Wednesday, June 4. 2008
Practice for Row For The Cure
Row for the Cure is rapidly approaching. It's this Sunday folks. If you're racing, get ready.
Despite the heat of the evening, we put two fours on the water tonight. A women's four, coxed by an injured Joe Bell. Jessica stroked, Mehgan in 3 (fresh from the Learn-To-Row sessions, coming back to keep working and learn the sport of rowing), Valerie in 2 (from our first Learn-To-Row of 2008 and rapidly becoming a solid stalwart rower) and Chi Chi in bow. They went up to the dredge and back and Joe was heard to say that he was impressed by the quality of the rowers. They looked good to the rest of us tonight.
A men's four went out. Jenna coxed, Henry stroked (not well), Carl in 3, Adam in 2 and Mike in bow. Jenna applied the skills she had learned from Jen in years of stroking for Hickory Crew, and she worked that men's four. She wrought a miracle on that boat, with fast hands away, and the cut-the-cake drill, and making us focus and do the right thing. We had a hard row, but a solid, set row. On the way back, we did a few miserable race starts, and then a 1,000 m race piece between bridges. There is a lot of room for improvement, but with Jenna coxing we can only improve. She's good.
Craig and Keri went out in their double, practicing for the mixed double on Sunday. Paul and Janna went out in a double. And George was seen in a single.
All in all, we had a good evening's workout.
Despite the heat of the evening, we put two fours on the water tonight. A women's four, coxed by an injured Joe Bell. Jessica stroked, Mehgan in 3 (fresh from the Learn-To-Row sessions, coming back to keep working and learn the sport of rowing), Valerie in 2 (from our first Learn-To-Row of 2008 and rapidly becoming a solid stalwart rower) and Chi Chi in bow. They went up to the dredge and back and Joe was heard to say that he was impressed by the quality of the rowers. They looked good to the rest of us tonight.
A men's four went out. Jenna coxed, Henry stroked (not well), Carl in 3, Adam in 2 and Mike in bow. Jenna applied the skills she had learned from Jen in years of stroking for Hickory Crew, and she worked that men's four. She wrought a miracle on that boat, with fast hands away, and the cut-the-cake drill, and making us focus and do the right thing. We had a hard row, but a solid, set row. On the way back, we did a few miserable race starts, and then a 1,000 m race piece between bridges. There is a lot of room for improvement, but with Jenna coxing we can only improve. She's good.
Craig and Keri went out in their double, practicing for the mixed double on Sunday. Paul and Janna went out in a double. And George was seen in a single.
All in all, we had a good evening's workout.
Monday, June 2. 2008
Second Learn-To-Row ends
Our Second Learn-To-Row for the year has ended. We started with 10 novices and ended with 8. We did an abbreviated LTR this time, compressing the familiarisation aspects into one long Saturday morning, and getting our novices onto the water the first day. At the end of their thrid day on the water, you could see dramatic improvements in their skills. All 8 who finished were rowing well. We hope they stay with the club. We filmed them on the way back of their third day, so they can see what it's like from the outside, and work on the few things that are still a problem. Biggets problem, as always, is breaking the arms at the moment of the stroke. And getting the blades into the water at the vertical. And feathering with the right hand. But these things come with practice.
I'd like to thank our novices for coming out and learning. We hope you had fun and you we hope you stay and learn to enjoy rowing. I'd also like to thank all our volunteers for spending the time to introduce new people to the sport.
The crew in the Black Pearl:
The crew in Hull's Hull:
I'd like to thank our novices for coming out and learning. We hope you had fun and you we hope you stay and learn to enjoy rowing. I'd also like to thank all our volunteers for spending the time to introduce new people to the sport.
The crew in the Black Pearl:
The crew in Hull's Hull:
Saturday, May 31. 2008
Second Learn To Row for 2008
We had such response to our first Learn-To-Row that we decided to hold a second class to accommodate everyone interested. This is our second class:
![[Second class of 2008]](/images/blog/img_0398.jpg)
Wednesday, May 21. 2008
Wednesday practice with Dixon Damage
Not quite enough for an eight tonight, so we fractured into smaller boats. A four went out with Valerie coxing, Mike stroke, Lisa, Adam and Chi Chi. Valerie and Mike swapped at Centerville, so Valerie got her first lessons as cox and stroke. Craig and Keri went out in a double, Joe and Henry went out in a double, George was already out in a single, and Greg S went out in a single. Lots of craft.
