Friday, December 9, 2011

Head of the Lagoon 2011

Last head race of the season—Head of the Lagoon! 

BIAC trailer at HOTL

Only one highway exit away from where the BIAC Fall regatta took place the weekend before, the Head of the Lagoon (HOTL) is also known for its curvy course with the added fun of bridges.  I had never been to the HOTL before, but had heard good things, especially when LMRC captured the Women’s Masters 4+ trophy last year.  The HOTL trophies, mostly for master events, make the regatta unique and exciting.  It almost feels like a smaller, more relaxed, head race version of San Diego Crew Classic!

My first experience at HOTL was complicated by the fact that I had a 3pm flight out of SFO the same day.  I would be traveling to the east coast to meet with our client for the first time for my new job.  I had originally wanted to race a pair on this windy, twisty course.  But by fate (and probably also fortune), the pair’s race would be cutting it really close for my flight.  I was already racing in a BIAC team boat in one of the earlier races.  My LMRC pair partner and I decided to turn the pair into a double so we could both squeeze in two races and be done by 12pm!

HOTL started a few days before the actual race date (Sunday, November 13th) with a string of emails from the race director about where to park, why not to publicly urinate, where to rig the boats, reminder to bring back previously won trophies, and other more normal things about traffic pattern and launching.  The HOTL has been growing larger and larger each year.  Apparently, it was so successful last year that there were not enough toilets for everyone, especially before 9am when the recreational center opened.  If your boat is launching and there’s a line for the port-a-potties, I guess you’ve got to find yourself a bush.

The morning began with plenty of parking in the designated parking garage.  The park area though was crowded with boats, rowers, and spectators.  Boats had to be unloaded and walked from the parking lot to the grassy areas to be rigged.

The weather was sunny, but a bit cold and windy.  The launching and docking area consisted of four small plastic, gray docks that each had a dock-master urging crews to launch or dock faster.  In order to move boats along quickly, rowers had to bring their oars with them to the dock and had to tie in on the water.

My first race was the Women’s Masters 4+ with BIAC.  I was nervous for this race for several reasons.  First, I was stroking and although I stroked at BIAC in the 4x, there is something different about sweeping (one oar) versus sculling (two oars).  Second, last year’s LMRC 4+ rowers was back to defend their title with only one line-up change.  Even our former team captain who moved away to Boston flew back especially for this race!  Third, my LMRC pair/doubles partner was in that LMRC 4+ and stroking it too!  And fourth, I had not rowed sweep in a while, and we had not practiced in our line-up.

The rec center did not open until 9am, and the 4+ race was at 9:40.  Between 8 and 9, there was a massive line for the port-a-potties that snaked around the parking lot.  I wish I had taken a picture because it was really ridiculous.  Instead of standing in that line, our coxswain had the brilliant idea that we should wait in front of the rec center and be the first ones in to use the real bathrooms when it opened.  The only problem was that 9:00, 9:05,…9:10 passed and the glass doors remained sealed.

Luckily, by now, the port-a-potty line had died (since everyone who had to go, also had to launch) and we did a quick pit stop and got hands-on the boat.  The launching area for HOTL is about 3,500 meters from the start line, making it a short warm-up.  There is also very little space at the start to do any warm-up strokes.

We rowed to the start and had to wait as all the 4+’s got in start order.   LMRC, as reigning champions, started first.  Typically for head races, boats are seeded by speed, fastest first.

We started 5th in our race.  The start was strong, and I could hear the breathing of the woman behind me (in three seat).  The first section of the race has two bridges and some mild turns.  We passed one of the 4+’s fairly easily.  The first big turn is about a third into the race—a sharp 90 degree turn to starboard.  Our coxswain who is quite experienced pulled it off rather nicely. 

Between that first big turn and the next one, we passed the launching area.  Our coxswain made several calls, letting us know that we were gaining on the boat ahead of us.  She called up the rate and power, trying to pass the 4+ before the next bridge.  If you want to see the real action, check out the video here.

We successfully passed the 4+ and went under the bridge.  The next and last section of the course is a wide, long turn to port.  The boat stayed strong, but still struggled with some set and cleanness issues.  Because the finish line was not well-marked, our coxswain had a difficult time seeing exactly how much farther.  I had mentally underestimated how long this section was and kept wondering how much farther until the finish.  I was very relieved to finally cross the line.  It was a hard row and very stressful to stroke.

