Again, thanks and congratulations! (And, by the way, it’s time to start training for next year!)

• Every Wed. – 7:30 t0 9:30: Chris leads the “Wednesday workout” for experienced rowers. Work on form, speed and endurance. Prep for the Diablo course at the regatta.
• Every Thurs. – 7:30 to 9:30: Ellen leads a less intensive row for beginners and moderates. Great way to prepare for the Richardson Course at the Regatta
• Fri. 3/22, 4/19, 5/17: Morgan’s clinic works on rowing form. A great way to gain confidence on the water.
• Sun. 3/10, 4/7: Rachel’s class in self-rescue and on the water safety is a must for rough-water rowers.

Other Regatta prep classes in March and April, Call for more info.

Congratulations to all the competitors!

THIS IS A STORY OF ADVENTURE that ends with a gold medal and glory. Along the way there is the hubris of youth, friendly porpoises, and a moment of true terror.

It begins on a commuter ferry one morning last summer in the middle of San Francisco Bay, where I spotted two rowers gliding past Alcatraz in what looked like collegiate racing shells. My first reaction: Holy crap! The bay is a wicked place for boating, with swirling currents, menacing fog banks, and winds that regularly blow 20 to 30 knots. The water temperature hovers around 55 ­degrees. There are great white sharks. It’s not a place for small open-cockpit craft—or so I wrongly assumed. A minute of smartphone Googling led me to the site of the Open ­Water Rowing Center (OWRC) in Sausalito, just north of the city. Apparently, folks there have been charging around in modified shells for 25 years.

So here’s yet another reason to read this great magazine, and pass it on to friends (and even strangers!). Let them know that, as Michael says,  “Rowing (is) an easier pathway into the local fraternity of badasses.”

OWRC President Charlie Mcdonald at the Annual Meeting

At the 2011 Annual Meeting of the OWRC LLC four new members were elected to the Board of Directors to join the three members remaining from previous terms. The new board members are Monika Vargas, Tony Graef, and Michael Waters. They join OWRC President Charlie McDonald, Ray Dunaway and Shirwin Smith who are remaining on the OWRC Board.

At the July 24, meeting, Charlie briefed LLC members and other OWRC members on plans for the club, including exciting new OWRC-Logo rowing clothing, a new web site and newsletter, and other initiatives .  Attendees also heard  a financial review from Board member Ray Dunaway and an operations review from Interim-Manager Morgan Fenner.

June 2012

Greetings Rowers.

It has been awhile since the last President’s letter. As usual, there has been a lot going on at Open Water Rowing Center.

Of course the biggest changes have been behind the desk. Autumn Williams has accepted a graduate student position and has left OWR in the good hands of her brother Curd.  Please join me and the Board in wishing Autumn well and welcoming Curd. We’re also pleased that Chloe Asterland has joined us and will also be in the office.

The summer staff also includes Alex Rowley and Sam Klitsner who will be with us for another few weeks.  Both Alex and Sam have extensive rowing experience on their high school crew team.

Thanks to all our rowers who have helped the new staff settle in, and for helping out whenever the opportunity arises.

 Annual Meeting  July 15, 2012  at 4PM

The annual meeting potluck will be July 15 at OWR.  All rowers are welcome and encouraged to attend. While only LLC members may vote, this is a chance for you to learn more about OWRC, visit with and meet other rowers, and elect new board members.

This year we have two board members who have completed their three year terms.  Ray Dunaway and Shirwin Smith have served on the Board for many years, and contributed greatly to the club. Please join me in thanking them for their service.

Two board seats are open, and may be filled by either LLC or non-LLC members. Terms are three years. If you would like to be on the Board, please let me know. There will also be an opportunity to nominate from the floor at the annual meeting. So far, there are two members who have confirmed candidacy: Ray Dunaway and Shirwin Smith.

The Dock

Great news. Thanks to many who contributed, and a few who gave very generously, the new dock is on site and ready to assemble. Volunteers are needed July 3, 4 and 5 to help assemble the new dock sections at low tide and tow away and disassemble the old dock.  Please let the front desk know if you would like to help. It will be a muddy, great time!

Financials

We continue operate with a very tight margin, primarily due to our large, fixed costs.  It also makes a difference that we do not have a dedicated manager that can provide consistency in operations.  Our current staff is working very hard to learn the business and are to be commended.

Safety on the Water

 In the continuation of this series, I thought it would be interesting to relay comments from a few rowers who have had some close calls or collisions.

If you recognize yourself, don’t be too flattered. Most of these comments have been heard more than once…So, (with tongue in cheek)

1. The top of my boat is bright, so it doesn’t matter what I wear.

            OK. But if you are rowing towards someone, your boat looks like this  ( . )

 2. So what if I wear black, I have white stripes on my sleeves……

 3. I look over my shoulder all the time

            -turns out it is only the right shoulder…..

4. You should have seen ­me……

 5. I was only on the wrong side of the channel this once

  6.  I am wearing bright colors!

            Really? White is Bright??

7.  I don’t own any bright colors

 8. This is only my first accident, so it is ok that I am wearing black

 9. I don’t want to look like everyone else, so I am not going to wear that hat…

 10. I am careful so I don’t need to wear bright colors.

 The Richardson Bridge area seems to be getting a lot of close miss or collision action.  Rowers funnel into a very small area at the bridge, and even though you are looking, a rower can appear at any time.

Here is a guaranteed way to become invisible: dark boat, dark clothing in the shadow of the bridge.  The other way to blend is to have sailboats rather than the horizon as your background.

So please, remember OWRC’s right-of-way channel diagram and keep to your left in the channel when going north. That means hug Strawberry heading towards Mill Valley. When heading south, immediately after coming through the 101 bridge, line up with the end of the last Sausalito marina, and go closer to the freeway shore than you think necessary. Adjust your course again when you’re close to the marina.

And finally,  be aware that the north end of Richardson Bay is the landing/takeoff area for the local seaplanes.  When taxiing, the plane is in a nose-up position. Guess who he can’t see?

Thank you everyone, for being a part of Open Water Rowing.  See you on the water!

Charlie McDonald