Row for the Bay 2009 by Barbara Belanger
The BBRC’s fourth Row for the Bay proved to be yet another successful “feel good” event with 17 craft participating in the 3.5 mile race and five Club teams in the one mile sprints.
Despite an overcast sky early on with a threat of rain, the sun did appear and the clouds departed making for a glorious day with ideal conditions for the races. The sprints to the Butler Flat Lighthouse were held at 8 AM with all teams besting their 2008 times. It was the White Cap women with a 12:30, though, who came out on top, out rowing Margaret’s Oars, the Sea Biscuits and Norwegian Squareheads. The unopposed Co-ed WAV team clocked the best time overall with their 11:52.
A slight change was made this year, in the 3.5 event to accommodate the larger boats and avoid potential problems rounding the lighthouse, and in a staggered start the Hawaiian outrigger canoe was off and running to take the lead, posting the best overall time (31:05). In the whaleboat divisions, it was the Rowmones (33:41) over the Misfit Toys, the Crab-a-lots and the Azorean whaleboat. The gig race went to John McCoy’s powerful BBRC rowers in the Gail Force,( 28:53) followed by Plymouth’s, Interceptor, and Gloucester’s, Siren Song. The surf kayak, paddled by Budi led the kayak division of six boats. Unopposed were the livry, double canoe, and work boat.
Within an hour of the start the races were completed and the participants congregated in and around the “café” to enjoy the dogs, fruit and other goodies while the timers tallied the scores. Medals awarded and by noon the boats headed home having enjoyed another enjoyable day on the waters of Buzzards Bay.
