First you carry the boat (300 pounds, 60 feet long).
Then you row to the starting line (4.6 kilos away).
Then you race. Several teams row at the same time, with staggered starts. They row against a clock, not literally against each other, though one boat may gain on another. We are standing on a causeway bridge, about halfway into the 4.6 k course. They will pass beneath us.
Here come the Bearcats Novice 8! Ian is the second rower from the front (second closest to us).
Select this link to watch a video clip (about 4 megabytes).
There they go!
All done, back at the dock. They row with their feet strapped into shoes that are fastened into the boat -- so now they are getting their land shoes back.
Ready to pick up the boat, as a women's team prepares to compete.
It's a floating dock and they are having trouble with their footing, and they're a bit tired -- after all, they just rowed 9 kilos!
Setting it down. You can sorta see the seats. The coxswain (with the scarlet stripe on her arm) sits in that small area of the boat, facing the rowers, and uses ropes to steer with a small rudder. She gives all the orders on water and land -- the requirements for that job seem to be female, small, light, loud, and capable of bossing aroung a bunch of guys. Mindy says she could do that!
Note the sliding seat and stationary shoes. Their boat is fiberglass with wood braces. Newer boats are carbon fiber.
Happy team. Though they did not finish in the medals, they were happy with their performance. It was great fun to watch!
Removing the oarlocks and seats.
Loading up.
Hey, this was big fun! Go watch Ian race if you get a chance.
. . / tom 'n' mindy
October 20, 2001