Quaker City Regatta

[Edward4492]

Haven't posted much, been doing virtually zero erging, all OTW. Went to Diamond States Regatta two weeks ago and the afternoon races (my 2x race) were canceled due to high winds. Disappointing. This weekend was scheduled for two races (1x and Mixed 2x). Seems like me and Marianne are jinxed as our 2x race was canceled again as the regatta shut down around noon due to dangerously high flow. It got insane to where huge logs, whole trees,and all sorts of debris were coming down. When flow rates hit 8000 ft3/sec the novice boats are done, at 14,000 the regattas are done, river police shut it down at 18,000, hit 30,000 on Saturday.

I managed to get my single race in. It was a full field of (6), flow rate around 7-8000 when I went out. So if I could control it; it would be fast. Got locked into the stake boats, no easy tasks. Rolled up and squared my blades and felt like they would get ripped out. So I decided to keep 'em flat on the water right to the end. A couple boats were having trouble getting in. Finally the official started his count down, I hear ATTENTION, pause for a second, square my blades...ROW!! And I'm gone like a shot. I nailed a perfectly clean start and immediately get the jump on two boats. I'm glancing at my stroke coach and seeing lots of 1:50's. Later review showed my first 100m at 1:51, second 200m at 1:48. On flat water my best splits are around 2:05 to 2:10. So I was in for a fast ride and a brutally fast PR if I could handle the boat as there were a lot of flips today.

At the 600m mark I was solidly in 4th and neck in neck with the 3rd place guy, maybe my seat on his stern. There's some nasty current on the Schuylkill when you go past Peter's Island if you're in one of the west river lanes (which I was, in lane 5). Every race I've lost time here and it happened again today as the boat started bouncing around and I missed water a couple of strokes. I settled down and got it together for a solid finish. Later review showed am 2:02 split for the seventh 100m and solid 1:55'S to the end. That may have cost me third place as I missed by 8 seconds.

So, 4th of 6th 3:53 finish. That was my first time under 4:00, still want to do that on flat water. But it wasn't all free speed, you had to be able to figure out the stake boats, start, and the swirling current. Easily my best race to date as I continue to slowly nip away at these boat house row beasts!

[Cyclist2]

Nice, Ed! You obviously are getting comfortable, and fast, in your racing shell. I've done rows in tough conditions and it usually had a bad ending. I'm impressed.

[lwtguy]

Nice to see you working your way through the locals Ed! I'm surprised anyone was even racing at all on Saturday!!

Though you might get some free speed from the fast current, the extra flow does bring its own challenges like the ones you mentioned. Its good that your technical skills are progressing well enough that you can handle them without flipping!

Is this it for your summer racing?

[Edward4492]

Yup, done with the sprints. Getting a tad fried on the short, fast intervals. Going to take two weeks of nice longish (6k to 10k) low rate rows then start getting in shape for head race season. Spending a lot time in the 2x with Marianne; we keep getting better. Starting to get pretty serious, we're buying matching oars (c2 skinny's, she has her's and mine are on order). Experimenting with some rigging changes (under the recommendations of Jamie Stack, head coach at South Jersey Rowing Club). Doing Navy Day Regatta and Head of the Schuylkill for sure. If my Wintech 1x comes in on time (delivery slotted for late August) I'll go to Kings Head for sure and possibly Christina in Delaware. Definitely making measurable progress, this sport is totally unforgiving. Which is the fascination with it all!

[Edward4492]

Thanks Mark!