The No. 2 California men's rowing team will be in the hunt for the national title this weekend at the 2026 IRA National Championships. The regatta will be held Friday to Sunday on Lake Natoma in Sacramento. Fans can watch the live stream on Overnght or follow along with live results on Regatta Central.
 
The Golden Bears are chasing their 20th national title and first since winning back-to-back IRA Championships in 2022 and 2023. Cal also claimed the national title in 2016, 2010, 2006, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1976, 1964, 1961, 1960, 1949, 1939, 1935, 1934, 1932 and 1928. In 2023, the Bears had a historic sweep of the regatta, taking first place in all four events for the first time in program history and winning the James Eyck Memorial Trophy, which is given to the overall team points winner.
 
The Varsity Challenge Cup will be awarded to the winner of the men's varsity eight grand final this weekend, which determines the winner of the national title. The winner of the second varsity eight grand final will be awarded the Kennedy Challenge Cup, while the third varsity eight grand final champion will receive the Stewards Cup and the winner of the varsity four grand final will receive the Eric W. Will Trophy. Cal has won the Kennedy Challenge Cup 13 times, the Stewards Cup 10 times and the Eric W. Will Trophy five times in program history.
 
The IRA Championships use a three-day format for the eights, with Friday serving as heats and repechages races, semifinals taking place Saturday and finals slated for Sunday. The grand finals for the varsity 4+ take place on Saturday, with both the time trials and semifinals occurring on Friday.
 
Cal will look to improve upon its third-place team finish in the James Eyck Memorial Trophy standings at last year's championship regatta. An unfortunate miscue in the varsity eight's semifinal race left the Bears out of the grand finals, despite the crew being in the thick of a battle for first place until catching a crab in the final 250 meters. The V8+ won the petite final with the fastest time of the entire regatta held on Cooper River in Camden, New Jersey. Cal's 2V8+, 3V8+ and V4+ each placed third in their respective grand finals.
 
The Bears are coming off a runner-up finish at the 2026 MPSF Championship two weeks ago at the same venue as this weekend's regatta. Cal's varsity eight finished behind No. 1 Washington by only two seconds. The 2V8+ was runner-up behind the Huskies in its race while Cal's 3V8+, 4V8+ and freshmen eight each notched event wins. Alexander Baroni, Gennaro di Mauro and Pablo Moreno were named to the MPSF All-Conference team following their performances in the V8+.
 
Race Schedule: (All times PT)
Friday, May 29
8:24 a.m. – V8+ Heat 2: California, Dartmouth, Yale, Columbia, Georgetown, UCSD
9:28 a.m. – 2V8+ Heat 4: California, Syracuse, Yale Boston University, La Salle, Georgetown
9:36 a.m. – 3V8+ Heat 1: California, Penn, Northeastern, Navy, Holy Cross
 
11:30 a.m. – V4+ Time Trial
4-4:32 p.m. – V4+ Semifinals
 
Saturday, May 30
8:48 a.m. – V8+ Semifinal AB
8:56 a.m. – V8+ Semifinal AB
 
9:04 a.m. – 2V8+ Semifinal AB
9:12 a.m. – 2V8+ Semifinal AB
 
9:20 a.m. – 3V8+ Semifinal AB
9:12 a.m. – 3V8+ Semifinal AB
 
9:36 a.m. – V8+ Semifinal CD
9:44 a.m. – V8+ Semifinal CD
 
9:52 a.m. – 2V8+ Semifinal CD
10:00 a.m. – 2V8+ Semifinal CD
 
10:08 a.m. – 3V8+ Semifinal CD
10:16 a.m. – 3V8+ Semifinal CD
 
10:32 a.m. – V4+ Final 5
10:40 a.m. – V4+ Final 4
10:48 a.m. – V4+ Final 3
11:04 a.m. – V4+ Final 2
11:30 a.m. – V4+ Final 1
 
Sunday, May 31
8:50 a.m. – 3V8+ Final 4
8:58 a.m. – 2V8+ Final 4
9:06 a.m. – V8+ Final 4
 
9:14 a.m. – 3V8+ Final 3
9:22 a.m. – 2V8+ Final 3
9:30 a.m. – V8+ Final 3
 
9:38 a.m. – 3V8+ Final 2
9:46 a.m. – 3V8+ Final 1
 
11:00 a.m. – 2V8+ Final 2
11:08 a.m. – 2V8+ Final 1
 
11:56 a.m. – V8+ Final 2
12:04 p.m. – V8+ Final 1
 
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal men's rowing, follow the Bears on X (@CalMrowing), Instagram (@calmrowing) and Facebook (Cal Crew).