Carnegie Currents: March/April 1999, Vol. XIII, No. 2

The 1999 Racing Season

"Fitness is a stage you pass through on the way to becoming a racer." Runner/writer George Sheehan, M.D., once said that about running, but the quote can be applied to all competitive sports. With winter training behind us, we all hopefully face the competition season ahead with a solid base of training on which to build a winning season.

The 1999 Regatta Calendar will allow you to select and commit to races in advance. Our coaching staff has worked hard this winter to prepare us for the outdoor season and they have outlined clear, important guidelines to help you race at your optimum level.

On our first day back on the water, the coaching staff reviewed their goals for the season (see cover story). They noted that a successful racing season means a serious commitment on the part of the rower. It will be important to select your races wisely. In an effort to eliminate disruptive problems for racing boats, sign up with careful consideration to the guidelines below:

  1. If you miss more than two race practices, your ‘seat’ is in jeopardy. Alert your coaches at least 48 hours in advance if you must miss a practice; find a sub and get approval for the sub from a coach.

  2. If you no-show for a race practice, you will be removed from the boat.

  3. If you drop out of a race boat and the boat must ‘scratch’ from the race you will be responsible for the entry fee.

  4. As a competitor, you also will be responsible for helping with loading, unloading, rigging, derigging and other necessary non-rowing activities.

  5. All rowers will wear a CLRA jersey or unisuit for racing and arrange their own transportation to and from the regattas. Car-pooling is a great way to make the trip and get to know your teammates.

  6. Charges for the regatta, which are divided equally among all participants, will be assessed to your monthly invoice. Expenses include equipment rental, entry fee, van rental (if needed), etc. Coxswains are not charged. Your race practices will appear on your monthly invoice as well.

This season we are pleased to incorporate a somewhat new regatta. In past years, our club has enjoyed a friendly dual-meet scrimmage with Wilmington Rowing Club called the Christina Sprints. This year, on May 15, we will have our first scrimmage race with Capital and Wilmington at the Noxontown Pond, site of Diamond State Masters, on the St. Andrew’s campus in Middletown, Delware. Our own Rich ‘Skippy’ Fitzgerald, who is now rowing for Capital, is helping to coordinate this regatta along with Mark Peters from Wilmington and our CLRA competition committee. We will be asking Lakers (lots of them) to volunteer for many jobs, so please sign up to help!

The competition committee — Loretta McCarthy, Sheryl Tepper and Jim Vartuli — is working to provide clear, enthusiastic guidance during the regatta season. We hope that you will approach us with ideas/suggestions and your offer of help to make it a great racing season!

1999 Regatta Calendar

— Loretta McCarthy, Competition Captain