Baltimore Rowing Club Newsletter
October 9, 2007
http://www.baltimorerowing.org
Nay, be a Columbus to whole new continents and worlds within you, opening new channels, not of trade, but of thought.
                                            -- Henry David Thoreau
Upcoming Events
Regatta Results
(Thanks to John Kloss, Sunil Soprey, Aly Covino, and Niels Lium for these results.)

King's Head XXI Regatta.
Sunday, September 30, 2007. Philadelphia, PA.
http://www.uppermerionboatclub.com
  • Event 2C - Womens HS Singles
    Annie Couwenhoven - 0:21:47.65 - first place
  • Event 3B - Mens HS Quads
    Baltimore Rowing Club A (Christian Moscardi Dante Chestnut, James Freeman III, Jackson Frazier) - 0:21:22.70 (10 of 12)
  • Event 3D - Womens HS/Jr Fours
    Baltimore Rowing Club (Annabel Boeke, Allie Plaut, Sara Sherrer, Agne Palkanikis, Allison Medlyn) - 0:21:02.60 (3 of 7)
  • Event 4B - Mens SR Master Doubles (45-70)
    Marc Daemen, Chris Doyle (Whitemarsh) - 16:59.88 - GOLD
  • Event 8B - Womens HS Quads
    Baltimore Rowing Club (Alison Medlyn, Agne Palakanis, Allie Plaut, Sara Sherrer) - 0:21:45.69 (4 of 6)
  • Event 8C - Mens HS/Jr Fours (Not 17, yr regatta)
    Baltimore Rowing Club (Annabel Boeke, Christian Moscardi, Joey Greer, Dante Chestnut, Akeem Smith) - 0:20:16.17 (4 of 6)
  • Event 10A - Mens Master Singles (35-44)
    Timothy Shields 0:21:11.14 (6 of 8)
  • Event 10B - Mens SR Master Singles (45-54)
    Judd Anderson - 0:20:18.34 (5 of 15)
  • Event 10C - Womens Master Singles (35-44)
    Wendy Shields - 0:23:34.02 (first place)
  • Event 11C - Womens Master Eights
    Sunil Soprey, Dolly Chin, Elizabeth Turtle, Kathy Nickel, Ann Couwenhaven, Emily Erbelding, Amy Kleine, Paula Krahn Merkle - 0:18:05.07 (3 of 8)
  • Event 13B - Mens Master Quads
    Marc Daemen, Chris Doyle (Whitemarsh), Joel Levinson (Neried), Mark Malone (Navesink) - 15:58.54 - GOLD. (fastest adjusted time of the regatta)

Head of the Potomac.
Sunday, September 30, 2007. Washington, DC.
http://www.potomacboatclub.org
  • Event 02. Open Men's Single
    Erik Winters - 00:17:33.3360 (8 of 16; first place 00:16:35.6200)
  • Event 07. Senior Masters Men's Single
    Dan Whitaker - 00:20:10.0500 (4 of 8; first place 00:18:51.6133)
  • Event 10. Veterans Men's Single
    Walter Cesewski - 00:18:50.9370 (5 of 14; first place 00:17:35.6500)

Head of the Ohio.
Saturday October 6, 2007. Pittsburgh, PA.
http://www.headoftheohio.org
  • Mens HS/Youth Novice 4+
    Baltimore Rowing Club (J. Freeman) 00:18:28.2200, 8 of 16; 00:02:08 behind first place
  • Mens Masters 1x (F)
    Baltimore Rowing Club (W. Cesewski) 00:18:24.1867, 2ND place, 00:00:19 behind first
  • Mens Masters 2x (A-C)
    Baltimore RC/NYAC (Composite) (C. Windeknecht, M. Daemen) 00:15:18, GOLD
  • Mens Open 2x
    Baltimore Rowing Club (A. Swiatowicz) 00:15:49.7133. GOLD. (second place a distant 00:18:10)
  • Mens Youth/HS 4x
    Baltimore Rowing Club (J. Freeman) 00:18:04.4600, fifth place; 00:03:06 behind first
  • Womens Open 4+
    Baltimore Rowing Club (K. Hawk) 00:17:28.1800, second place; 00:00:08 behind first
  • Womens Open 8+
    Baltimore Rowing Club (C. Bevacqua) 00:15:41.3100, 00:01:13 behind first
  • Womens Open Ltwt 2x
    Baltimore Rowing Club (C. Bevacqua) 00:17:34.7510, GOLD. (second place 00:18:03)
  • Womens Youth/HS 4x
    Baltimore Rowing Club (S. Sherrer) 00:18:17.2400, fourth place; 00:01:21 behind first
  • Womens Youth/HS Ltwt 4+
    Baltimore Rowing Club (A. Plaut) 00:19:26.1600, 14 of 20; 00:01:45 behind first

BRC Scratch Regatta.
The last scratch regatta of the season consisted of two eights and a four. Due to strong north winds, there was only one heat. Lou Deal (stroke) and Kathy Nickel (cox) powered or motivated their boat to a rather large lead. Next time, we need to do something about lining up one boat with 300hp against another with only 180hp or so! Anyhow, well done to the "Deal" machine and all the rowers who attended. Nine recently graduated novices attended, including one who drove from Charlottesville, VA just to see his classmates again. After a heated discussion (pun intended), the remaining races were called for rower safety and keeping equipment in one piece.

