After winning her class last fall, a Kirkland woman returned to the greater Boston area and claimed her fourth class victory at the Head of the Charles Regatta in late October.

Jan Stone, 76, won the Senior Veteran II division on Oct. 22 in just over 26 minutes. She races a single scull, a small rowing boat, designed for speed — but not necessarily for stability.

Stone said the forecast was for high winds the morning of her race, but the wind never kicked up and the race went as planned.

Competitors start at 10-second intervals in order to avoid a wild scramble at the start, with returning rowers at the front of the line. The course begins at the heart of the Charles River in the shadow of Fenway Park and MIT. The race passes under six bridges and takes rowers through the campus of Harvard University.

The Head of the Charles is the last event of the season for Stone, who spends the winter and spring preparing for events during the summer. Stone competed in Vancouver, Wash., Vancouver, BC., Massachusetts and Copenhagen in 2016.

“I hope to keep competing forever,” Stone said. “It’s a thrill. This race is always wonderful whether I win or not, and I haven’t by any means.”