Approaching dusk after nearly nine hours of racing Saturday afternoon, the winner of the feature race at the 9th Head of the South Regatta remained unknown.

During the men's championship 8 with coxswain, pre-race favorite Georgia Tech appeared to coast to a convincing victory on the Savannah River.

But while passing a boat that had started previously in another event, Georgia Tech missed a buoy, and the resulting 30-second penalty allowed Jacksonville University to take the race despite a protest from the Georgia Tech coaching staff. Jacksonville finished the 5K course in 15 minutes, 51 seconds.

"We've been working over the last few years building this team," Jacksonville coach Jim Mitchell said. "I'm very proud of the way they finished."

"It's exciting because it's such a tough race. You are competing against time, so you're not sure how you end up," said David Weaver, a member of the championship squad.

Jacksonville also took the victory in the regatta's final event, the women's championship 8 with coxswain, by 1 second over Savannah College of Art and Design.

N.C. State (35 points) took the overall collegiate title, edging out Georgia Tech (32 points) and Jacksonville (30 points) to win the 2005 Chronicle Cup.

"When our coach told me that we had won, I was in complete shock," said N.C. State's Megan Ring, who rowed to two victories on the day. "But ... we had a feeling that we would do well today."

The Augusta Rowing Club enjoyed six wins on the day, starting off the regatta with a Tim Larson victory in sculling singles. Despite a 30-second buoy penalty, Larson took the victory by almost a full minute, finishing in 19:45.

In junior action, the women's novice team from Augusta won the youth novice 8 with coxswain. Their winning time of 20:49 was 2 seconds better Stanton Prep of Jacksonville, Fla.

"During the last few seconds, you're so close to being able to stop, but you have to keep going your hardest," novice rower Erin Sentell said.

The novice division is made up of high school freshmen who compete for one year before they move up to the varsity level.

"We have a whole lot of support out here with family and friends," said novice team coach Meagan Matta. "It's bittersweet because I know that these girls will move up soon."