SEATTLE – It may have been the best day, in terms of weather, ever for a Windermere Cup. It may have been the strongest field, in terms of international and domestic competition, in the 40-year history of the event. And the Washington men’s varsity crew’s epic win over Great Britain may have been the most thrilling race ever at the Opening Day Regatta.
The Huskies’ narrow victory over the British National Team, gold medalists at the 2024 Olympics and silver medalists at last year’s World Rowing Championships, capped a sun-soaked morning on Montlake Cut, where the 40thWindermere Cup races thrilled a huge crowd that packed much of the length of the 2,000-meter racecourse. The No. 1-ranked Washington men led their race through most of the final three quarters and had to fight off a ferocious comeback effort from the British crew, which included seven athletes who earned medals at the 2025 World Championships.
Washington won the Windermere Cup with a time of 5:29.082, just 0.165 seconds in front of Great Britain (5:29.247). Northeastern University’s varsity eight, which led the race at 500 meters, came in third, in 5:35.914…