SteveA beat me to it, I found the same 2 links. Here is some of the text.
On August 3, 1852--in a two-mile race on the calm waters of Lake Winnepeaukee--Harvard and Yale battled like never before. Yale was represented by two boats, the Shawmut and the Undine, while Harvard rowed in the Oneida. Harvard won the inaugural race by about four lengths, earnings a pair of black walnut oars as its prize. It seems that people right away knew this was going to be the start of something big, for among the distinguished observers was General Franklin pierce, the Democratic party nominee and native of near-by Hillsborough, who would be elected President later that year.
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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. The race followed the original script, with Harvard winning by 2.7 seconds.
In 1956 the Yale Crew won a gold in the Olympics
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Gene ~ aka "another RI Swamp Yankee"
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