The Dixon came back with a cracked gunwhale. We'll have to put it on slings on Saturday, and check the rib. Dixon shouldn't be used until this is repaired. In the meantime, the Loco-Motion is available for use when we need a four. We need to get the Onderdonk in service now. It needs the rudder and steering ropes attached, and then the riggers and footstretchers from the Dixon should be moved to the Onderdonk. We'll have a look at that this Saturday morning.
The Dixon came back with a cracked gunwhale. We'll have to put it on slings on Saturday, and check the rib. Dixon shouldn't be used until this is repaired. In the meantime, the Loco-Motion is available for use when we need a four. We need to get the Onderdonk in service now. It needs the rudder and steering ropes attached, and then the riggers and footstretchers from the Dixon should be moved to the Onderdonk. We'll have a look at that this Saturday morning.
Sunday, May 18. 2008
Black Pearl on Monday
We had 8 show up, enough for a coxed eight with one seat empty. Whenw e got to the boathouse, George was there and he agreed to stroke, giving us a coxed eight. Mike and Carl shared coxing cox duties from 6 seat, so there was some gunwhale-walking at Centerville. We thrashed up to Centerville, the boat rocked from side to side a bit, and then we thrashed back. We did a 1,000m piece between bridges,getting ready for races.
Coxless four on Sunday
Two races coming up rapidly, and we're not getting enough practice. The mixed four wanted more time on the water so they went out Sunday morning. Lisa, Mike, Sandra and Henry arrived, but Carl was missing. Carl was doing Jag stuff and had disappeared. We needed a cox so we walked down to Joe's house and knocked on the door, prepared to say "Please, ma'am, can Joe come out and play?" but no-one was home. Looks like the morning was going to be coxless.
The weather was warmer than yesterday, beautiful and sunny for the first half, but clouding over for the second half. We took the Dixon out, Mike stroke, then Sandra, Henry and Lisa. Henry had the mirror on his glasses and watched behind. The four was well set, the rowers were well-matched and we headed up the canal, managing to get safely through each bridge. There was a lot of canal traffic this morning, and we had to sit and wait occasionally. Got to Centerville, had a good break, then headed back and when it was safe, we did some power pieces. The scullers overtook us on the way back, Gordie and Greg S out catching time on such a beautiful Sunday morning. Between the railway and high-rise bridges, we did a few race starts,m, then a race start and a long piece, not as long as a 1,000m race, but longer than we have been doing. If we had a coxswain this morning, we would have done the 1,000m. Next time. Docking was a breeze, thanks to Mike's expert stroke-coxing.
We were a bit worried at the start of the morning, but it turned into a good session on a beautiful morning, and we were happy.
![Coxless at Centerville]](/images/blog/dsc06914.jpg)
The weather was warmer than yesterday, beautiful and sunny for the first half, but clouding over for the second half. We took the Dixon out, Mike stroke, then Sandra, Henry and Lisa. Henry had the mirror on his glasses and watched behind. The four was well set, the rowers were well-matched and we headed up the canal, managing to get safely through each bridge. There was a lot of canal traffic this morning, and we had to sit and wait occasionally. Got to Centerville, had a good break, then headed back and when it was safe, we did some power pieces. The scullers overtook us on the way back, Gordie and Greg S out catching time on such a beautiful Sunday morning. Between the railway and high-rise bridges, we did a few race starts,m, then a race start and a long piece, not as long as a 1,000m race, but longer than we have been doing. If we had a coxswain this morning, we would have done the 1,000m. Next time. Docking was a breeze, thanks to Mike's expert stroke-coxing.
We were a bit worried at the start of the morning, but it turned into a good session on a beautiful morning, and we were happy.
Saturday, May 17. 2008
Empty Saturday
We've got races coming up quickly, but no-one coming to practice. Not sure what's happening there. We almost had enough for an eight this morning, but didn't make it. Ended up with a women's four and a double. It was cold morning. Plenty of sun but plenty of cold wind.
Britt coxed the women's four on the way up the canal. First time as cox, have to start learning some time. Amy stroked, then Lisa, Sandra and Janna. George followed in the launch and worked with them. At Centerville, the boat got a major reshuffle of rowers. Janna coxed on the way back.
Mike and Henry went out in a double. They went up and back a few times, tried to row as a double for a few strokes and then decided to stick with the "one-scull + one-set" approach as they didn't feel like swimming.
Britt coxed the women's four on the way up the canal. First time as cox, have to start learning some time. Amy stroked, then Lisa, Sandra and Janna. George followed in the launch and worked with them. At Centerville, the boat got a major reshuffle of rowers. Janna coxed on the way back.
Mike and Henry went out in a double. They went up and back a few times, tried to row as a double for a few strokes and then decided to stick with the "one-scull + one-set" approach as they didn't feel like swimming.
