“Doc Rigall”, the 1964 Vesper 8, that won the Gold Medal at the Tokyo Olympics is making its way home to Philadelphia this week, for Dad Vails, after being gone for 40+ years. Doc Rigall was a Donoratico 8 made in Italy. The boat was made specifically for the 1964 Olympics for the US Men. A unique fact was the boat was air shipped 2 weeks before the games from Donoratico, Italy to Tokyo, Japan in the days before FedEx. The boat was made as a tri-sectional where the bow and 7-8 broke apart to allow for easier shipment.
This boat has been rowed by Vesper’s Elite Program, Vesper’s Junior Program, Miami Rowing Club, and finally Melbourne High School Crew. Upon its retirement as a training 8 in the early 80’s it was left to rot on the hill at the anchorage in Melbourne. Two rowers recognizing the historic nature of the boat managed to rescue the bow section, bow seat, and 3 seat. All 3 pieces have been restored.
The bow section has been lovingly carried for by Pat Hernacki (founding faculty member for Mel-Hi Crew) in her house for the past 30 years. The family is now giving the bow section to the NRF so that it may be placed on public display after the museum completes the renovation at the National Rowing Museum in Mystic Connecticut.