Post by MIDN 1/C Molly Hanna
Since the start of their respective fall seasons, the Men’s
Heavyweight, Lightweight, and the Women’s Crew teams have participated in a
“Boathouse Regatta,” in addition to their normal Saturday morning practices in
order to prepare for fall season head races and foster some friendly
competition within Hubbard Hall.
The regatta is roughly 4,000 meters and starts in ‘2-mile’
creek, ending just before the Severn River bridge. The race is set up so that each crew starts a
few seconds after the next, staggered so that there is a fair spacing between
the crews and to avoid any potential issues that could arise with the seventeen
boats in participation.
The results are based off a weighted system that compares
each crew to their respective standard in order to make for clearer, measurable
results. "The weekly boathouse race
creates a fun, competitive atmosphere in the boathouse that helps us fine tune
our race mindset in practice” says the women’s team Captain, Midshipman 1/C
Brooke Mackno.
However, despite the outcome of the racing at the end of the
morning, one thing is for sure: the three teams are inevitably brought closer
together through the race’s competitive nature and the fusion of what roughly
seventeen crews have in common: love of
the sport.
It is these early mornings on the Severn River where hard
work and tradition collide. “The
Armada,” as some rowers affectionately refer to the fleet of boats racing back
to Hubbard Hall, signifies a tradition dating back to the start of rowing at
USNA to the many years of hard work and dedication on the Severn to come.
Midshipman Mackno expressed her hopes for the upcoming
season, stating, “with our first race this weekend and a season full of
competitive regattas ahead of us, we look forward to seeing how the boathouse
races will continue to prepare us for each of these challenges."
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