Head Of The Charles

[[old] Canoeist]

I have been practicing three days a week for the last two months in a 4 person rowboat that also carries a tiny passenger laying down in the front who acts as a driver and cheerleader. (The other guys call this thing a shell or a 4+.) <br /><br />I have earned a seat in this boat by out pulling all the youngsters on the erg and having learned reasonable bladework and balance. It has been a very educational two months! <br /><br />We rowed our first race in Lowell, MA last Sunday and placed 14 out of 24 boats. It was nice to be in a boat with an average age of 51 and to be able to pass some college crews.<br /><br />We are going to be rowing at the Head of the Charles in a few more weeks. I was wondering if any other ergers were going to be there. I will be racing in the Senior Masters 4+ race.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Paul Flack

[[old] Polaco]

Hi Paul!!<br /><br />I'm not going to be there for the Head of the Charles but, hopefully I'm going to be for the next Fisa World Masters Championship that is going to be held at Princetown NJ next September the idea is to compete the maximum as possible 2-, 4- and if we are enough people flying from Spain a 8+.<br /><br />So if you continue hooked to on water rowing (Pirate: you are wrong, the real dark side of rowing is erging ) maybe we will meet in a year.<br /><br />Is anybody else planning to go to Princetown next year??<br /><br />Kind Regards

[[old] bmoore]

I'll be taking the family down to watch...if the weather holds. Any suggestions for where to watch with considerations for parking? I'll see where the redline stops closest and see if we'll want to do that.

[[old] ancho]

<!--QuoteBegin-Canoeist+Oct 6 2005, 01:35 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Canoeist @ Oct 6 2005, 01:35 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->... a tiny passenger laying down in the front who acts as a driver and cheerleader....<br /><br />I have earned a seat in this boat by out pulling all the youngsters on the erg ... <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Mr.Flack:<br />I'm glad you are enjoying your rowing that much. <br />My son is a young "canoer", and I went out canoeing with him last week and nearly died from exhaustion after about 3000 m!<br /><br />BTW: "Tiny cheerleader" is great, I don't think I'd like to be your cox...<br /><br />Which "youngsters" have you pulled out, if your 4+ average is 51??? <br /><br /><br />Have fun!!<br />

[[old] Mike McGuirk]

Paul - Good on you! You've come a long way in a short time with your rowing (vs. erging). It's great to hear you will be at the HOCR.<br />I am also there - in the Senior Masters Eights (50+) rowing with the Thames River Scullers. We go off at 10:32 and I think your race is right after ours. See you there.<br />MM<br /><br /><!--QuoteBegin-Canoeist+Oct 6 2005, 08:35 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Canoeist @ Oct 6 2005, 08:35 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->We are going to be rowing at the Head of the Charles in a few more weeks.  I was wondering if any other ergers were going to be there.  I will be racing in the Senior Masters 4+ race.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Paul Flack <br /> </td></tr></table><br />

[[old] eparizeau]

Hey Paul,<br /><br />I was at the Head of the Textile (got to love the name!) last weekend too! Sorry I missed you. I was in the 1x race for old, slow guys...and I had some even older guys pass me....its great for developing humility.<br /><br />I'm racing in the Ernestine Bayer Race early on Sunday morning on the HOCR course (race for ocean sculls). Are you racing on Saturday or Sunday?<br /><br />Ernie Parizeau

[[old] JaapR]

<!--QuoteBegin-Canoeist+Oct 6 2005, 07:35 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Canoeist @ Oct 6 2005, 07:35 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I have been practicing three days a week for the last two months in a 4 person rowboat that also carries a tiny passenger laying down in the front who acts as a driver and cheerleader.  (The other guys call this thing a shell or a 4+.) <br /><br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Hi Paul,<br />Which side of the boat are you rowing? The 3 years that I rowed on the water (from '86 to '88) I always set on the same side (see avatar). The last year we often rowed 2+ and 2-. Great respect for everyone who can row in good balance in a 2- and keep their own lane. We once started in lane 6 and finished in lane 1! The 2+ is much closer to erging. Nice stable and heavy because of the extra weight of the "cheerleader". Never tried sculling, maybe I give it a try next year. <br /><br />Success with the head of the Charles and I hope to see you back online by the end of the month.<br /><br />Jaap<br />

[[old] dennish]

Paul, Wow, look what happens when I'm not paying attention. Next thing you know Bayko and Krum will be in shell. I'm not going to the Charles this year. Actually I find it way too much of a "how cool am I" sort of thing, but having done it a couple of times I think every rower should do it at least once. Its a great race in a spectacular setting, but lordy the crap that gets shoveled at Magazine beach is overwhelming. Everyone you talk to there has won the Charles at least once. Most of the bridges make for good viewing. I am curious as well, are you port of starboard? As the smallest master in our club I was always the bow, most usually making me a starboard. I find that the larger boats, quads, fours and eights suit me more than the single. I swing back and forth on the double and pair, love it and hate it. I really like the team dynamic. I'm about equal on preference for sweep or scull, and you? Any way, excellent that you found your way to some water with your strength on the erg. I'll check for your results. What team name are you rowing under. Watch out for McGuirk, the man is the real deal, a powerhouse. I've never seen him in a slow boat. dennis