Head of the Christina.
Results were unavailable at press time, but keep an eye on http://www.baltimorerowing.org/regattas/regattas.php for more information.
Latest News
Honeywell and the City of Baltimore Submit Swann Park Cleanup Plan to Maryland Department of the Environment.
Our friends at Honeywell, in conjunction with the City of Baltimore, today submitted a comprehensive plan to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) for restoring Swann Park, which will protect human health and the environment. The proposed cleanup includes removing 3,200 cubic yards (about 120 truckloads) of contaminated soil, and covering the entire park surface with a clean-soil layer that is two feet deep. MDE will review the proposal and hold a public meeting to solicit community input. Once MDE selects a final remedy Honeywell will work with the city and the agency to develop specific work plans, which should take approximately two months. Honeywell is committed to work on an expedited schedule and intends to complete the cleanup by late spring 2008.
Updates will be posted to http://www.baltimorerowing.org as they come in.

Parking lot safety: walking to and from your car in the dark.
As you may have noticed, our club rows in and around a famous American city. This space has rambled about the effects of darkness while on the water; that same darkness covers the parking lot even more. If you are anxious or uncomfortable walking to and from the parking lot without other people around you, do not hesitate to collect a group of people (and/or large rower) and ask for an escort to and from your car. This is especially important now that the colleges and high schools have started their seasons; the extra cars and buses may force you to park in a far corner, away from the boathouse door.
If at any time, for any reason, you feel anxious about a situation around the boathouse, in the dark or any other time, again, do not hesitate to walk in groups, or to grab the nearest coach or EC member for help. Keeping your car safe and locked while on the water is one thing (and a good thing), but you are much more important. Ask politely or demand vehemently; either way, those capable of help should come running.
Before heading into the house for practice, it is best to hide or obscure these items before you leave arrive at the boathouse; do not wait until you pull in to hide any shiny, valuable items (cell phones, wallets, purses or CDs) in the trunk. Also, the boathouse usually has a handful of lockers available for use during practice. A basic padlock is enough to keep these lockers secure while you are out on the water, and the building is either locked or manned by a responsible coach/EC member during practices.

Head of the Charles.
Baltimore will be well-represented at the Head of the Charles, which will be held Saturday, October 20 and Sunday, October 21. Our club has entries for Grand Master 1x, Women's Lightweight 1, Women's Championship 2x, Men's Master 2x, Men's Club 4+, Women's Club 4+, Men's Master 4+, and Women's Master 8+ categories. Racers and spectators who are looking for a trip to Boston, pasted below is the most recent booking formation for the "University Suite" at the Hyatt that members of Baltimore RC rocked last year. (Cindy Cabales was responsible for the legwork; though she is unable to attend this year, she is available at leapyearcin@hotmail.com for advice and understanding.)
The University Suite goes for $1,679.16 for two nights -- arrive at night, Friday, October 19, and depart in the afternoon, Sunday, October 21. Call Hyatt at 866-567-7826 to reserve. (The full amount will be due at the time of booking.) You will need to specify that you want the suite with the two bedrooms attached -- one will have a king sized bed, the other with have two double beds. There is plenty of room in the living room/common area for extra sleepers with air mattresses or sleeping bags.
Open sweep coach and competitive rower Patrick Martin found nonstop flights with AirTran for $60, between Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and Logan International Airport (BOS).
Cara West (peerless coxswain for the competitive group) has also volunteered space in her "spacious SUV"; contact her at carawest@aol.com for more information and to reserve a seat.

Your name and article here: call for articles and other tidbits.
While it may seem (and be) that but one twisted soul controls this newsletter, there is always room for more information. Links, article suggestions, full written articles, corrections, YouTube videos, or any other ideas you have ... if you can type it (or mumble it to me in person), it will be reviewed and likely included. Send whatever you have to hotd@baltimorerowing.org or hit the link below
- http://www.baltimorerowing.org/about/newsletter.php

Coaching evaluation form still online.
With a novice program about to close, the coaching evaluation starts to take a life of its own. You can review your coaching staff from the safety of your home, office, or local Starbucks. No cookies for posting flames, but we do appreciate honesty.
- http://www.baltimorerowing.org

BRC Yearbook: Heard on the Dock; Making a Splash in 2006.
We are thinking about another bulk order for the 2006 BRC yearbook. Individual copies are always available, but with a bulk order -- in the neighborhood of 20 or so, we can see some savings on the book and shipping. (Juniors, bug your parents!)
- http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/33832
Heard on the Dock
Junior (to both junior coaches): "Oh! I thought when you said you broke down, you actually broke down! I didn't know you just ran out of gas!"
(breaks into fit of giggles)

Juniors Coach: "He doesn't need any more food; he already had 2 bowls of chili."
Junior: "I've had 4."

