Local Teams Regatta at JLAC (March 20)

What was supposed to be a weekend off from racing turned into a mighty busy race day for 10 teams, including our Jackets. On Saturday, March 20, JLAC was the setting for an Oakland Strokes-sponsored regatta in which the Jackets participated in 19 of the featured 28 races.  In addition to the Jackets and the Strokes, teams included Humboldt, Palo Alto, North Bay, NorCal, Saint Ignatius, Marin, Los Gatos, and JLAC.

It took a little time to get going, but the Jackets were successful in the Men's 2- with Zander Morgan and Graeme Horton powering to a win, and the Women's Freshman 8+ B boat coming out on top in their race!  Congratulations to cox Lillian Farnkopf and rowers Anastasia Magaña, Caroline Pearson, Kiara Grey, Geneva DeBlasi, Chaos Klopp, Anna Remler, Odett Zvekanovics and Marina Khamhaengwong. Lillian earned herself a dip in the estuary after the day's racing was done! 

A number of 2nd places were recorded, including the Men's Open 4+, which was only two seconds off the winning mark.  The Women's Lightweight 4+ fell by only four seconds to Marin, cutting the deficit from 30 seconds two weeks ago at the Battle of the Bay and 15 seconds last week at Lake Natoma.  Also rowing to strong second-place finishes were the Women's 2-, the Women's 2X, the Men's Novice 4X+, and the Men's Lightweight 2X, in which Felix Meier was able to return to rowing for the first time in many weeks following a hip injury.  Here's hoping everyone stays healthy through CJs in May!

Challenges and surprises during the day sometimes made it difficult for our team, with sickness and injury forcing new seating configurations.  And a large wake left by a clueless power cruiser nearly caused havoc on the course.  Some parents were even caught by surprise by the "hyper-vigilant" Oakland parking division, who made enough money on questionable parking tickets to send a hefty group of rowers to Henley-on-Thames!

Coach Chris expressed mostly satisfaction on the day's events, but was clear in his expectations for the remaining weeks of the season.  With three regattas remaining, the team needs some extra focus to advance to the next level.  Perhaps some on the team are a bit tired from the long season?  Perhaps this extra, unexpected week of racing threw some for a loop?  Whatever the reason, Coach said commitment to training can help everyone make the best use of their hard-earned fitness to reach higher. 

The team has four weeks before its next regatta.  With the solid week of spring break training included, this is the perfect opportunity to capitalize on the progress the athletes have made so far.  Coach Gulliver is looking forward to going "back to the lab" and helping the coxes and rowers fine-tune the techniques they've been learning.  Coach Morgan pointed out that the coaches have stepped up the workouts in the past week, and will continue to push the athletes hard.  "When they get back on the water," she said, "they'll be pleased" with the extra power and endurance they have.

With the gains made so far this season, everyone's hoping for a stronger push just a few more times.  We all know the team can dig deeper and do their best.  See you all at the next regatta, the Deep Water Dash in Stockton, on April 18!