Head of the Gorge!

2024 Head and Tail of the Gorge Regattas

Updated on

2024 INFO

The Head & Tail of the Gorge 2024 was held on the weekend of October 26-27. This year's dynamic tides and currents pushed us to think outside the box. resulting in a regatta that was even more exciting for crews and spectators!

Both mornings featured the Head of the Gorge, which starts near Victoria's historic Old Town, runs north under three bridges, shoots through the rushing waters of Tillicum Narrows, and finishes at Esquimalt Gorge Park. The costumes were awesome, as always, and prizes were awarded.

Both afternoons featured a revamped Tail of the Gorge, which does the same course in reverse - starting near Esquimalt Gorge Park, shooting the rapids of Tillicum Narrows in the opposite direction as morning races, and continue to a finish near Victoria's Old Town.

Costumes abounded at the Saturday morning & afternoon races, and prizes for best costumes were awarded!

There were Food trucks, a Beer Garden, and Happy Rowers in the Pavilion on Saturday.

Please visit the HOG-TOG 2024 page at Regatta Central for:

  • Details about this year's regatta
  • Venue maps
  • Event schedule
  • Results
  • and much more!

Additional information is available in the Participant Info Packet.

The logo for the Head and Tail of the Gorge regattas.
Our event logo was designed by Darlene Gait, a Coast Salish First Nation's artist.

ABOUT THIS REGATTA

The Head & Tail of the Gorge regattas are an iconic BC event, featuring exciting racing and spectacular viewing opportunities, in the heart of beautiful Victoria BC. Teams attend from across BC, Alberta, and the Pacific Northwest, with some coming from as far away as the Maritimes or Europe. By participating, you are contributing to the mythical story of rowing the Gorge and conquering it. Have fun and enjoy the challenge! Gorge Narrows Rowing Club is proud to have taken over hosting this regatta, with its focus on community and bringing together athletes, volunteers and community members to share an appreciation for the gorge waterway and the sport of rowing.

Good spectator viewing locations include: Johnson Street Bridge, Selkirk Trestle Bridge, under the Tillicum bridge, and Saanich side of the Gorge Walkway.

One of the highlights of the course is passing through the Tillicum Narrows. Here's how it works:

We give thanks to the Lekwungen People of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, whose traditional lands and waterways we share daily.

