Last year at Henley, 13 crews took advantage of the ideal water and weather conditions, and records were set more often than not on the course. This year it is unlikely records will fall again - although upsets abound, already.
Reports from the boat tents are that the current has been a player the first two rounds of the regatta, and after tea on Thursday, the wind picked up to 20 miles per hour, straight headwind, with some chop. If the predicted rain arrives tomorrow, the wind may dissipate - a trade many would find agreeable.
We called on a few coaches who are full-tilt into racing; Brown University head coach Paul Cooke has his Varsity and Junior Varsity Eights here racing in the Temple and the Grand, as well as a four in the Prince Albert Challenge. The Varsity and Junior Varsity had a successful year and finished second in the IRAs to Washington, they are here in Henley healthy and without any substitutions. The four was third in IRA last month.
"Any time you go overseas there is some up and down, but overall things are in order here, they have made the adjustment," says Cooke.
The Varsity is racing the Grand, tall order for a race usually contested by national teams but this Olympic year it has a different flavor.
"They are going into territory where they haven't gone before, a bit more mysterious, but that is what we signed up for," said Cooke. They are excited and prepared for the challenge."
In early rounds of the Temple Challenge, the Brown entry has battled both Dartmouth and Michigan crews, moving through them with wins that would suggest they are ready for more action, and the 2012 Temple Challenge is likely to provide plenty. Brown also has it's IRA-winning four here, racing in the Prince Albert Challenge Cup.
"I think the Temple field is as stacked as it has ever been since I have been coming here," says Bill Manning of Harvard. "We don't know who is going to advance; (in early rounds) it is all about facilitating the best possible performance for our crew," Manning adds.
The Harvard Crew is racing with the Varsity Eight in the Ladies Plate, the 2V Four in the Prince Albert, the Eastern Sprints winning Frosh Eight in the Temple as Harvard "A," and the Eastern Sprints lightweight winners also in the Temple as Harvard "B". Manning, who this year is here with Harry Parker, says that "all is fine for us," at Harvard bay of the boat tents.
"It is very wet and windy," he says, "We have been watching boats crash into the docks trying to land, and one of the bigger barges was pinned against Henley Bridge for hours today. There is tremendous current and there is a lot of talk about lanes because of that."
With that, row2k has to power off for flight, but that statement will provide much to write about tomorrow.
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