Week 5 was again, craziness! It started off with a trip to the Rotary Club of Windsor, where I met some lovely Rotarians and gave a presentation about Miami and my future plans. (see pic below) It was a great afternoon.
This week was dominated, however, by Summer Eights -- THE biggest intercollegiate rowing competition in Oxford. (AND, the only time it is acceptable to leave the house wearing nothing but spandex.) Four days of racing, 13 boats on the water at a time, 1.5 boat lengths apart from each other, attempting to 'bump' (let's be honest, RAM) the boat in front of them to move their boat up a position in the rankings. Despite the rain, soreness, and law-related jokes (as law firms like Morrison Foerster and Jones Day sponsored this regatta - so picture things like 'MoFo' and 'every day is a jones day' blasting from the announcers on loud speakers), the event was an absolute BLAST for rowers and spectators alike.
My boat (with two of my dearest friends, Kine and Jeanne) started off as the second boat in Division 4. On the first day of racing, we bumped Hertford's boat (which was just plain AWESOME!) So, we moved up a notch to the first boat in Division 4. This also made us the 'sandwich' boat, which meant we would row in TWO divisions that day. We were in the highest boat in Division 4 (since we bumped Hertford from that spot), and the lowest in Division 3. So, to move up to Division 3, we HAD to bump the boat in front of us during that second race. We couldn't catch them though, so that meant we rowed in TWO races, 2,000 meters each, for the next two race days.... the first race trying to make sure the boat behind us didn't bump us (since there was no one for us to catch and relieve us of the pain of rowing all 2,000 meters at full race pace), and the second race desperately trying (after rowing a full 2,000 meters already, mind you) to catch the boat in front of us in Division 3, so that we could move up and leave Division 4 (and sandwich boat status) behind. Well, after three days of this, on that fourth day, we were so worn out that we got bumped, back to Division 4, right where we started! It was wildly fun, and we held Linacre's position in the race for next year (your position is determined by years and years of past racing!) What a wonderful memory. I will truly miss rowing when we head back to the States. I'm a total 'boatie' at heart.
Check out the Gator hat! Gotta represent!
My girls: Human Metronome, Lieutenant, and Engine Room.
Our boat - I'm in Seat 7.
Stern Pair : me and Kine.
(A Beer Boat - where they were more concerned with costume and beer than actual rowing...)
Our boat with our cox, Ken.
A champagne shower to celebrate the last race!
To see part of our first race, check out the video footage, courtesy of Will...
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