Are You Ready? Row!

26 April 2013Caroline C, Allard '13

The rowers of Brentwood have been preparing all year for this weekend. From freezing winter afternoons to early mornings, the girls and boys of Brentwood Rowing having been training hard all year. Starting this afternoon, our crews will race in all combinations of boats at this annual highlight, our own regatta.

The race warmup begins at least an hour before start time, with all crew members gathering to check over equipment and make sure all nuts and bolts are tight and ready to go. Next is an on-land warm up: crews will be seen jumping and jiving while warming up and getting ready for the launch.

When race time is called it’s “Hands On” the shell. Getting down to and then on and off the docks is a race in itself. With a self-imposed 60 second rule crews scramble to get oars in and locked down before pushing off. With 7 crews launching every 7 minutes, there’s no time for idle chatter on the dock.

Once on the water the warm up begins and coxswains can be heard calling for control and power. Heading up to the start line, the intensity increases as crews catch glimpses of the previous events racing down the course. As the warmups are completed the umpires begin gathering boats by bow number and drawing them into the marshaling area.

One by one the boats enter the start docks, get locked on by the heroic, long-suffering (and probably cold) Grade 9 boat holders. When all hands are down and courses are set, the boats are off and the drama really begins!

See YOU at the finish line!

Caroline C, Allard ’13

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