Five of nine crews representing the United States at the first of the 2011 Rowing World Cup stops in Munich, Germany advanced out of their opening heats Friday to Saturday's semifinals.
All of the women's entries advanced straight from the heats, while the men's double sculls, lightweight men's double sculls and men's single sculls crews had to race in the afternoon to move to the semifinals.
The regatta is particularly important for the men's and women's single sculls, lightweight men's and women's double sculls, men's and women's double sculls and women's pair because nominations to the 2011 U.S. National Team are on the line.
In each event where a national selection regatta winner finishes in the top four in Munich, they will be nominated to the team.
"The racing went well," said U.S. Women's Coach Tom Terhaar. "All the boats raced hard and aggressively and I'm looking forward to doing the side-by-side semis tomorrow."
The International Rowing Federation (FISA) used a time trial format Friday as a test of a potential contingency plan for difficult weather conditions that leave unfair conditions across a six-lane course.
Two separate formats were tested, with one using a fixed start in heats of six going every 30 seconds from two lanes. The second was a moving start with timing beginning 100 meters into the course.
In the women's pair, the team of Meghan Musnicki (Naples, N.Y.) and Susan Francia (Abington, Pa.) led the length of their race, winning the second heat with a time of 7:20.21. Racing in the third heat, Erin Cafaro (Modesto, Calif.) and Amanda Polk (Pittsburgh, Pa.) were behind in time in the first 500 meters but took control in the second quarter and won in a time of 7:20.39.
The 2010 world silver medal team of Great Britain's Helen Glover and Heather Stanning rowed in the first heat and clocked the fastest time of the day at 7:14.16.
In the women's double sculls Kate Bertko (Oakland, Calif.) and Sarah Trowbridge (Guilford, Conn.) led the whole way in the third heat and advanced to the semifinals with a time of 7:13.44. Great Britain's Katherine Granger and Melanie Wilson had the best time of the day with a 7:07.11.
Next to advance to the semifinal was the lightweight women's double sculls entry of Julie Nichols (Livermore, Calif.) and Kristin Hedstrom (Concord, Mass.). Nichols and Hedstrom trailed Triantafyllia Kalapoka and Cristina Giazitzidou of Greece through the first half of the race, but took the lead and held it in the third quarter, finishing with a time of 6:54.27.
In the women's single sculls, Gevvie Stone (Newton, Mass.) took the lead from reigning world champion Frida Svensson of Sweden in the second quarter and won with a time of 7:19.20.
In the afternoon session, John Graves (Cincinnati, Ohio) advanced to the semifinal after finishing second in his repechage, or second-chance race, in a time of 7:25.11. Graves is not racing for a qualifying spot on the national team.
The men's double sculls entry of Glenn Ochal (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Will Miller (Duxbury, Mass.) finished second in the morning heat and also had to race in the afternoon. They advanced in their second race with a time of 6:26.65.
Last year's world champion silver medalists, Matthew Wells and Marcus Bateman of Great Britain had the best time of the day finishing in a time of 6.24.14.
Next to move on was the lightweight men's double sculls team of Brian de Regt (Rowayton, Conn.) and Jon Winter (New Haven, Conn.). The duo finished second in the morning heat and then second in the afternoon quarterfinal to advance with a time of 6:29.87.
The two-time world champion team of Rasmus Quist and Mads Rusmussen of Denmark had the fastest time of the day, winning its heat in 6:12.17.
In the men's single sculls, Beijing Olympian Ken Jurkowski (New Fairfield, Conn.) drew last year's world championship silver medalist Alan Campbell of Great Britain in his heat and finished second. With only the top boat in each heat going straight to the semifinal, Jurkowski was forced to row in the afternoon where he finished second in 7:03.69 to advance.