Photos

An eight person crew in banana costumes posing back at the lodge.
Costumes! The fabulous Bananas at the lodge!
An eight person crew all dressed as Albert Einstein posing back at the lodge.
Costumes! The Einsteins at the lodge!
An eight person crew all dressed as Borat posing outside.
Costumes! The Borats!
An eight person crew in cowboy costumes carrying their boat overhead on the way to the water.
Headed to the water!
A four person crew standing in the water at the beach about to get into their quad.
Launching! Dock? We don't need no dock!
A coxed quad rowing to the staging area on Saturday morning. Other boats are visible in the background.
Rowing to the start on Saturday morning!
A head and shoulders shot of a seagull.
A spectator at the start line!
A quad that has just passed under the Bay Street Bridge and heading towards the start.
Under the Bay Street Bridge and heading towards the start.
Many boats in the warm up pattern at the start.
Boats in the warm up pattern at the start.
A juvenile seagull sitting on a concrete wall.
Keeping an eye on the start line ref and timers!
Boats getting ready for the start, taken from the start timer position at Point Hope Shipyards.
Boats getting ready for the start, taken from the start timer position at Point Hope Shipyards.
A seal swimming in the gorge. Only the head of the seal is visible.
Obstructions on the water!
A double wearing beer stein costumes headed towards the Tillicum Narrows.
Saturday: Heads of foam at the Tillicum Narrrows!
A number of doubles lining up to enter the Tillicum Narrows.
Saturday: boats headed towards Tillicum Narrows.
Spectators at the Tillicum Narrows watch as a double approaches.
Saturday: Tillicum Narrows
A double and a quad approaching the Tillicum Narrows.
Saturday: Tillicum Narrows
A quad that has just made it through the narrows. The photo is taken from under the bridge, and many bridge supports are visible.
And we're through!
Four boats that have passed the narrows.
After the narrows.
A view of boats approaching the narrows taken from under the bridge.
Under the narrows!
A view of the Tillicum narrows showing swirling water. The bridge is in the centre of the picture, and one boat can be seen.
The Tillicum Narrows.
Two volunteers serving food at the lodge.
Volunteers serving up a storm!
An eight person boat, all dressed as Albert Einstein, head towards the finish line on Saturday afternoon.
Saturday Afternoon: The Einsteins headed towards the finish line!
An eight person boat, all dressed as bananas, head towards the finish line on Saturday afternoon.
The Bananas headed towards the finish line!
A four person mixed quad, possibly dressed as ballerinas, head to the finish line.
Ballerinas? Not sure, but they're moving!
A quad heads across the finish. They are leaning back at the finish of their stroke. The bow is doing a head check.
A strong finish!
A double, wearing holiday hats, has passed under the Bay Street bridge. In the background, a quad has done the same.
A double heads towards the finish.
An eight person boat with the crew wearing bright red shirts and, mostly, bright blue wigs, pass under the Bay Street bridge.
Powering under the bridge!
Two women's quads race neck and neck on the way to the finish.
Drama approaching the finish!
A woman's quad right at the finish line.
The finish is SO CLOSE!
The double wearing beer stein hats approaches the finish.
Getting a little A HEAD of themselves!
A quad with a crew wearing black and white striped shirts crosses the finish line.
Reaching for the finish line!
A Gorge Narrows women's quad crosses the finish line.
A Gorge Narrows quad finished strong!
A quad, who's crew appears to be wearing chicken hats, approaches the finish.
Another strong finish!
A double, wearing bright orange shirts and hats, passes the finish line. The finish is marked by a bright orange float.
Orange you glad the race is almost over!
Two doubles head to the finish.
Doubles!
A Gorge Narrows mixed double heads to the finish. The bow is doing a head check.
Doubles!
A rower in a single is leaning back at the finish of their stroke. They are approaching the finish line.
Awesome finish!
In the foreground a rower leans forward at the catch. In the background, a rower in a single, wearing a top hat, has just placed their oars in the water.
And a top of the evening, to you!
A rower in a coastal single was the last boat across the finish line (they also launched last).
And a coastal boat closes out the race!
The finish timers under their tent at the shipyard.
The finish timers at Point Hope Shipyard
Many, many, boats circulating after finishing the race. They were waiting for all boats to finish so they could head back.
After the race!
Many boats, including the 'Einsteins' heading back after the race.
Headed back after the race!
In the foreground are two young rowers in a double, one wearing a blue Hawaiian shirt with pink flamingos. Behind them is a double and a quad. In the background the 'Bananas' eight can be seen.
Headed back after the race!
Many boats, including the 'Einsteins' eight waiting to head back after the race.
On the water, waiting to head back.
A flotilla of many doubles and singles, including the coastal single, head back after the race. There are 22 boats visible.
Headed back after the race!
Boats headed to the start on Sunday morning. It had been raining, but the sun came out, and a rainbow can be seen arching above the Point Ellice bridge.
Sunday Morning: Coming down to the start!
A person riding a bike crosses the Point Ellice (Bay Street) bridge. That bridge is a terrible place to ride a bicycle! Several boats are visible on the water.
Cruising the Point Ellice Bridge!
In for foreground is an umpire in an electric launch. In the background eight boats are headed to the start. Two have passed under the bridge, the rest are approaching.
More boats arriving at the start on Sunday Morning.
Raindrops falling on flat, calm, water. In the middle of the picture a bright orange buoy stands out against the grey water.
Sunday afternoon off to a soggy start!
Two volunteer umpires pilot the GNRC launch 'Annie' to the finish line.
Our brave, and wet, volunteer umpires at the finish line.
The first boats under the Point Ellice (Bay Street) Bridge.
The first boats under the Point Ellice (Bay Street) Bridge.
The UBC eight, Bow 2, just after crossing the finish line.
Bow 2 - UBC - It's over! The first boat across the finish line.
A quad heads to the finish line.
A quad heads to the finish line.
Six boats approaching, or just crossing under, the Point Ellice (Bay Street) bridge. In the background the Selkirk Trestle is visible.
Boats under the bridge.
A UVic 'Vikes' women's eight headed towards the finish. In the background is one of Victoria's floating hot tub boats.
Bow 12 - UVic - Go Vikes! Go!
In the forgeground, a Gorge Narrows quad has passed under the bridge and is headed to the finish. Another quad is visible behind them.
Bow 15 - Gorge Narrows - heading to the finish!
Bow 15 - Gorge Narrows - across the line!
Bow 15 - Gorge Narrows - across the line!
Bow 14 - Gorge Narrows - looking towards home!
Bow 14 - Gorge Narrows - looking towards home!
Bow 19 - Victoria City - at the finish! In the background is a bright yellow Victoria water taxi and a floating hot tub.
Bow 19 - Victoria City - at the finish!
A Gorge Narrows quad, bow 22, heads towards the finish. In the background is a Victoria water taxi flying a Canadian flag.
Bow 22 - Gorge Narrows - moving on!
Bow 26 - a Calgary Rowing Club double - across the line!
Bow 26 - Calgary Rowing Club - across the line!
Bow 21 - a Gorge Narrows quad - under the bridge!
Bow 21 - Gorge Narrows - under the bridge!
A double that had lost their bow number crosses the finish line.
Bow ??? - who needs a bow number?
A Calgary Rowing Club single, bow 40, heads towards the finish. In the background, a green Victoria Harbour Ferry heads the other way.
Bow 40 - Calgary Rowing Club - the finish is just past the ferry!
A Deep Cove single, bow 38, heads towards the finish. In the background, a green Victoria Harbour Ferry heads the other way.
Bow 38 - Deep Cove - passing the ferry!
Bow 38, a Deep Cove single, crosses the finish.
Bow 38 - Deep Cove - and across the line!
Three Calgary boats, two doubles and a single, head back after the race. They were the first boats released because their return flight to Calgary left at 7 p.m.
Gotta catch that 7 p.m. flight to Calgary!
Several singles head back under the Point Ellice bridge. In the foreground is a bright yellow Victoria water taxi.
Taxi! How much for a tow?
The last seven boats head back after the last race of the day.
And… that's a wrap for the 2024 Head & Tail of the Gorge Regatta. Thank you everyone!