There is a jovial atmosphere at a Master's regatta... why wouldn't there be? It is an athletic summer vacation, never mind the Camden part. The actual race course, launch area, grandstand, and food tents could be anywhere, and Starbucks and all the strip malls of home are just a mile or two away. And of course, there is no pressure to live up to those D 1 scholarship dollars - it is all for pride and a good summer ale.
So as racing commenced on an unexpectedly mild day in Camden, it was very quiet and grown-up. Not one dock cheer rang out. No cow bells. No parental units with coolers and "Crew Mom" sweatshirts.
Thankfully the real trappings of a good regatta were there: lanes full of rowers, a posse of USRowing officials, tents, tents, tents, and attentive USRowing staffers. All told, there were 1,555 entries, just a couple hundred shy of last's years event at the same venue. The largest age-group was the "D's," with 257 50-54 year old athletes. There are five athletes age 80+ here, and if any of you are reading...row2k wants to speak to you.
The weather was far more mild in temperature than August in Camden in August can sometimes deliver, and certainly moreso than the epic heat wave of the past two months in the area. At just about 80 degrees and overcast, it was not the sunscreen-sucker that rowers here are accustomed to. The big weather player was the wind. A fairly strong headwind often accompanied by a crossing wind (port to starboard, from the North shore) increased as the hours passed, leaving many to experience some chop and oar-smacking spanning all lanes.
Last year, John Tunicliffe (rowing unaffiliated but a Massachusetts resident) won both the B and C 1x categories. His common practice at a regatta is to race all he can fit in over four days. This year John started his singles juggernaut (he might not refer to his domination of the 1X as such, last check he was working at a Yoga training center/Kripalu) in the A category (27-35), despite being a bit beyond that in years. He won by five seconds. First race down. We'll see him again as the regatta progresses.
Another repeat performer is Mike Van Beuren of Upper Valley Rowing Foundation, who won the E 1X in 2009 and now again in 2010. Entries are down a bit this year, but certainly not in this category. At 58 and one of the older competitors in the event, Van Beuren had to rise to the top of four heats/two semis, ultimately winning the race by 2 seconds.
One more repeat performer from the Women's C Eight category is the entry from Skidmore Community Rowing, (I am compelled, and not by row2k, to say this...this is reporter's club) who won by 11 seconds over the field. They won in 2006, 2009 and 2010 in this category. "Our coxswain announced that we had the bowball of the closest boat at about the 500, and we were flying," says stroke Emily Mastrianni, who won on this course in her college days for Cornell. As for the Stanley Cup-esque Hanbury Cup that comes with wining this category, Mastrianni adds, "I want to thank the family of the Hanburys for such a beautiful trophy...I want to take it home with me... and keep winning it!"
As the day progressed the starter went to a countdown to accommodate the conditions, and the tight schedule was almost impossible to maintain with eights at times sideways across two lanes at the stake boats. One small mistake at the 1000 meters and the bow was pointing to land. Vigilant officials kept boats in the queue, but sometimes waiting boats were also tossed around as well. There is a chance of storms tomorrow, but not high, and Saturday is predicted to be sunny and warm.
Reports will continue throughout the weekend, make sure to check the daily galleries here.
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