Last Saturday was a good day to be a Coug. The sun was shining on Dexter Lake and we were prepared for some fun, competitive racing. Although we won both races on the day, it felt like there was a lot of speed on the table that we weren’t able to grab. There is a lot to improve on and everyone on Cougar Crew is excited to get back on the water and throw down some even faster times next weekend in DC.

“Getting the first race on the season was quite exciting the 2v has had a rough week of rowing recently but we were able to put things together and find some of the speed on the table we have been reaching for there were some moments when the tech fell apart but we were able to regroup and get things done there was never a doubt that someone was putting there all into the race and gave it all they could. I know that we can do better and find more of that so I’m excited for that day to come. It was great to have UC Davis there with us. They are very similar school and team as us so being able to compare our racing in real time with another close crew was great. “

As an individual who has had previous experience with the atmosphere of races, specifically water-based ones, my first regatta as a rower was still something unexpected. Firstly, in the build-up to the event, the training and preparation that was put into place built the importance of the race itself. As race day came, delays really put my boat's focus to the test, making the challenge of the day an even taller test. As our first race came around, focus and preparedness were at an all-time high, but as it often goes, the race was a mess. With high winds, boats had a hard time positioning to start, culminating in a quick start that two of the boats didn't hear, luckily not being the ones I was in. As the race ensued, a red flag was waved, stopping the three boats that started with the call. Assuming the race would be restarted, we lost focus, stopping our boat fully, just for the ref boat seconds later to resume the race. We ended up winning that race by lengths. With the delay of schedule, our second race came quickly, and as we lined up with just two other boats, being our 2n and UC Davis, the team to beat, I could tell we did not have the same level of focus the first race had. As the flag waved, our boat and Davis stuck bow ball to bow ball, with no team taking a lead, until the last 100, when, sadly, Davis pulled a seat ahead and took the win. The pain of that loss is something that will forever haunt me. Overall, the process and experience of my first regatta was definitely emotion-filled, but the competition is what I live for, and therefore, it was something I thoroughly enjoyed.

Even with a two hour wind delay, conditions for the first race were not optimal. We battled a strong cross wind, choppy waters, an abrupt quick start from race officials, and nearly hitting oars with Western’s B boat at the beginning of the race. Despite the difficult start sequence, which had left us multiple boat lengths down the rest of the crews, we made up significant deficits over the course of the race. By the 1000m mark we had caught up and past Western’s B boat and were gaining on the Western A boat. The entire crew was working on all cylinders, pushing towards the Western A boat that was in 3rd place. But, the finish line came too soon for us to make a full comeback to third place. Overall, the race was an excellent example of rowing through adversity, and I’m proud of each member of the crew.