The race was harder than I had expected, and now, I was worried about jumping into the double for the next race.  I reminded myself that the double was supposed to be just for fun, but 5,000 meters is still a lot to row for just “fun”!

The LMRC 4+ managed to hold off the River City boat and crossed the line first.  And we later found out, as with the usual time delay for results at head races, they did win and retained the title and the trophy!

My 2x partner and I were very luckily to have teammates who helped us rig and de-rig boats so that we could go from the 4+ to the 2x with only a short break. 

The Princess riding her two-legged horse at HOTL
While we were preparing for the 2x, I was surprised to see a familiar-looking guy with dark curly hair, carrying a squirmy toddler.  That was my husband and the Princess!  This is the guy who does not believe in rowing and the guy who will probably never be reading this blog.  Wow, I was the luckiest rower at the regatta! 

Rowing is not a spectator sport.  Any non-rowing loved ones will learn quickly enough to avoid regattas at all costs.  Regattas for spectators are a dull experience of waiting around, not knowing what is going on, and only brief moments with the actual rower before he or she has to get hands-on the boat and launch.  The only die-hard loved ones who might come to watch are usually parents.
The Princess eating grapes at HOTL...
anything to keep her from crying...
We launched the 2x and rowed up to the start.  We were starting last in our race of five boats.  At the starting area, about 100 meters from the actual start line, I recognized the coach in the launch as the one who helped a very frazzled me adjust the Van Dusen rigger on the water at Head of the American!  More importantly, he recognized me!  How embarrassing!

We eased into our race, trying to stay relaxed and not worrying too much about rate.  In the first stretch, we quickly passed two boats, one of whom appeared to be a relatively novice crew from BIAC.  I could see the two other boats ahead of us.  We had initially gained on them, but then, had lost a bit of run or smoothness in the boat.  We managed to pass both of them before the first big turn, and I was hugging the inside of the turn.

Unfortunately for us, I was not thinking straight.  On such a sharp turn as this, about 90 degrees, hugging the turn usually puts you out too wide after the turn because your boat cannot turn so sharply.  I did not realize this until it was too late.  I thought, “Shit.”  Right as we were coming around, the water got choppier and there was a massive gust of wind.  We had a few off strokes where the boat wobbled and our blades missed water.  For some reason, my partner said, “Sorry.”  She had nothing to be sorry for.  I was the one steering us too wide!

We lost a fair amount on that steering mistake to the two boats that we had just passed.  I knew we needed a lot of time and distance between us and them to make up for the age handicap.  The Ashland Rowing Club boat had 114.9 seconds on us, and they had beaten me before in the 2x due to that handicap.

We regained our ground and soon pushed farther ahead.  The rough water became flat as we passed the third bridge and the swing and run were back in the boat.  We saw a fast junior crew from Stanford Rowing Center that had moved up quickly, but we stayed ahead of them.  The row to the finish felt strong. 
Photo with 2x partner
With the time lost on the turn, we had no idea if we had beaten the age handicaps.  Regardless, the race was hard and fun.  Now, we needed to row back to the dock to hot seat the boat for a LMRC Men’s Masters 2x and for me, to get to the airport. 
Photo with LMRC teammates, some of the winners from the 4+!
Womens Masters 4+  (average age, elapsed time, adjusted time)
  1. Lake Merritt Rowing Club (41, 21:49, 21:28)
  2. River City Rowing Club (35, 21:42, 21:35)
  3. Bair Island Aquatic Center (34, 22:01, 21:56)
  4. Marin Rowing Association (61, 24:07, 22:02)
  5. Marin Rowing Association (57, 24:04, 22:27)
  6. Humboldt Bay Rowing Association (52, 23:35, 22:28)
  7. Lake Merritt Rowing Club (27, 22:54, 22:54)
  8. Los Gatos Rowing Club (44, 23:29, 22:58)
  9. Bair Island Aquatic Center (41, 23:36, 23:15)
  10. Los Gatos Rowing Club (61, 25:33, 23:28)
  11. Los Gatos Rowing Club (54, 25:54, 24:36)
  12. Bair Island Aquatic Center (50, 28:31, 27:34)


Womens Masters 2x (average age, elapsed time, adjusted time)
  1. Bair Island Aquatic Center (32, 23:05, 23:02)
  2. Ashland Rowing Club (60, 25:06, 23:09)
  3. Los Gatos Rowing Club (64, 26:37, 24:10)
  4. Bair Island Aquatic Center (53, 30:18, 29:05)
  5. Humboldt Bay Rowing Association (40, 32:08, 31:50)



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