Saturday, May 10. 2008
Saturday, May 10th
I stuck my head out the window at 6:00 AM, decided it was cold and drizzly, and went back to bed. At 6:10, I decided it wasn't actually raining, that I was being a lazy slug, and dragged my groggy ass out of bed, grabbed some coffee, and headed down. There were seven of us, Nancy had claimed George as a sculling partner, so that left a four, with me coxing and sculling later, Joe stroking, Lisa at 4, and new rowers Adam and Britt, who has been out of town and hadn't rowed since LTR and had never been in a four. After we were on the water and a ways out, we realized we had somehow put Adam and Britt both on the wrong sides (Britt, a port in bow, and Adam, a starboard in 2-seat), not a recipe for success. I said we might not even get to rowing all four, but Lisa said Britt was excellent at LTR, so we added in bow pair, and it worked! We recovered on the water for a while, for stability, but the set and timing were good, and Britt listened to my instructions and made corrections right away, and Adam was solid. We managed a steady row to Centerville, with a few solid power 10's, even. The double looked good, except that they were mirrorless, and were obliviously rowing right into incoming yacht traffic, until we told them and they got over.
The water was gorgeous, flat calm, a soft cloudy sky with muted colors, and little debris. There were all kinds of waterfowl out; ducks, geese, our ospreys, herons, and what I thought was an eagle on a dead tree about 200 meters past the railroad bridge on the right. It was back when I sculled later, and I got a better look at it, discussed it with the harbormaster, and we're pretty sure it is a juvenile bald eagle, which has a white tail, but not the white head yet.
At the turn, I explained to Britt what a power 30 pyramid is, and she immediately said to "bring it on", so we did, after the railroad bridge. I noted that I'm not the only stroke whose rate drifts up; Joe was at 28 during the second power 20, but that might have been due to the yacht bearing down on us from behind. Joe and Lisa had panic in their voices (and their eyes) describing the size of its wake, but it slowed down and let us finish through the high-rise, and were very courteous, as usual.
Considering that we had two novices in a four, on their unfamiliar sides, and that it was only Britt's third time ever in a rowing shell (amazing!), the boat felt really good, and it was a really good row. I had a very nice scull in the Julian, saw the eagle again, and had a similar sprint back to the high-rise with a yacht bearing down (except I could see it and let it by). It turned out to be the best weather of the weekend, and definitely worth getting up for.
The water was gorgeous, flat calm, a soft cloudy sky with muted colors, and little debris. There were all kinds of waterfowl out; ducks, geese, our ospreys, herons, and what I thought was an eagle on a dead tree about 200 meters past the railroad bridge on the right. It was back when I sculled later, and I got a better look at it, discussed it with the harbormaster, and we're pretty sure it is a juvenile bald eagle, which has a white tail, but not the white head yet.
At the turn, I explained to Britt what a power 30 pyramid is, and she immediately said to "bring it on", so we did, after the railroad bridge. I noted that I'm not the only stroke whose rate drifts up; Joe was at 28 during the second power 20, but that might have been due to the yacht bearing down on us from behind. Joe and Lisa had panic in their voices (and their eyes) describing the size of its wake, but it slowed down and let us finish through the high-rise, and were very courteous, as usual.
Considering that we had two novices in a four, on their unfamiliar sides, and that it was only Britt's third time ever in a rowing shell (amazing!), the boat felt really good, and it was a really good row. I had a very nice scull in the Julian, saw the eagle again, and had a similar sprint back to the high-rise with a yacht bearing down (except I could see it and let it by). It turned out to be the best weather of the weekend, and definitely worth getting up for.
Monday, May 5. 2008
Our first Bingo of 2008
We have done our first Bingo for the year. I'm hoping it won't be our last.
We had twelve workers - Anne, Carl E, Carl S, Greg S, Henry, Jessica, Mike, Nancy, Paul, Scott, Tim and Valerie. Some were experienced but rusty, some were new. Everyone worked hard and we got through the night.
There were a few moments when the smoke-free section had no-one selling or waiting to verify Bingos. We need to be a bit more structured so both sections always have someone ready to leap into action and verify Bingos. Often it's the customers' fault. 10 seconds before a Bingo gets called, someone calls you over and wants two first Jackpots, two second Jackpots, two Treasure Chests, some Bonanzas and you've got all these things lying out and you're counting dollars and giving change and BINGO, and you can't just dump it and go verify, you have to finish that transaction first. It got pretty hectic when they were pulling stunts like that.
We need to hurry through our dinner breaks a little faster. And if you're hanging around with nothing to do, get out on the floor and help with Bingo verification. And yell louder. Faye said that if we can shave a minute off the verification time each Bingo, that's 52 minutes saved, and we all get to go home sooner.
