row2k was on the starting pontoons taking photos again today, so we’ll let the results speak for themselves; you might also check the FISA race recaps in our news headlines for commentary. Here’s what we saw from the start:
Yesterday’s temps were in the mid-90s; crews were taking cold showers before and after each practice and race to control core body temps. Today’s temps are a good 10+ degrees lower, much more manageable; winds went from tail early to an unpredictably variable cross from lane 6 to lane 1 for the later races that could swing from slight tail to slight head to direct cross as you progressed down the course. Lane 1 had a bit of light turbulence in it, while 6 had something more like a ripple.
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Get ahead, stay ahead: Twenty-two of today’s 33 heats were won from the front, with the winners leading the pack at every 500 meter mark. A handful more trailed by one position to the 500, then took the lead for good. Either some crews were feeling very daring, or the cream simply rises when the field is spread out across several heats.
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The starting lights and horns broke down this morning, forcing the starter to start all races the old-fashioned way, with a red flag. The starter announced the situation to all the crews at the starting line, then, given the language issues involved, polled them one by one to make sure they understood. The starters used the same language on every race; for those of us at the start, it become almost amusing in the repetition.
One starter had his own language issues, announcing: “Due to a technical problem, I use a flag start. Please understand if you understand.”
A long pause, and then:
“I’m sorry – please acknowledge if you understand.”
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The timoniere of the US men’s coxed four, aka the Ghetto Four or the Temple-Coxed Four by the denizens of the median strips near the Quark Hotel, did his alma mater right today. The crew pulled into the gates, and after a short time, the coxswain announced “About two minutes now.” No sooner had he finished did the starter announce “Two… minutes.” (Two minutes to racetime is a critical moment – inside two minutes, the race could start at any time once the crews are aligned and polled.)
Another minute or so passed, and the coxswain announced “about 35 seconds now.” Just over 30 seconds later, the starter commenced the polling. The kid had his watch synched to regatta time, no question.
The crew went on to win their heat; there is joy in the ghetto.
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The Egyptian men’s eight cheer once they were on the blocks “Allah Akbar!”
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One heat of the women’s quad included at least three defending World Champs doubling up – Karsten was in the bow of the Belarus quad, and the Evers-Swindell twins were in the stern pair of the NZ quad.
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