SUSAN HANCKE AND JACK

Sometimes it's very cool to see what's above the ocean as opposed to seeing whats on top of it.

RNR ROCKS THE CHARLES

It's official--we're in. Right now it looks like Thomas stroking, Stephanie in 3, Carmi in 2 and I will steer from the bow. Clean those R & R yellow regatta shirts, stretch, sleep and peak for the Sunday afternoon give-'em-hell row. There are about 65 boats in our division, including some young international studs and studettes but we'll row our own race and beat our fair share. Paulie is cooking Saturday night for husbands, wives and bon vivants.

Allez, allez!

Jay Paris

Director Program Development and Services

Director if Youth Link

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APPLICATION RECEIVED:

Thank you for applying for the Head Of The Charles Regatta using RONIN Racing! Your application for the Directors' Challenge Boats has been received. Entries to the Directors' Challenge are accepted upon receipt of application and full payment. The Regatta office may contact you for additional information regarding the experience of your steersperson.

Accepted boat(s) will be posted here: HOCR Competitors Draw (http://www.hocr.org/competitors/ScheduleDraw10.asp).

APPLICATION CONFIRMATION NUMBER: 21348671295.

Please save this confirmation number as you can use it to check, edit or review your registration through the My RONIN area of our website (https://www.roninregistration.com/rowing/secure/myronin/account.asp?p=hocr&p

t=rowing).

EVENT INFORMATION:

Event Name: Head of the Charles Regatta Directors' Challenge Boats Event Dates: October 23 & 24, 2010 Closing/Cancellation Dates: 8/1/2010 for Singles; 9/1/2010 for Doubles & Crews; 10/13/2010 for Directors Challenge Boats Entry Fee: $240.00 for Quads and $170 for Doubles

Donation: $760.00 for Quads and $330 for Doubles Regatta Contact Info: Elizabeth Diamond

Phone: (617) 868-6200

Email: regatta@hocr.org

Website: www.hocr.org

RULEBOOK:

The Head Of The Charles Official Rules are available here (http://www.hocr.org/competitors/rules_apps.asp). Please be sure all coaches, coxswains, and competitors are familiar with the

irector Program Development and Services Director of Youth Link

R& R Preparing for Head of the Charles Regatta

Offical training for the Head of the Charles got underway last weekend when Carmi and I did a workout in a racing double in Stamford, CT. It went well. We have a quad on loan and are pretty excited to get in it with Stepahnie Brocum and Thomas Vogel. Paul and Kathie M. have offered to host a training meal--a kind of rower's Last Supper -- at their house the night before our race. There are a lot of boats in our division and many fast ones but we ain't afraid of nobody.

Columbus Day

Thomas, Paulie and I decided to celebrate Columbus Day doing what was appropriate to commemorate an explorer of the sea, even a controversial one. We rowed to lighthouses.

Going down, the breeze was stiff and the waves washed into our cockpits. Hitting our lower spines, it reminded us that it's October. But by the time we started back from Beverly, the conditions had improved, which we took as an encouraging omen. If there is a lesson to be learned from salt water rowing, it's that nothing ever stays the same and that conditions off Brown's Island can be radically different from conditions in front of Jack's house, which can be radically different from conditions off Children's. Most of us consider the ocean a friend but when the sky is half gray and half sunny, and the water dark yet very beautiful, it's easy to remember that we are mostly guests out there. Still, great row, great company.

IS THIS THE SECRET WEAPON FOR OFF SEASON TRAINING?

Scouting in Haiti

I was in Haiti last week to see my daughter who is a UN photographer living on the island. There still is a great deal of suffering in Port-au-Prince, where the devestation is real and sometimes surreal. But when we left the city for the hinterlands, I found a different Haiti, one that was chock full of smiling, kind and hard working people. Up country I tried to give five Rock N Row hats away until I learned that Haitians don't wear baseball hats. Ever. Covering the head like that is a submission to the Vodou spirit. It isn't allowed.

In this second photo I'm on a beach, failing at my first hat give-away effort. But even here all was not lost. Turns out this boy's uncle owned the two cobalt blue fishing boats in the village. We rowed them out past the reefs to catch small tuna with nets. The boat weighed a lot more than an Echo. Still, it was as singularly joyful and fun. Anyone for a late winter adventure row up the southern Haitian coast?

AN AL(DEN) STAR CAST

When Jon and I decided to row this past Sunday morning, I knew we would be in for an interesting time. Winds were stiff from the Northeast 12+ knots. That along with a fallen tide made for major sets of chop and rollers. Even the fetch from across the bay made departing from the dock off Anchorage Lane a trapeze act of major proportion. Both of our cockpits were totally submerged before the first stroke of the oars. Soaked from spray and waves did little to suppress our sheer feeling of excitement from being out on the bay for a late Autumn row. Our first leg took us down towards Winter Island off Salem Harbor thinking that from there we could do a little better from the soaking of the Northeast rollers. From there it was a quick pull to Beverly Harbor where we tucked ourselves into the lee side of the bay making our way eastward. Flat water greeted us along the way where we discovered 2 other rowers Thomas and Stephanie in Echos. (see picture). Determining that Misery Island would make a great "go-around", we slogged our way up and down rollers till we cleared the islands. Turning down of the wind and wave, survival instinct took over. Jon and I did everything we could to handle the Stars as they bottomed out at the troughs or sluiced left and/or right surfing down the top of the wave. It was some incredible downhill rowing that lasted almost the 2 miles back to the dock. 9.8 miles overall. Soaked, happy and alive, Jon and I both agree that it was the best row of the season. (but hopefully not our last)