But we did good. We finished before 10:30 and Faye and Cammi were happy with that. What I didn't expect was the huge rush for Instants at the end. I've never seen it so frantic. Normally the hall empties and they go home, but this time, man, they stayed and they bought and they bought and they bought. Took ages before the games were all closed and people left.
So that's our first Bingo. We were a little rusty, but we'll rapidly get into it again. It was good. Cough, cough. Even the smoke wasn't too bad. As soon as I know the result, I'll let everyone know.
Our next Bingo is 23rd June. If you want to work it, plan for that date.
We had twelve workers - Anne, Carl E, Carl S, Greg S, Henry, Jessica, Mike, Nancy, Paul, Scott, Tim and Valerie. Some were experienced but rusty, some were new. Everyone worked hard and we got through the night.
There were a few moments when the smoke-free section had no-one selling or waiting to verify Bingos. We need to be a bit more structured so both sections always have someone ready to leap into action and verify Bingos. Often it's the customers' fault. 10 seconds before a Bingo gets called, someone calls you over and wants two first Jackpots, two second Jackpots, two Treasure Chests, some Bonanzas and you've got all these things lying out and you're counting dollars and giving change and BINGO, and you can't just dump it and go verify, you have to finish that transaction first. It got pretty hectic when they were pulling stunts like that.
We need to hurry through our dinner breaks a little faster. And if you're hanging around with nothing to do, get out on the floor and help with Bingo verification. And yell louder. Faye said that if we can shave a minute off the verification time each Bingo, that's 52 minutes saved, and we all get to go home sooner.
But we did good. We finished before 10:30 and Faye and Cammi were happy with that. What I didn't expect was the huge rush for Instants at the end. I've never seen it so frantic. Normally the hall empties and they go home, but this time, man, they stayed and they bought and they bought and they bought. Took ages before the games were all closed and people left.
So that's our first Bingo. We were a little rusty, but we'll rapidly get into it again. It was good. Cough, cough. Even the smoke wasn't too bad. As soon as I know the result, I'll let everyone know.
Our next Bingo is 23rd June. If you want to work it, plan for that date.
Sunday, May 4. 2008
Sunday Morning topless session
Carl called for another rowing session Sunday morning. We had six folks turn up. Larry arrived on his Velocette. We discussed a coxed four and a single, but Larry volunteered to drop out and spend more time on the Velocette, leaving 5 rowers, five being a perfect rowing number - a coxed four.
Carl and Mike shared stroke and cox, then Sandra, Henry and Lisa in bow. We took the Dixon again, and headed off to Centerville. Much less canal traffic today. One or two hasty large boats hurrying for bridge openings, and a leisurely yacht that followed us to Centerville and beyond. We left that yacht behind. The morning was cool and overcast, with occasional drops of rain, but the weather improved and it turned into another glorious morning for rowing. Mike wanted a good workout while he was stroke, so we did power pieces and we did a pyramid. When we reached Centerville, Carl asked for consensus of continuing to the powerlines, there was silence, so we bent forwards and scooted under Centerville and continued to the powerlines.
We had a brief rest there, and Sandra decided that her new T-shirt from yesterday's Matthews Regatta was too hot, and off it came. Carl and Mike switched over, and Carl decided to go topless too. A call was made to the other rowers, but Henry and Lisa refused to go topless. We headed back. The yacht that we had left behind finally caught up with us, and they came out and ogled us and took photos. We powered on, leaned forward to whip under the bridge and we headed for home. More power pieces. A brief wait to let a speeding yacht with big bow wake go past. Then we followed him, wallowing in his wake, and bouncing up and down when his wake hit the bank and rebounded and hit center again where we were. Eventually he was far enough away from us to not bother us.
Then we had a discussion about the coming Rockett's Landing Sprints and racing as a mixed four and as all were agreeable to this, we decided to start practice with a 500 meter sprint piece to the overhead bridge. About this time, Carl was still fresh but the rest of us were a little tired, and thankfully, we were near the dock. Another good docking maneuver and we were done.
Another great day to be on the water.
![[At the powerlines]](/gallery/set2008/20080504/dsc06908.jpg)
Carl and Mike shared stroke and cox, then Sandra, Henry and Lisa in bow. We took the Dixon again, and headed off to Centerville. Much less canal traffic today. One or two hasty large boats hurrying for bridge openings, and a leisurely yacht that followed us to Centerville and beyond. We left that yacht behind. The morning was cool and overcast, with occasional drops of rain, but the weather improved and it turned into another glorious morning for rowing. Mike wanted a good workout while he was stroke, so we did power pieces and we did a pyramid. When we reached Centerville, Carl asked for consensus of continuing to the powerlines, there was silence, so we bent forwards and scooted under Centerville and continued to the powerlines.
