Pronounced As: thamz , river, c.15 miles (25 km) long, formed by the confluence of the Yantic and Shetucket rivers at Norwich, E Connecticut and flowing south to Long Island Sound at New London. Primarily a tidal estuary, it is New London's harbor and the site of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and a U.S. navy submarine base.  Since 1878 it has been the scene of Yale - Harvard rowing contests.

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University Boat Race - "America's Oldest Intercollegiate Athletic Event"

On August 3, 1852 in a 2-mile (3.2 km) race on the waters of Lake Winnepeaukee -  Harvard and Yale met for the first time.  Harvard won the inaugural race by about 4 lengths, earning a pair of black walnut oars as the prize.  Among the observers was General Franklin Pierce, the Democratic party nominee, a native of near-by Hillsborough, who was elected President later that year.

No further races were held between the schools until July 1855, when Yale issued another challenge that was contested  on the Connecticut River in Springfield.  Harvard and Yale met again in 1859 and 1860, but it wasn't until 1864 that the Regatta became an annual event.

The Regatta came to New London in 1878 and, with rare exception, has been held in the town originally known as Nameaug (good fishing place) ever since. 

The Regatta wasn't held in 1896 because of a breakdown in relations between the two schools, but was renewed in 1897 with a three-boat race in Poughkeepsie that included Cornell.  The Regatta was not held in 1943 - 45 because of World War II, and the 1946 race was held on the Charles River.  When the crews reappeared in New London the following spring, they saw the new highway bridge that had been completed above the Thames.  

In 1952, the schools went to New London in June, then ventured to Lake Winnepesaukee in August to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first Regatta.