The junior boys went out in their 8+ first. It took some serious teamwork just to get them launched as the boat we were borrowing from CRI was on the very top of the largest trailer (of 3 trailers) that they brought, and it was parked next to a telephone pole with wires staking it to the ground. So it was great to have many bodies helping to get it down and into slings so it could be rigged. We were lucky they started the race 30 minutes behind so that we could do the rigging and so that the amazing Brent Bode could do some boat repair on it's skeg (the fin on the bottom of the boat that helps keep it balanced and helps with steering). The parents and their coach, Briana Blood, said that they finished 22nd in a field of over 40 boats!!! Some of the kids in the boat learned to row less than 2 weeks ago!! Fantastic job, fellas!
The Men's Novice 4+ ended up being scratched, but Peter Hawes made the trip up anyway and was super helpful with all of the crews. The plan is to get the Men's Novice 4+ racing this weekend at Popes Island Regatta!!
Next up was the Women's Master 4+ and they were great. I can say this from first hand experience because I coxed this boat. From where the trailers were parked, we had over 6000 meters to row in order to get up to the start, and this was going against a rather strong current. They were constantly focused and made changes as needed. We got passed by a couple boats, but the women never gave in. They pushed hard the entire 5800 meters of the race and should be proud of themselves!
There was a HUGE delay while the Master 4+ was waiting to start (race time of 11:30 and we didn't go until about 12:30 or later) so I never got to see the Open Women's 4+ launch. Dylan - one of our junior boys coxed that boat and from what I'm told, they had a good race until the last 1500 meters or so when the winds were the worst and the water was roughest. They struggled, but fought together and had a good race!
As soon as I docked with the Master 4+, it was time for the Women's Novice 8+ to launch, so I hopped in the coxswain seat of that boat (taking with me the borrowed cox-box from Isaac Karasin - thank you!) and thank GAWD for that! It took us over 50 minutes to row by 6's all the way up the course and that's more rowing than these women have done in any of our practices. Then they still had to race! But they were ready and off we went. They held a solid stroke rating which was impressive since we don't have cox-boxes at home and haven't been able to do a lot of work with ratings. They raced for about 30 minutes straight which is probably twice as long as any pieces we've done in practice!! They were all amazing and I'm so proud.
Finishing off our day of racing, we launched our Junior Girls 8+. We only have 5 girls all season, so we weren't sure how we were going to fill the 8, but Mikayla Martinelli (who rowed with us all summer) filled a seat as well as 2 CRI girls that row for Brent Bode. We had our 8+!! They had never rowed their lineup before and had just met a few of the girls they were racing with, so they had a tough task ahead of them. I hear that the timing was tough to keep together, and it was windy but they're strong girls. Not just strong in power, but also in mind. They raced with heart and should all be proud of themselves. I know I'm proud of 'my peanuts'!
Great job by all that were there - coaches, rowers, parents, siblings, friends. It was a great learning experience for the rowers, coaches and parents as we prepare for the next two regattas. Come out to Popes Island in New Bedford this Saturday the 9th and see us race again!!
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