Video of Eight Race in Sacramento

This is an experiment to see if the video someone took of our race on October 24 on the Folsom Rivewr will play. The Rock N Rower involved is in the seven seat, or just behind the stroke. The stroke is occasional R & R guest, Rob Slocum. Others are members of the 1971 Princeton Crew, coming to the finish line. This could be R & R next year at the Head of the Charles...

Final Race of the Season

We arrived in Sacramento, nine old classmates, ready to revive our old racing spirit of long ago. The Head of the American is the West Coast equivalent of the Head of the Charles with almost as much pageantry if not international competition. We practiced for two days and then raced in the Master’s Division against eight other crews, all among the best out here. Considering our limited practice time, the race went well—we were the oldest crew but managed to take 3rd. So, I return to Boston with my 2009 season officially over, already thinking about when the waters around Marblehead will be warm enough to head to Halfway Rock.

The Other Fall Classic

Training off Plum Island

I rowed yesterday on the Danvers River with five swans that attend the quieter marshes at its far end, all present and curious about my yellow shell. I amtuning up for my last race of the season--the Head of America on Lake Natoma in northern CA in 10 days. I'll be meeting the guys I rowed with in college. We are exactly the same age and half of us curiously born within a week of each other (what is it about the Taurian personality?). We met during freshman week in 1967, recruited for our height and gangliness. A few of us had rowed in high school but most were basketball players and swimmers drawn to the novelty of propelling a missle of ash wood through H2O at running speed. We suffered and sacrificed together for a few years, eventually contending for the national title, and in the Olympic Trials. Then all too suddenly graduation arrived and our brotherhood ended as we scattered to graduate schools and jobs around the world. I kept in loose touch with a few but mostly it was a slow drift apart . Then, nine years ago, one rower died tragically and unexpectedly. Word of his death spread. Without planning it, we all showed at his funeral at our university chapel -- every one of us -- even those who had had no contact for thirty years.

At the end of the funeral, we spontaneouly gathered on the rise of a pristine college lawn with our families to get reacquainted. Two had married late and had young children. Two others were grandparents. One had survived cancer, another alcaholism, and we all had known professional victories and losses. But through it all, we'd come to the same conclusion -- that nothing mattered as much as family and friends. We ended by deciding to row together that very afternoon -- leaving our fallen friend's seat open. The old sense of flow and swing was affecting, even profound.

Afterwards, over beers and pizza , we pledged to do it again when a second boat rower offered to replace our expired friend. We've met every year since, somewhere in America, rowing in a borrowed eight-man shell. Nothing fast or too long but very pleasurable every time. Then last year, after a few single malt Scotches, I asked if anybody wanted to race in 2009. Nine hands shot up too fast to retreat (the ninth was the small fist of the coxswain who had always steered us well).

So this year we race as the Princeton Class of '71 crew for men 60 and over , Master's Division. We've had special shirts and hats made and our families will be there. Over the summer, zinging emails have flown between us with daily challenges, jibes and terrible jokes. One of us who is head of research at AOL is thinking about wearing a webcam beanie to take the race 'live.' Another guy with the CIA whose name I can't mention is flying in from Bajestan. A third is cutting short a peace keeping mission to Armenia and Turkey to row in the bow. Each year it's been like that although this time everyone has trained and wants to be competitive. And I'm sure at the starting line our throats will be as dry with nervousness and adrenaline as they were 40 years ago. I have no doubt we will pull hard enough to feel the familiar, punishing fire in our veins.

But unlike all those years ago, this race won't define us (unless of course we win, in which case we'll be on the cover of AARP Quarterly, which will lead to a book deal, Oprah, sponsorship by Viagra and, of course, Hollywood.). What does define us is friendship and to that I credit the act of rowing. How nice if not surprising that it's happening again -- making friends for life --at Rock N Row.

Rowin' on the Charles!

Last week I decided to take Jack up on his generous offer and borrowed the Alden Star to row in the Ernestine Bayer Race On The Charles. I decided that I needed to do a trial run over the course since I had never rowed on a river or in a race and wanted to get a feel for what it was like. My partner in crime, Sarah, offered to help me out. As luck would have it she was able to borrow a boat from Jean. Thank you Jean. So this past Saturday we loaded up the boats onto the roof of our cars in preparation for an early start the next day, Sunday. The race starts at 7am so I wanted to see what it would be like at that time of day. I downloaded all kinds of maps off the Head of the Charles website, along with directions to the drop off and pick up sights. I arrive at Sarah's at 5:45am and proceed to follow the directions,we finally manage to make it to the starting sight, only to find the park which is the starting point is closed and there is no place to put our boats into the river. Sarah ventures over to one of the rowing clubs and asks questions and find that we can put in at the finish.
So once more we get into our cars and manage to find the park at the finish. We walked the shore line to find a spot to enter since there are no public docks(I guess they use portable floating ones the day of the race), unload the boats and with the help of my sister(who showed up) we make it into the river. We left an orange cone(that happened to be on the sidewalk) on the bank so we would know where to get out. It was very exciting to see different types of sculls, lots of college boats with their coaches trailing behind. So off we go ...learned the rules of the road from a fellow rowing down river...it was amazing to me how the river twists and turns and how fast those bridges come up! But we made it to the start and picked up some great tips listening to the team coaches.On the way back I went ahead of Sarah and timed myself and tried to plan a strategy for race day!! I am so glad we went.
What a fabulous day. I have always dreamed of rowing on the Charles.

