From stroke to bow: "(Gasp!) Tell me when we hit the turn!" This instruction, heard clearly across the river due an acoustically advantageous stretch of the Housatonic, was spoken upon arriving at the first turn of the Housa course by a breathless scholastic rower in a quad. Where savvy coxswains and bow people pointed toward the buoys, a few errant boats added some distance to their course at this very location?this quad included.
That was the easy part - the real fun happened in the final turn; about 800 meters from the finish, when a brisk wind kicked in and starboard oars took skyward if rowers were not careful. It gave that side a good reason to kick it into gear for the sprint?let's get out of this wind! Small boats had some rough water at this section, but the remains of the course was like glass; this little stretch was just a reminder that this is head racing after all.
That said, the wind was not a big issue at the Head of the Housatonic October 7, 2006. It was an impressive fall day, and organizers at New Haven Rowing Club and attendees were likely elated that they did not have to contend with the ankle deep mud of last year. More than 720 boats worked their way down the course on Saturday, and races got off schedule only briefly around lunch break, and most races were put on the line on time (or close to it) thereafter.
High school crews filled the eights categories with multiple entries from each school or club. From the 39 entries in the HS Women's category, Community Rowing came out first in 15:47, Maritime Rowing second with 16:04, and Wayland Weston in third 16 seconds later. Wayland Weston also earned bronze in the Men's High School division in 14:48, with Brunswick 10 seconds ahead to earn silver, and Chaminade High School getting the gold in 14:13 over 47 boats in the category. Bring 'em on!
The Division 1 and IRA Collegiate School categories were not as well subscribed, but provided Yale some competitive training on home water. In the Men's IRA Collegiate 8 division, it was Yale in first with 13:24, Trinity 32 seconds back and Dowling three behind at 13:59. Two Yale boats pulled in for fourth and fifth. In the Women's Division 1 eights race, Yale grabbed the first two slots with 15:27 and 15:33, Northeastern in third with 15:44 just ahead of another Yale crew with 15:45. Yale clearly has a deep Women's crew, interesting to see how that works for them in the spring, huh? Northeastern edged out several Yale crews in the Women's D1 four, with Yale taking second and third and the Northeastern grabbing fourth and fifth.
The Head of the Housatonic was also the conclusion of the Fall Sculling Circuit, in its first year. The circuit totaled results from four early-fall events, the points winner earned cash prizes, a rare treat for young scullers involved. This year's races featured four Connecticut events, organizer James Mangan, coach of Saugatuck Rowing Club's junior/elite scullers, would like to expand it to more events and states for next year. Although one of the four featured regattas was cancelled due to weather (Head of the Riverfront), the Mystic Coastweeks, GMS Regatta and Housatonic races counted for points. In the Men's Single, James Dietz of NYAC, coached by his father Jim Dietz, won the overall Championship Men's single after placing fifth today in the Men's Open 1x. Thomas Graves had the fastest time with a 17:00 finish. Dietz was also the US Under 23 single sculler in 2006. Catherine Starr of Saugatuck won the Championship Women's Single after a ninth place finish today. Two consistent young Philadelphia scullers from Undine Barge Club (Beth Greene and Shannon Kaplan) came in first and third in the Housatonic event.
The Head of the Housatonic packed in the spectators?crew parents with grills, extensive vendors and the masters' hoards and hangers-on. The weather helped with this, but organizers earned a nod as well. Many will be looking to return next year, especially if that weather returns. For photos and results, go to www.row2k.com/gallery and www.row2k.com/results .
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