Dock Master: "This is the first time you have been here isn't it?"
Juniors Coach: "Yes, it is."
Dock Master: "Your kids are very well mannered; glad to have you here!"

(Girls 4x standing on dock, waiting for seats, with the boat pushed all the way off the end)
Junior: "Can we just row without seats? This is so embarrassing!"

(Girls 4x talk after their race, clad in "We don't catch crabs, we eat 'em!" shirts)
Junior: "We caught 4 crabs, we have to lose these shirts"

Junior Coach: "Thank you so much for letting us borrow your quad, I can't thank you enough!"
Upper Merion Coach: "No problem, but it is brand new and if anything happens to it, you will owe me more than just a check, because I'll strap 8 oars and 4 boys to you later today"

Rower 1: My butt hurts.
Cox: It should. Your glutes should hurt, too.
Rower 1: I thought that was the same thing.
Cox: Well, either way ... all of it should hurt after a good row.
Rower 2: Especially if you talk out of it.

Did you hear something that bears repeating? Drop a line to hotd@baltimorerowing.org or head over to http://www.baltimorerowing.org/about/newsletter.php

Important Reminders
Erging.
As the fall racing season winds down, the ergs are beginning to flex their muscle. Why spend those hours of pain and self-hatred in vain ... when you can make all those meters count! If you have been planting yourself on the erg lately, make sure you log your meters with Concept2.
To create an account and log your meters, hit http://www.concept2.com and click on Training and Competition, then Online Ranking. And, do not forget to affiliate yourself with BRC. Your Baltimore Rowing Club is continuing to hold first place in the "Club Rowing" category, and every stroke counts!
(Water meters also count! Concept2 will accept water meters rowed in any "sliding seat boat", so if your seat has wheels, log those water meters, too.)

Equipment issues and repairs.
Any repairs requests or maintenance issues involving Club equipment, including launches, should be addressed to repairs@baltimorerowing.org
This will allow all matters to be directly communicated to the BRC repair crew. Please do not email anyone in the executive committee directly; we want to use the 'repairs' email to keep everything in one place. If you are interested in helping out with repairs and you have time, contact our boathouse manager, Bryan McMahon; we can always use the help.
Baltimore Rowing Club People
Baltimore Rowing Club 2007 Executive Committee
  • President -- Cindy Ching
  • Vice President -- Stuart Blum
  • Secretary -- Melissa Giddings
  • Treasurer -- Paula Merkle
  • Assistant Treasurer -- Lorrie Babcock
  • Membership Chair -- Hasnain Photowala
  • Boathouse Manager -- Bryan McMahon
  • Social Chair -- Kathy Nickel
  • Safety Chair -- Stuart Blum
  • Merchandising -- Jan Cookson
  • Cox Attache -- Sunil Soprey
  • Volunteer Coordinator -- Amy Kleine
  • Juniors Liaison -- Deb Kleiner
  • Webmaster -- Adrian Breeman

Coaching Staff
  • Head Coach / Competitive -- John Kloss
  • Sculling -- Marc Daemen, Paula Merkle, Wendy Shields
  • Open -- Patrick Martin, Evan Rea
  • Novice -- Niels Lium, Karen Pfarr
  • Juniors -- Alyson Covino, Mike deVera, Andrew Swiatowicz
Baltimore Rowing Club Places to Be
The Boathouse
3301 Waterview Ave
Baltimore, Maryland 21230
(410) 355-5649
http://www.baltimorerowing.org

Thursday Nights
J Patrick's Irish Pub
1371 Andre St, Baltimore, MD
(410) 244-8613
http://home.netcom.com/~leemarsh/jpatrick.html

Saturday Mornings
Harvest Table
1000 Hull St, Baltimore, MD
(410) 837-0073
http://www.myharvesttable.com


This edition of "Heard on the Dock" -- the Baltimore Rowing Club newsletter -- has been brought to you by Adrian Breeman, on the backs and necks of those great minds before and through the creative criticisms and witticisms from rowers like you.
Submissions and corrections are always welcome; give hotd@baltimorerowing.org or http://www.baltimorerowing.org/about/newsletter.php a gander.

See you on the water.