We had a brief rest there, and Sandra decided that her new T-shirt from yesterday's Matthews Regatta was too hot, and off it came. Carl and Mike switched over, and Carl decided to go topless too. A call was made to the other rowers, but Henry and Lisa refused to go topless. We headed back. The yacht that we had left behind finally caught up with us, and they came out and ogled us and took photos. We powered on, leaned forward to whip under the bridge and we headed for home. More power pieces. A brief wait to let a speeding yacht with big bow wake go past. Then we followed him, wallowing in his wake, and bouncing up and down when his wake hit the bank and rebounded and hit center again where we were. Eventually he was far enough away from us to not bother us.
Then we had a discussion about the coming Rockett's Landing Sprints and racing as a mixed four and as all were agreeable to this, we decided to start practice with a 500 meter sprint piece to the overhead bridge. About this time, Carl was still fresh but the rest of us were a little tired, and thankfully, we were near the dock. Another good docking maneuver and we were done.
Another great day to be on the water.
Saturday, May 3. 2008
Shavings of a Saturday practice
We had low turnout for our Saturday morning practice session. We had just enough for a coxed four, so it was a successful morning. Carl exhibited his latest method for staged removal of his winter beard. Lance is back for his first on-water sessions after Learn-To-Row. We took the Dixon out. Mike and Carl shared stroke and cox and switched at Centerville. Lance in 3, Henry 2, Lisa in bow. We worked with Lance, we did drills, we rowed solidly. Lance hung in there all the way to Centerville. Canal traffic was heavy. Good thing we started at 6:30am, rather than later. We did have one large wake, and a scream came from bow when the cold water sloshed over and wet us. We ended up with a few inches in the bottom of the shell, and this gave us a brief shower when we picked the shell up at end of the morning. There were plenty more wakes to negotiate and we bobbed up and down and had fun. Docking was near-perfect.
The morning was perfect. It was crisply cool, the sun warmed us, it was quiet and peaceful in between the launches and yachts hurrying to make bridge openings. It was glorious to be out on the water.
![[New way to shave half a beard]](/images/blog/dsc06894.jpg)
The morning was perfect. It was crisply cool, the sun warmed us, it was quiet and peaceful in between the launches and yachts hurrying to make bridge openings. It was glorious to be out on the water.
Saturday, April 12. 2008
First Learn-To-Row class of 2008
We finished our first Learn-To-Row class today. Thanks go to our novices for being good sports and getting out on the water and trying something new. Many thanks go to our regular rowers who volunteered their time to help with the Learn-To-Row sessions, and made it such a successful event.
![[First LTR class of 2008]](/images/blog/dsc06886.jpg)
We have another Learn-To-Row class scheduled for the end of May.
We have another Learn-To-Row class scheduled for the end of May.
Friday, April 11. 2008
Learn To Row film
Took longer than expected to get them on YouTube.
The Black Pearl:
Hull Hull's before the barge:
Hull Hull's after the barge:
The Black Pearl:
Hull Hull's before the barge:
Hull Hull's after the barge:
Wednesday, April 9. 2008
Learn To Row Day 4
Our novices got their second turn on the water. We took out two eights and two launches. Black Pearl launched first, with Keri coxing and Mehgan stroke. Tim followed in the launch, helping Keri with the coaching. They rapidly disappeared up the canal. Greg S coxed Hull's Hull, with Craig stroking. Amy and Henry followed in the launch. What an evening. It was cold. It was drizzling. What is wrong with this weather? It should be warm and sunny. The novices did well. They are all getting it. All they need now is a lot of practice. Henry filmed the evening, and after the boats were back, there was show-and-tell in the boathouse so the novices could see what they look like from the other side. Those movies will be available here soon.
![[Black Pearl with novices]](/gallery/set2008/20080409/dsc00533.jpg)
![[Hull's Hull with novices]](/gallery/set2008/20080409/dsc00550.jpg)
Friday, April 4. 2008
Learn To Row Day 2
Day 2 of Learn To Row - rowboxes and ergs. Lots of our club members turned up to help the novices. Thanks go to all our volunteers for the good work.
![[On the ergs]](/gallery/set2008/20080404/dsc00483.jpg)
![[On the rowboxes]](/gallery/set2008/20080404/dsc00496.jpg)
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There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.
Kenneth Grahame
The Wind In The Willows
Kenneth Grahame
The Wind In The Willows
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