Awesome 14 miler with Lorna; Star trouble.

What a day! Five open water rowers showed for this morning's annual IROW -- Row to the Shoals. Lorna & Maryellen left from the infamous Martin Boat House and met up with Ray Panek, Kinley Gregg and Jim. Jim rowed an Alden Star. All others rowed the Echo. The water was calm and perfect at 8:30, but the marine forecast listed a small craft advisory with up to 17 mph northwest winds predicted.

Initially the group decided to row up the coast of NH -- staying close to shore. A few hundred yards out, Ray, Kinley and Jim decided to go for the Isle of Shoals. So the group split off.

Lorna and I enjoyed the peak foliage along the beautiful coastline, heard loon call and were greeted by at least a dozen, curious large grey seals! The wind really picked up on our return and we were glad for the lee of the shore. The only real slogging was crossing Kittery Point Bay to the point of return calm back up the tidal creek to the boathouse. We completed a stunning 14 miler and had all geared stowed by 11:45 a.m. More of those days to come!

The Row to the Shoals for the other 3 rowers was a very different experience. They made it out to the Isle of Shoal's Star Island no problem. Heading back after a rest, the wind hit 20 knots and Jim was unable to make any headway in the Alden Star.

Ray and Kinley held in calm and Ray suggested they call for a ride home. He called the coast guard on his marine radio with no response. Another 15 minutes of slogging, Jim lost control and capsized the Alden Star. Jim spent several nervous minutes in the water and was thankfully able to get back into the Star with Ray and Kinley's assistance.

Kinley and Jim rowed with the wind back to Star Island and found shelter and warm drink. Thankfully, the Star Island Conference Center was still open. Ray rowed to shore and called the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard brought Kinley and Jim back to shore with their oars. They had to leave the Alden Star and Echo behind.

I learned recently that Ted’s company East West Boat Builders built all the Aldens for 20 years -- from 1984 - 2004. He worked with Doug in building and launching the Star and Doug & Ted made improvements to a bunch of others. It surprised me to learn that the Alden Star was not designed nor built for open water.

By now -- you all know I’m an Echo enthusiast and not much interested in any other shell for my enjoyment and safety in rowing on the open water. I have great respect and appreciation for the depth of knowledge Lorna, Ted and Doug offer the open water rowing community. My love, enthusiasm and sheer joy of open water rowing is because I am rowing with confidence in the stability and performance of my Echo.

solo Atlantic row, entitled RoRoz Savage: Rowing The Atlantic – Lessons Learned on the Open Ocean

Friday, October 16
An Evening with Roz Savage

The first woman to row solo across the Atlantic, Roz is now on a journey to be the first woman to row solo across the Pacific. She will be coming to Mhead fresh from the second phase of her journey, over 100 days of rowing from Hawaii to Tawara, an atoll in the Central Pacific. Her theme for this segment is climate change and she will be attending the UN Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen in December.

Admission is a membership donation to Salem Sound Coastwatch. Free to those whose membership donation is current.
Where: Eastern Yacht Club
When: Friday, October 16 from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
http://www.salemsound.org/

Rock n Row Awards

Continuing our long held tradition of season ending awards; along with our long standing tradition of end of season revelry, along with our new tradition of releasing diva nature....
WE the people of Rock n Row as voted by the revered and respected nominating committee, whose members, of course, will remian secret, do hereby honor, acknowledge, love and cherish the following for their unique accomplishments this 2009 rowing season;

Recognizing those individuals whose contribution has advanced the ethos
of the Marblehead Rowing Club:

The R N R Humorist Award - To a person who most reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously using humor to help us appreciate the infinite Zen of rowing, especially a person whose blue eyes are known throughout the Viking world as magnificent - Jon Hanke

The R N R Newbie Award - Awarded to the member whose persistence, commitment and enthusiasm reflects an appreciation for embracing the joy of learning how to row, and in doing so, learning what it means to jump in to a shell and alternately, the water, with both feet. And this year, the award goes to two inspiring 2009 members - Eileen Perry and Sarah Simon

The R N R Howard Blackburn Award - For taking this grueling event on from the inside out; for the courage to try for the summit, and for sharing this life changing experience with great enthusiasm-Maryellen Solomon-Auger

The R N R Good Shepherd Award - For the member who acts as the mother duck we all yearn for, for taking such good care of our little ones, and for being the face of Rock N Row for those who come to the sport ready to learn-Terri Leake

The R N R Inboard/Outboard Awards - To the two rowers of the 2009 season who have embraced that part of the Rock N Row ethos that speaks to going all out, to not holding back in the face of competition and striving for new heights - Stephanie Brocum and Thomas Vogel -guess which one is inboard and which one is outboard?

The R N R Captain of the Plantation Award-To the person who acted in the role of overseer of club activities, we the servants, the galley slaves, the indentured souls, the pirates and wenches, give this award in deep appreciation of his generosity; and we say -- O master-for this we are forever in your debt! Capt Jack
However....this is it -there's no more awards for you - you are done!