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 Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin 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 18 composite wins, followed by Colby's 5 wins, concluding with Bowdoin's 1 win. The regatta has been held on various waters, and is hosted by all three of the colleges; the most frequent waters occupied are: the Androscoggin River, the Kennebec River, and Messalonskee River.

Regatta results

Overall winner and President's Cup

Results from the Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Chase Regatta.
No.DateSiteOverall winnerPresident's CupComposite timeBates totalBowdoin totalColby totalCite
11997Kennebec RiverBowdoinColby1
21998Messalonskee StreamColbyColby1
31999Messalonskee StreamColbyColby2
42000Kennebec RiverBatesBates1
52001Messalonskee RiverColbyColby3
62002Kennebec RiverColbyColby4
72003Messalonskee RiverBatesColby2
82004Messalonskee RiverBatesColby3
92005Kennebec RiverColbyColby5
102006Kennebec RiverBatesBates4
112007Messalonskee StreamBatesColby5
122008Messalonskee StreamBatesBates6
132009Kennebec RiverBatesBates7
142010Messalonskee StreamBatesBowdoinMV8
WV8
8
152011Androscoggin RiverBatesBatesMV8
WV8
9
162012Messalonskee StreamBatesCancelledMV8
WV8
10
172013Messalonskee StreamBatesBatesMV8
WV8
11
182014Androscoggin RiverBatesBatesMV8
WV8
12
192015Kennebec RiverBatesBatesMV8
WV8
13
202016Kennebec RiverBatesBatesMV8
WV8
14
212017Androscoggin RiverBatesBatesMV8
WV8
15
222018Androscoggin RiverBatesBatesMV8
WV8
16
232019Androscoggin RiverBatesBatesMV8
WV8
17
242022Androscoggin RiverBatesBatesMV8
WV8
18

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: — 18 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.