Eight men.
One boat.
Henley Royal Regatta.
PennAC is racing the Thames Challenge Cup at the 187th Henley Royal Regatta. We've done the work and we're ready to race. Help us put a Philadelphia crew on the podium.
The oldest rowing prize in the world.
The Henley Royal Regatta, first raced in 1839, is the most storied event in rowing. Boats race head-to-head down a 2,112-meter straight course, with winners advancing until only one crew remains.
The Thames Challenge Cup, now 158 years old, is one of the premier eights events. Crews must come from the same rowing club, and rowers cannot have competed at the Olympics or the World Rowing Cup.
- Founded
- 1839
- Course
- 2,112 Meters
- Format
- Knockout
- Boat class
- Club Men's 8+
- Entries
- 50+ crews
- Cup awarded
- Since 1868
Years of work. Five days of racing.
- Sep 2025/ 01
Selection
250+ athletes considered. 9 fastest eligible athletes chosen.
- Oct — Mar/ 02
Winter training
Six days a week. 8,000,000+ meters on the erg as a crew.
- Apr 2026/ 03
Organization
Boat rented, lodging secured, flights booked, and kit ordered.
- May 2026/ 04
Henley Prep
Pair rows, more training, and Henley race replay reviews.
- 22 Jun 2026/ 05
Wheels up
Crew, cox, and 60 feet of carbon fibre fly to Henley-on-Thames.
- 1 — 5 Jul 2026/ 06
Race Week
Qualifiers and up to four days of head to head races.
The History of Penn AC
From a handful of oarsmen on the Schuylkill River to an unbroken line of Olympians, we carry Jack Kelly Sr & Jr's Henley legacy forward on this campaign.
- 1871/ 01
Originally Founded as West Philadelphia Boat Club
Founded on the Schuylkill River, the club was born. In 1873 the club joined the Schuylkill Navy moved into boathouse #12 in 1878 where it has been ever since.
- 1924/ 02
First Olympic Gold
Frank Muller joins as coach and Jack Kelly Sr. wins double sculls gold in Paris. The club is also renamed Penn AC Rowing Association.
- 1930/ 03
The Big Eight wins the World Championship
Penn AC's "Big Eight" beat Italy by two lengths at Liège. Their 5:18 time stood as the fastest 8+ time until the Germans beat it by fractions of a second in 2017.
- 1947/ 04
Jack Kelly Jr. wins Henley
Jack Kelly Jr. wins the Diamond Sculls at Henley years after his father was denied access to the event because he "worked with his hands" as a bricklayer.
Nine to the line.
Average 2k: 6:04. Average Weight: 208 lb. National Team Members: 2. Universities Represented: 6.
| Seat | Athlete | Weight | Height | From | About |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bow | Michael Cofone | 175 lb | 6'1 | Holmdel, NJ | Oxford Brookes Alum & Former US National Team |
| 2 | Jack Childress | 212 lb | 6'3 | Boise, ID | Colby College's 2k Record Holder |
| 3 | Connor Shoup | 225 lb | 6'4 | Steilacoom, WA | University of Washington Alum |
| 4 | Nemanja Šajatović | 215 lb | 6'4 | Belgrade, Serbia | Drexel Alum & Serbian National Team Member |
| 5 | Kiefer Law | 225 lb | 6'6 | Bellingham, WA | Current University of Washington Redshirt |
| 6 | TBD | TBD lb | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 7 | Lucas Woodruff | 210 lb | 6'5 | Costa Mesa, CA | University of Washington Alum |
| Stroke | Connor Basile | 210 lb | 6'4 | Laguna Beach, CA | University of California Irvine Alum |
| Cox | Whitney Powell | - | 5'2 | Irvine, CA | LMU Alum & Founder of 7Seas Rowing Club |
Every dollar moves the boat.
We're an amateur club without university or national team funding. Getting 8 men, a coxswain, and a 60-foot racing shell across the Atlantic takes the entire rowing community. Here's exactly where your gift goes.
Budget breakdown
Total · $21,300- 01Crew lodging (9 athletes)$4,500
- 02Boat shipping & rental from Empacher$9,000
- 03Blade rental from C2$2,000
- 04Henley Royal Regatta entry fee$300
- 05Racing kit & team blazers$5,500
“Everyday is a seat race”
Sponsor our Crew
We have carefully thought out some of the ways we can thank everyone who donates to our mission.
Secured by Stripe
Charles River
- Name on the website
- Training videos from Henley
- Months
- --
- Days
- --
- Hours
- --
- Minutes
- --
- Seconds
- --
Schuylkill River
- Everything in Charles River
- Signed postcard from the crew
River Seine
- Everything in Schuylkill River
- Personal video call from the crew during race week
River Thames
- Everything in River Seine
- Invitation to the team dinner (at Henley-on-Thames)
Corporate sponsorship
Please reach out below to explore marketing opportunities with our crew. Proudly supported by Clifton Clothing, Empacher Germany, and Everyting To Gain.
MikeCofone@protonmail.com