[[old] Don Seymour]

Hi Paul,<br /><br />Great job with the on the water rowing. I rowed the HOCR in for the first time in a single in 2003. It was a fantastic event to be a part of. I kept my boat at Community and did some practice rows on the course in the days leading up to my race. It was astounding how many crews were out there on the course. It made for some very exciting rows. I could have used a good cox in the boat with me. The race itself was very well run and a huge rush with all the spectators hanging off the bridges cheering you the whole way and the announcers at the boathouses adding commentary as you went along.<br /><br />I just moved to Maine from California so I'll be there this year collecting my boat off of a cross country trailer. I'll see if I can catch your event. Enjoy your race and watch out for those bridges.<br /><br />-Don

[[old] Canoeist]

<!--QuoteBegin-Polaco+Oct 6 2005, 01:16 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Polaco @ Oct 6 2005, 01:16 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Hi Paul!!<br /><br />I'm going to be for the next Fisa World Masters Championship that is going to be held at Princetown NJ  next September ...... maybe we will meet in a year.<br /> <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />The other three guys in the boat and the coaches are psyched to have our team continue rowing together for a year and see what happens. They all say that rowing for two months is not a true indication of how the boat can move.<br /><br />The boat club usually sends many boats to the masters race, so I am planning to hold on to my seat until next year. I hope to see you there.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Paul Flack

[[old] Canoeist]

<!--QuoteBegin-bmoore+Oct 6 2005, 01:54 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(bmoore @ Oct 6 2005, 01:54 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I'll be taking the family down to watch...if the weather holds.  Any suggestions for where to watch with considerations for parking?  I'll see where the redline stops closest and see if we'll want to do that. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />I hear that the bridges are the place to watch. The bridge arches aren't all that big and when one boat tries to overtake another one near a bridge, just about anything can happen. There are also a few sharp bends in the river that could also prove entertaining.<br /><br />As far as parking, I don't know. Taking the "T" into town sounds like the wise thing to do. My wife will take my children in on the T. <br /><br />I have instructed my children not to spit from the bridge or drop heavy objects when my boat goes by!<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Paul Flack

[[old] Canoeist]

<!--QuoteBegin-Polaco+Oct 6 2005, 01:16 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Polaco @ Oct 6 2005, 01:16 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Hi Paul!!<br /><br />I'm going to be for the next Fisa World Masters Championship that is going to be held at Princetown NJ  next September ...... maybe we will meet in a year.<br /> <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />The other three guys in the boat and the coaches are psyched to have our team continue rowing together for a year and see what happens. They all say that rowing for two months is not a true indication of how the boat can move.<br /><br />The boat club usually sends many boats to the masters race, so I am planning to hold on to my seat until next year. I hope to see you there.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Paul Flack

[[old] bmoore]

<!--QuoteBegin-Canoeist+Oct 8 2005, 06:39 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Canoeist @ Oct 8 2005, 06:39 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><br />I hear that the bridges are the place to watch.  The bridge arches aren't all that big and when one boat tries to overtake another one near a bridge, just about anything can happen.  There are also a few sharp bends in the river that could also prove entertaining.<br /><br />As far as parking, I don't know.  Taking the "T" into town sounds like the wise thing to do.  My wife will take my children in on the T.  <br /><br />I have instructed my children not to spit from the bridge or drop heavy objects when my boat goes by!<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Paul Flack <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />I've seen the map for the race. I can imagine the traffic jams through some of those arches. Not a lot of long straight rowing is there. I like not having to steer the erg <br /><br />Not spitting? Now that would be a well executed plan if they could actually hit you! (They needed to be told not to do this? Yikes. Of course I'll have three boys, so I'll have to remember this page from your playbook.)<br /><br />I'll probably take the T with Taylor & Jackson. I'll leave Mama and the baby at home.

[[old] Canoeist]

<!--QuoteBegin-eparizeau+Oct 6 2005, 04:08 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(eparizeau @ Oct 6 2005, 04:08 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Hey Paul,<br /><br />I was at the Head of the Textile (got to love the name!) last weekend too!  Sorry I missed you.  I was in the 1x race for old, slow guys...and I had some even older guys pass me....its great for developing humility.<br /><br />I'm racing in the Ernestine Bayer Race early on Sunday morning on the HOCR course (race for ocean sculls).  Are you racing on Saturday or Sunday?<br /><br />Ernie Parizeau <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Off to the head of the Connecticut in an hour. Good luck in your race.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Paul Flack

[[old] Canoeist]

<!--QuoteBegin-JaapR+Oct 6 2005, 07:01 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(JaapR @ Oct 6 2005, 07:01 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Hi Paul,<br />Which side of the boat are you rowing? <br />Jaap <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />I row port in seat #2. I tried starboard, but just couldn't do it because my back is permanently bent from too many years of paddling a canoe on the right side. (my right shoulder is lower than my left.)<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Paul Flack<br />