It is a pleasure and a relief to report on the 2002 FISA World Masters Regatta held a few days ago on the rowing course at Racice in The Czech Republic. Organising this very big regatta has become a major task and the number of seat entries this year was higher even than the record entry in Montreal last year. But the devastating floods which affected the area only three weeks ago made the task even harder than normal.
The rowing course was not itself affected by flooding, but all roads and railways and houses round about it were. The rowing clubs beside the River Vltava in Prague had no notice that the floods would be so high and they came so quickly that many boats have been destroyed. All houses and buildings affected have to be dried out in the next few months, otherwise the winter frosts will destroy the walls and the buildings will collapse. People living in houses only a few hundred meters from the Racice rowing course were evacuated and they lived in the Sports Centre there for a time. The computer server for the Regatta Organisation's website disappeared under three meters of water. All access routes to the course were damaged. Signs of the flooding can be seen everywhere. Bridges on new motorways are partially destroyed and overhead electricity cables can be seen with flood debris on them. Some major hotels are still closed.
But the Czechs were thoroughly organised and after a break the preparations for the regatta resumed. Emergency plans were made whilst the Czech government took every possible precaution against the dangers of disease and other hazards which can be the result of such terrible flooding.
By the time of the regatta the course was accessible. The size of the entry was bigger than the record taken last year by Montreal, and the racing using all eight lanes at 3 minutes intervals started and finished on time each day.
The FISA Masters Commission extends many thanks to the Czech Rowing Federation, The Racice Organising Committee, the staff at the Racice Sports Centre and of course to all the volunteers who played such a vital role in the smooth running of the regatta. We also appreciate the help of those running websites who put up helpful notices and did not fall into the trap of repeating some of the wildly incorrect and damaging reports made by some newspapers and television programmes. The FISA webite was invaluable for a week or so as the main location for the latest news.
But most of all we thank all of you who travelled from all over the world to take part in the regatta. You told us unanimously that the rowing course was first class, the organisation was efficient and polite, and the atmosphere in the whole regatta area extremely pleasant. We cannot ask for more than this and we can only say again that we appreciate the support of all of you who came and enjoyed it so much.
The final race of the regatta was for four very mixed VIIIs and for once the FISA crew (with help from Vichy) was beaten by the Organising Committee crew. The FISA umpires crew and the Czech umpires crew politely finished third and fourth. Is it too late now to complain that one of the rowers in the winning crew was Vaclav Chalupa?? Of course it is, because the Organising Committee deserved this final racing success just as much as they deserve all the praise that you have so freely given them for such a successful regatta under such difficult circumstances.
Peter G. Morrison Chairman, FISA Masters Commission