Head Of The Charles Regatta Attracts Thousands Of Spectators

BOSTON (CBS) --  Thousands of athletes and spectators have poured into Boston for the 51st annual Head of the Charles regatta.

The event coordinators anticipated more than 11,000 athletes and 400,000 spectators at this year's event, according to the regatta's website.

Alex Stein, a Dartmouth college alumni who rowed in the Alumni 8 race, said the wind was definitely a challenge, but the team still had fun.

"We made friends with the buoy along the way, and we made the best of it," Stein said. "It's all about finesse, not fitness."

The races, taking place Saturday and Sunday, creates traffic on the roads and river. Memorial Drive is closed from the Cambridge Boat Club to Western Avenue during both days.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports