A year out from the 2020 COVID-19 cancellation, Rowing Tasmania executive officer Rob Prescott said it was positive to see rowers and their families return to the lake.

"We're really quite delighted with the crowds that are here and the quality of the athletes," he said.

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"Yes, it was a little bit wet, but [it was] a very good day's racing.

"The water's been like glass, it's perfect racing conditions."

The day's marquee races: the boys' and girls' open eights yielded winners from Hutchins and Scotch Oakburn respectively.

Scotch girls rowing coach Ali Foot said it had been 24 years since the school won that race.

"The girls haven't won since '97 when the [national senior] women's coach John Keogh was here ... it's been a long time coming," he said.

The former world champion rower said after not being able to race in last year's regatta, his team were quite proud to come out on top in 2021.

"The girls were pretty dominant last year as well ... to get it done [this year] really puts it up to those girls - it's a special thing for both years," Foot said.

"Even the ones that weren't there on Saturday - it was really nice to row for them as well."

Both St Patrick's College and Launceston Grammar nabbed co-educational shields.

Prescott said it was particularly pleasing to see St Patrick's field a strong team.

"It was great to see St Patrick's College boat an eight in the girls' race - it's been a long time since they've done that," he said.

Grammar's head of rowing Max Rowan was happy with his squad's overall performance, but was particularly proud of the younger rowers.

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"I think across the board every age group had a win ... it shows their hard work pay off," he said.

"Especially the young ones seeing the older rowers do well and then they do well which is good to see."

Prescott said it was satisfying to return to normalcy of the Head of the River rounding out rowing season in Tasmania.

"It's just nice to have a normal season and that's really what it comes down to," he said.

"We've managed to get all of school and club rowing done with minimal restrictions."