Finding the camera and making the cover of the row2k Recap on your first Race Day of the spring? Pretty good day out for the Ocean City HS team, with full credit to the first athlete who spotted us--strong work!

Here's what else we saw out on the water there this week..let's Recap!

"If There Are No Objections...Ready All, Row!"

We couldn't hear from our spot on the bridge whether crews were being asked about starting early, but they would have had to ask every 5' for 3.5 hours at the Flick if our watch was right.

The weather report said that the end of Flick 1 could get dicey, so when everyone showed up early for the first race, officials decided to Send 'Em!

The 9am race went under the Strawberry Mansion Bridge at 8:50, and two races were done by 9am, and they kept it going the rest of the day.

The first Flick-er of 2025: Agnes Irwin's Mason McMahon...through the bridge 10 minutes before her 9 am race time

Fortunately we have seen this before on iffy weather days, and were up on the bridge at 8:40. A parent who was sneaking in a bike ride did slow down to ask 'are the races on time?!?', and after we told him they were 5 minutes early, he drove his pedal down and took off. He clearly expected the regatta to be running late; not this weekend.

Speaking of Iffy Weather

The college racing in Oak Ridge at the Cardinal Invite kicked off with a full-on, let's wait 'til this afternoon and try again delay on Saturday...and stayed wet enough Sunday that this stakeboater opted for the trash bag rain gear look:

Lane 7...all bagged up

So...welcome to spring weather as usual, we guess.

In Like a Lion, Eventually

Back in Philly, the first couple races of the day were rowed in mirror-like conditions...

Tank top temps and flat water in Philly...not too shabby to start for a March 15th race

That lasted a while--but when the direct south wind came up, things definitely got a bit chunky for the later races.

Kudos to the sole pair entry of the day, who hit that headwind out in Lane 6 in one of the varsity doubles races.

How Breezy?

Well, even the sea gulls on the bridge were in weather-vane mode.

Um, Check Yer Slides...

We did a report yesterday on the WorldRowing Congress, which announced some big changes for Worlds and the Olympics over the weekend, like no more reps and adding mixed eights, among other things.

Unfortunately, some slightly, well, imperfect screenshots escaped from the presentations in Switzerland and made their way on to the rowing message boards, mis-spellings and all - Oy(mpic)!

Packing In the Race Fans

Even the first Flick had its share of parent tents going, getting Kelly Drive warmed up for a full spring of chuck wagon goodness, but hard to beat the standing room only (and sink the dock!) enthusiasm of the fans at the Pacific Invite:

Wet toes in the front row?

Fist Bumps? Check.

Wouldn't be a day on the start platform without a bevy of fist bump photos. Swipe thru our faves from Oak Ridge.

Impressive Symmetry for Early Spring

Looks like this quad has been doing some drilling up in Conshy--looking sharp.

Like Ships Passing in the Wind Shadow

Irish Every Day

You don't have to dressed up for St Patty's Day with these unis:

For Notre Dame, shamrocks are an everyday thing.

Villa Maria Trifecta

1) Matching hair braiding: Check 2) Ribbons: Check 3) Race plan card: Check

We actually spotted a few "Have notes, let's race" coxswains out there this weekend, even in the college crews. Gotta love well-prepped folks in the 'Driver's Seats'...

Sure Hope The Fourth Guy is Carrying Oars

And..the *Real* First Sign of Spring

When the row2k office opens up on Strawberry Mansion Bridge:

Be here all spring if you need us.