FCRC Update October 2, 2022.
All things rowing in False Creek.
The Regatta Is Coming - Sunday October 30th, 2022
The 10th running of the Head Up The Creek is happening on Sunday October 30th. This is the day after the North Shore Youth Invitational running from Deep Cove so keep those trailers in motion and don't return that rental truck just yet...
- We have received assurances from the City of Vancouver, the Vancouver Park Board and the Vancouver Police Department that there will be a clear route on False Creek for the event this year. So happily, we will again be hosting the City of Vancouver Rowing Championships on our home waters.
- This year, for the first flight only we hope to start launching boats a little sooner so during the warm-up if you get on the water early and quickly, you will be able to row down to Science World and row the turn before you race it.
- To put on the regatta, we need about 35 volunteers: my walnut sized brain can remember that Andrea from BLRC and our own Heather and Hoa have offered amongst others, but if you have time on that Sunday morning, we would really appreciate your help. Please email us at regatta@falsecreekrowingclub.ca - thank you!
- Entries are open now: there is an early-bird rate from October 2 until October 9th. If you are leaving your trailer overnight please contact us in advance so that security can be arranged: regatta@falsecreekrowingclub.ca
- The City has already cleared a number of boats from False Creek and more are being taken to recycling at Granville Island...
photo by Trish Jewison https://twitter.com/TrishJewison September 23, 2022
Clean The Rails
Please: when you are cleaning the boats there are certainly things which should not be left as mementos of your row:
- Any body hair
- Clothing, particularly socks. I know there are a couple of pairs that have been down there for a while.
- Sand, dirt or anything in the rails
A set of rails is about $75 and 4 new wheels is about $60. Please use a cloth (or someone else's old socks) to get the crud out of the rails before and after your row. Even if you are practicing your yogic flying, at some point your weight on the miniature boulders in the detritus being run over by the wheels is going to wreck both the tracks and the wheels themselves. Avoid that please. Don't forget to lubricate the wheels with ball bearings.
HRR 2022
I received a nice email from Sir Steve Redgrave, CBE yesterday: the 2022 Henley Royal Regatta is being held Tuesday, 27 June to Sunday, 2 July, for six days of racing and "socialising" (which I think means getting inebriated at the Fawley Bar). Apparently the 2022 regatta was quite a success (probably because of UBC and a large FCRC contingent being there) and their biggest ever and they are sticking with the 6 day format. I suspect they already had the umbrellas printed up, so they are just going with the flow. I would suggest getting your accommodation now.
This morning's row
It really was a lovely day.
Making things
Issey Miyake died in August. Actually, a lot of people have died in the past wee while, but Issey Miyake (a different link) was especially skilled in the art, science and craft of making things. His credo was to "live, build. Make things." When someone writes your story down: what will be the last line? Please don't let it be "left a lot of body hair in the boat or crud in the rails." Clean your boats after use, and not just wave the hose at them. It's not like we row on fresh water, people.
The Hose
OK. So I removed the thing that lowered the water pressure in the hose to a mere trickle and now it's at 120 PSI (about double residential pressure). Which means that the hoses are under more stress than a certain legal defense team: we've already had one blow apart (as I am sure they have too). Please turn off the taps at the top by the fence - not the one for the Vancouver Ocean Sports Compound, but the ones that feed our hoses and the sink.
Announcements
If you are wondering how you can help build the club, there are several things you can do. The first step is thinking about what you feel pride in. If rowing is merely an alternative to a gym, then we need to hire and pay for all the services that people currently provide our community free of charge. If FCRC is something you actually see value in, perhaps you can be one of people helping out. Perhaps at the regatta, or perhaps with cleaning up the compound and getting rid of the grass and vines.
not to worry: I changed the license plate number to protect Rolf's privacy
The New 4x+/4+
If it gets taken out rowing, it must have a cox in it. There are cox box minis (on the shelves) and headsets (on the hook by the Blue Ocean battery chargers) in the red shed. You might want to make sure they are charged up.
The new double/pairs
Can someone who knows how please fix the steering? Apparently it didn't come set up perfectly out of the box. I don't have time myself.
