Crews from southern universities blamed their slower start this year on several chilly mornings in late January.
"By now, we usually have at least two or three more days of water time, not to mention golden tans," said Florida rower Missy Suffolk. "Two days below forty degrees, then at least like eight days of partly and even mostly cloudy days really messed with our preparation. And then the wind chill from those ergs - brrr!"