HRR Update Three, from 51.5358° N, 0.9029° W
This update has been brought to you by the other half of the “small people squad” here in Henley. Newly minted alumni Samantha Needham is the coxswain of the four. She graduated with a double major in Anthropology and Spanish and will begin a career in the government when we return to the states; we would tell you what in, but you’d need a security clearance for that…
After a restful night the four woke up early, ate a light breakfast, and went for an easy lap on the course. After simulating our pre-race paddle and grabbing some coffee, we got ready for our scrimmage with the Riverside Boat Club Britannia Challenge 4+ from Boston, MA. Practicing a Barrier run off the start and a base piece from Fawley to the Steward’s Enclosure allowed us to work out some last-minute kinks. It was great to experience racing, without the pressure of the actual event. Many thanks to our friends the #meatwagon for piecing us today, best of luck in the Britannia!
Later in the afternoon, the 8+ worked in some productive pieces with Gonzaga College High School from Washington, D.C. The brotherly competition between UVA’s 6-seat, Frank Vasquez III, and Gonzaga’s 4-seat, Thomas Vasquez, was an added bonus!
After the morning’s pieces, the four spent the afternoon resting, chatting with our hosts, and exploring the shops in Henley. In the evening, we dressed out in full Steward’s Enclosure attire for the Overseas Crew Reception at the River & Rowing Museum in town. We had a good time chatting with Sir Matthew Pinsent and our friends from Bucknell University.
Just for fun, tomorrow afternoon we will do another easy paddle down the course next to the Ohio State University women’s team Remenham 8+, so the Stewards can run a dress rehearsal of the drone footage and live stream. We’re looking forward to one last relaxing row on the Thames before the craziness of the Regatta begins.
As I write, we are finishing up a delicious meal of stir-fry chicken and veggies with rice, accompanied by the soothing sounds of the Italian Dinner Party playlist on Spotify. We’re excited for our last day of practice tomorrow before the real deal on Wednesday!
If you’d like to see more of our adventure, you can also follow our travels on twitter (@VirginiaRowing) and instagram (@vmensrowing).