Regatta season kicks-off on Saturday, April 28 with the NEWMAC Conference Championships and on Sunday, April 29 with the US Rowing Women's Eastern Sprints.  Viewing can be seen at Regatta Point, operated by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. 

Lake Quinsigamond will also host the New England Rowing Championships on Saturday, May 5, the US Rowing National Invitational Rowing Championships on Friday, May 11, the US Rowing Men’s Eastern Sprints Regatta on Sunday, May 13, the US Rowing Northeast Youth Championships from Friday, May 18 - Sunday, May 20, and the New England Interscholastic Rowing Championships on Saturday, May 26. 

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In addition to these national and regional championships, Lake Quinsigamond serves as the home course for several Worcester area teams including Assumption College, Bancroft School, Clark University, Holy Cross, Shrewsbury High, St. John’s High School, St. Mark’s, Worcester Academy, Worcester Public Schools, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI).  Never a dull moment during the rowing season, Lake Quinsigamond is host to over 25 different rowing competitions from the beginning of April until the end of May.  Some of the competitions will see as many as 7,000 visitors to the region, including competitors, coaches, family and the general public. 

Since the mid-1850s, Lake Quinsigamond has been an ideal location for crews to compete and establish numerous boat clubs around the lake’s shores. In 1952, the lake held the United States National Team Olympic rowing trials.  In 2005, 2012, and 2016, Lake Quinsigamond hosted the USRowing Masters National Championships. 

Discover Central Massachusetts, the region’s travel and tourism agency, in partnership with the Quinsigamond Rowing Association, Inc., the local organizing committee for all racing on Lake Quinsigamond, work in partnership to secure and market these competitions. Additionally, the growing community of master’s rowers (over 21 years old) and the formation of rowing clubs like the Quinsigamond Rowing Club helped attract the Master’s National Championship to the lake in 2016. The 2016 Master’s Nationals Championship Regatta was the largest attendance in the regatta’s history. 

“Lake Quinsigamond is one of the jewels of our community; among the best rowing venues in the world and a scenic oasis for residents and visitors alike,” said City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr. “As a city, it’s important for us to capitalize on our natural assets, and we’re thrilled to be able to welcome more world-class competition to the lake, and thousands of visitors to our hotels and restaurants.”

"This is a great opportunity for residents and visitors to watch world-class rowing right here at Lake Quinsigamond. The Town of Shrewsbury welcomes all the coaches, spectators and rowers to the area and hopes everyone enjoys the races and the Lake," said Angela Snell, Director of Shrewsbury Parks and Recreation, which oversees the Donahue Rowing Center. 

Lake Quinsigamond enjoys an excellent reputation as one of the best rowing venues in the country and is widely regarded as one of the top bodies of water for rowing throughout the world.

Information and race times for all of the regattas is available at qra.org and row2k.com.