"Hart has given his life to rowing," Mike Teti said of Hart Perry on the occasion of the surprise christening of the W. Hartwell Perry. "For this reason alone, we felt it appropriate and imperative that we name a boat for him. But as we head into this new Olympic quadrennial, we wanted to name a boat for someone who would also inspire the guys. Hart is an inspiration to all of us."

An incomplete catalogue of Hart's good works: Henley Steward; coach at Kent, Coast Guard, and several other camps and institutions; judge-referee; shepard of the Mystic Seaport Rowing Museum and Power 10; executive director of the National Rowing Foundation; USRowing board member; leading proponent of junior rowing in the US; member of the Leander Club; and longtime supporter of Kent School and Dartmouth College rowing. This list does not begin to express the depth and stamina of Hart's commitment to our sport; if I've missed anything, let me know and I'll add it here.

The five organizations represented on the bow of the boat: The National Rowing Foundation; Power 10; Leander Club; Dartmouth College; Kent School.

Speakers at the christening included Mike Meehan, and Henley Steward Mike Sweeney, two men who know a little themselves about supporting our sport.

"US rowing has an executive director, a board, coaches, members; all are critical to the sport," Teti said. "But Hart is the godfather of US rowing. Coaches and others might come and go, but the godfather always takes care of his children. We wanted to recognize that."

While I was on the water at the time of the boat christening, and someone else may have done this already, row2k also thinks it appropriate to recognize Hart's wife Gill, who works as tirelessly as does Hart on all of the projects they have taken on together. Thanks for everything, Mr. and Mrs. Perry.