Can I use FCRC's Boats if I am not a member?
If you are a registered participant or member in one of our programs within the Rowing Canada Aviron membership system, then yes you can subject to certain conditions of those registration.
- What if that's not the case? There is nothing stopping you from buying your own equipment and rowing on your own terms subject to the laws of Canada - I hope we see more of that: people having rowing equipment in places like Burns Lake, Osoyoos, or wherever. WaveCutters might be an excellent boat to "have at the cabin". Or buy yourself a racing boat: fill your boots.
- Can you use FCRC's boats if you are not registered and approved? No. Absolutely not. "But a friend of mine who is a member said I could". Have them call me, because: "No. Absolutely not."
Passive Aggressive Signs
Leaves in the compound. Fall is coming, which means that the trees in Vanier Park are about to lose their leaves. In turn, that will mean that the signs from the maintenance people are going up shortly saying we don't want your leaves that came from our trees. Seeing as the City maintains a fleet of vehicles for the removal of leaves, I guess like everyone else we should put leaves in the road.
Regattas so far this fall
- Nicomekl was a couple of weeks ago and well done to Sebastien (2nd fastest M1x time) and Sergio. Renaude and Andrew from SSSCRC also rowed FCRC boats in the 2nd flight, in a thankfully shortened course.
- The Deep Cove Classic was cancelled, which is a shame: it was my first regatta ever and on a beautiful day there isn't a body of water that can beat it.
- Burnaby Lake 4K was this past Saturday. A regatta for some of the best rowing programs in the Pacific North West (UBC, UW, Washington State) and there were excellent performances by this year's FCRC coaches - I saw Sally and Caitlin, along with Mary who coached with us last year. Stella and Lucy were lurking about in pairs, but I didn't see them as I was on the water all day.
Sally and her magical anti-track bite socks rowing to victory!
Upcoming Regattas this fall
Terry Paul
Terry Paul is the new High Performance Director for Rowing BC. Terry is both a good dude and an amazing cox. And he's a trusted hand so that's cool. And yeah, he got a gold medal in Barcelona so he's got some street cred.
Rowing BC Annual Conference - November 26 & 27
Rowing BC is having their annual conference in November in Richmond.
The Rowing BC Annual General Meeting and Conference provides an opportunity for the entire BC rowing community to connect over the accomplishments of the previous year and look ahead to the coming priorities. Whether you are an athlete, coach, umpire, administrator, volunteer, board member, manager or supporter, there is content included with you in mind. Mark your calendar and plan to attend!
- Community Development/Grassroots Rowing – aimed at Coaches, Managers, Volunteers and Administrators
- Performance Rowing – aimed at Coaches with a performance focus to their programs
- Organizational Health – aimed at Board members, Managers, and Administrators
- Umpiring – for Umpires!
Katie Clark
There was a quiet line in the RCA News Release on the crews selected for the 2022 World Championships. The best news was left to the bottom: our own Katie Clark (yes who rowed for UBC, but that's just a detail) was a racing spare for the national team... It's really hard to find any details about that or the race itself, it's not on the RCA smart phone application, and it's not on the World Rowing website, but apparently Katie had an amazing race against the other nation's racing spares and came second... which means she is the 2nd fastest universal rower in the world! Go Katie, Go! 
I knew when I bought this in 1988 that I would find a use for it.
It was for a course, which sadly was not the basket weaving course I had hoped.2022 World Rowing Masters Regatta
David Darling, one of our life members attended the 2022 World Rowing Masters Regatta in Libourne, France rowing with his daughter, Emma who is a member of FCRC (look it up if you don't believe me) rowing a double together. Among the more than 5,000 competitors was my cousin Susan and her boy toy Mick along with a small crowd from Delta Deas Rowing Club.
 
left photo: Emma and David rowing for False Creek right photo: Mick and my cousin Susan of Maple Bay
Tricia Smith
Join us in celebrating Tricia Smith (one of FCRC's life members and all round amazing person) on Thursday, October 6th, as she is presented the Order of Sport Award and inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. For free tickets to livestream the event, visit https://buff.ly/3SkZ34i
It really was a beautiful morning this morning...
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