Row for the Bay 2008
The oppressive 90 degree, humid conditions on Saturday, July 20, didn’t stop a flotilla of coxed boats, kayaks, livry boats and an double canoe from participating in the Buzzard Bay Rowing Club’s third annual Row for the Bay which took place following the Coalition for Buzzard Bays Swim for the Bay.
Following the morning sprint races, precisely at 1PM, in the first heat of a 3.5 mile loop, two Azorean whaleboats, two Beetle whaleboats and one women’s gig team, from Plymouth, jockeyed for position as they set off at Fort Taber headed for the Butler Flat Lighthouse before turning north to the turn around buoy near the hurricane barrier. Led by the gig, Interception, the two women crews of the BBRC’s Kanawha and Flying Cloud, fought for dominance around the lighthouse and then set off stroke for stroke in a back and forth parry along the course. At the finish it was the gig in front at 35.44 minutes, followed by the Margarets Oars team in the Kanawha,(36:59) a scant 16 seconds in front of the crew of the Cloud (37:15).
Three minutes later, in another nail biter, the Azorean, Faial, crossed the finish at 40:54 trailed by the Pico in 41 flat. Both were coed teams made up of rowers who had just returned from the Azores plus a few rookie recruited in the last minutes to fill in.
Results in other divisions were as follows: in the livry boats it was Bill Armitage and Sean Bercaw, from Connecticut (32.23) over John Mc Coy and Jeff Moore(34:34); first place womens kayak, was Denise Hixon (44:55); men single kayak, Ed Earle,(39:47); double canoe Pete Olson and Edward Halpin (35:17)
Preceding the award ceremony the rowers and paddlers were treated to hot dogs, icy watermelon, sweets, and lemonade. Coming up next for the BBRC rowers is the Bird Island event in Wareham, and their own whale boat races at the Working Waterfront celebration.
