This Sunday, May 10, AB Crew returns to the Merrimack River in Lowell, Massachusetts for the 2026 Amber Zapatka Memorial Regatta, hosted by Lowell Regattas, Inc. at the UMass Lowell Bellegarde Boathouse.
The team is excited to return to Lowell after last year’s regatta was cancelled due to weather and challenging river conditions on the Merrimack. With crews continuing to build momentum throughout the spring season, the event marks another important opportunity for athletes across novice and varsity squads to race, learn, and compete together.
The Amber Zapatka Memorial Regatta honors Amber Zapatka, a former rower at Lowell High School and UMass Lowell who tragically passed away in 2015 following a motorcycle accident. The regatta, formerly known as the Lowell Invitational Regatta, was later renamed in her memory. Her legacy continues through the event’s emphasis on teamwork, camaraderie, and appreciation for the rowing community.
“Cherish your teammates, cherish the race.”
The regatta takes place along the Merrimack River in Lowell, with racing beginning early Sunday morning and continuing throughout the afternoon.
Event Information
Amber Zapatka Memorial Regatta 2026
📍 Merrimack River — Lowell, MA
🏠 Hosted at the UMass Lowell Bellegarde Boathouse
500 Pawtucket Boulevard, Lowell, MA 01854
🚗 Regatta Parking:
381 Pawtucket Boulevard, Lowell, MA 01854
⏰ First time trial: 8:00 AM
⏰ Final scheduled race: 4:29 PM
📊 Live results will be available throughout the day via
HereNOW Results – Amber Zapatka Memorial Regatta 2026
AB Crew athletes, families, alumni, and supporters are encouraged to come cheer on the team throughout the day.
Recent Results: Competitive and Cordial Races at the Wayland-Weston Scrimmage
AB Crew heads into Lowell following an impressive weekend of racing at the Wayland-Weston scrimmage, where crews across all levels delivered strong performances, technical growth, and outstanding sportsmanship.
Varsity Girls: The Varsity Girls squad showcased both speed and adaptability throughout the day. In the single sculls, AB rowers secured 1st, 2nd, and 4th place finishes in a gritty opening race. The Varsity Girls 8+ mounted an impressive comeback during their race, steadily walking through the field to secure an open-water victory.
Additional highlights included strong technical improvements from the 4+ and 2V8+ crews, while the captains’ 4x+ delivered a dominant win in the masters race—even edging out one of the coaches’ entries.
The team also celebrated major improvements in recent 2K benchmark testing, with athletes recognizing significant personal-record drops across the squad.
Novice Girls: The Novice Girls crews continued to show remarkable progress and resilience. Both Novice Girls 8+ boats were leading their heat against Wayland-Weston crews before one boat encountered a mechanical issue mid-race. Despite rowing short-handed after a footplate failure, the crew fought through to the finish with determination and composure.
The novice athletes also demonstrated significant fitness gains, with nearly the entire squad posting personal-record improvements in recent 2K testing.
Varsity Boys: The Varsity Boys crews delivered several standout performances. The 1V4+ secured a decisive win over multiple Wayland-Weston entries, while the boys’ 2V8+ demonstrated resilience and focus throughout a hard-fought race.
The doubles also impressed, with Reid and Henry earning another convincing victory in the 2x. Additional athletes stepped into new lineups with limited preparation time and showed strong cohesion and teamwork on the water.
The squad also celebrated an important milestone as Matthew competed in his first single sculling race, continuing his development and confidence in the 1x.
Novice Boys: The Novice Boys 8+ earned a strong win over Wayland-Weston’s novice entry and also held connection against a varsity-level crew later in the day. The Novice Boys 4+ faced a challenging field that included varsity competition and continued to battle hard through the finish.
Across all squads, coaches noted excellent sportsmanship, teamwork, and support among athletes both on and off the water.
As the team heads into another busy weekend of racing, AB Crew continues to build momentum, fitness, and confidence across the program.
