The Chase Regatta | ||
Contested by | ||
Bates | Bowdoin | Colby |
Information | ||
First boat race | August 3, 1988 | |
Annual event since | August 3, 1997 | |
Current champion |
Bates College
(2006 - ) |
|
Downstream record | Bates, 6:41.1 (2016) | |
Upstream record | Bates, 7:26.3 (2015) | |
Courses |
Kennebec Messalonskee Androscoggin |
|
Course length | 2,200 meters | |
Trophies | President's Cup (All CBB Schools) The Clayton (Bowdoin & Bates) |
|
Number of wins | ||
Bates | Bowdoin | Colby |
14 | 2 | 5 |
(2006 - )
The Colby–Bates–Bowdoin Chase Regatta (often abbreviated CBB Chase or simply referred to as the "Chase Regatta") is an annual rowing race between the men's and women's heavyweight varsity and club rowing crews of Bates College, Bowdoin College, 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 (CBBC) and the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). 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. The colleges' rowing teams are ranked favorably in national rankings with Bates being the most decorated rowing team in collegiate racing in 2015, the team currently is ranked first in the New England Small College Athletic Conference, and first in Division III rowing, according to U.S. Rowing.