FCRC Update November 6th, 2022.
The end of a season...
Headed Up The Creek
As you know, it rained last weekend, and it was windy. Which means it was time for Head Up The Creek once again! With over 80 boats entered, I think this was the largest regatta we've hosted yet. And once again, we dead-centred the weather with an atmospheric river running through it (no Brad Pitt though). The feedback on the weather ranged from "you are cursed" to calls from the Farmers Almanac asking for our regatta dates in the future in order to help with their predictions. And now we know what 2.5" of rain feels like over the course of 5 hours: box checked!
The results...
are here: (https://www.regattacentral.com/regatta/results.jsp?job_id=7965). I am happy that people that did well at our regatta in terms of comparison to the Gold Medal Standard also did really well at Head of the Charles (2 weeks ago) and Head of the Lake (earlier today). If you want a copy of my results spreadsheet please let me know - I have already sent it to some of the coaches than attended.
To those that were wondering, the overall winner of the Head Up The Creek was Vancouver College's Young Men's 4+, stroked by P. Scaccabarozzi and coxed by E. Lui - their names will go on the trophy. Vancouver College also had the fastest boat of the day with their young men's 8+, stroked by C. Sage and also coxed by E. Lui. This is the first time that I can remember the same coach and club being first in both columns, but it's been 3 1/2 years since we last held the regatta so there isn't much I do remember.
Obviously, it takes village to raise a child, or in some cases, a village idiot (hi!). Running a rowing regatta is much the same: the competitors, their coaches who got them ready for it, the volunteers from our rowing club and several others, RCA Umpires from Rowing BC as well as people from other organizations who volunteered their time. The latter group includes folks from the Jericho Sailing Centre Rescue Team, the Kitsilano Yacht Club and FirstResponders.ca who aren't part of the rowing community but help us out anyways.
Thank you to Wenqi and Ariel from FCRC, and Lindsay from VRC for taking photos at the regatta. There's about 1.6 GB work of them at our OneDrive pictures folder: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AkBmnb6Yu3BOzUm975f-YRoEkgb3?e=4IqeOh There may be others, but that's all I have at this point. Lindsay's were taken from down by the Cambie Bridge, many of Ariel's from Granville Island and Wenqi's from around Vanier Park. Generally.
One of the most positive bits of feedback that I have received so far was about the soup we had for volunteers. I think a few others may have snuck a spoonful or two as well. I don't know if this is the exact recipe, but I am pretty sure this is pretty close: Gypsy Soup from Moosewood, the ingredients are...
- 1 Tbs oil
- 2 small onions, diced about 2 cups
- 2 large cloves garlic, minced
- 1 stalk celery, diced
- 1 sweet potato, peeled and diced about 2 cups
- 1 carrot, diced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp turmeric although I’d leave this out or lessen next time
- 1 tsp dried basil
- a dash of cinnamon optional
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 cups water
- 1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 small green pepper, seeded and diced
- 1 can diced tomatoes, with juice
Instructions
- Saute the onion, celery, sweet potato, and carrot in the oil for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the salt, paprika, turmeric (if using), basil, cinnamon (if using), bay leaf, and water. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook until everything is soft, about 15 minutes.
- Add the garbanzo beans, green pepper, and tomatoes. Cover and simmer another 10 minutes or so, until everything is as soft as you like.
FCRC Social
The regatta is over, winter is upon us, and we are all trying to adjust to life with rain (and apparently snow). But it doesn't have to be that way every day. It's time to get together and share good times. VRC has it's Captain's Dinner, Delta has the Slough Do, and we simply have "drinking on a Thursday". To support that, let's have a bit of a social on Thursday November 17th, 2022 at Faculty Brewing. If you could let me know if you are coming... via the poll on Slack (see #members channel at 3:24 pm Sunday November 6) or via email. I stopped in yesterday on the way to Home Depot, made sure that there were rowers who worked there (there is, and she knew how to pronounce "Schuylkill" so she's obviously legit) and I asked what the scoop is: they sell the fluids, and you can bring in your own food.
If people showed up as close as they can to 5:30 pm, we will order food from Nook in Olympic Village and then live a little.
- Faculty Brewing, 1830 Ontario Street (just south of 2nd and close to the #84 bus stops).
I already know there are people that can't make it, but we will have more events - keep an eye on Slack.
National Rowing Championships
The last on-water regatta in Canada is over on Quamichan Lake not too far from Shawnigan Lake on Vancouver Island next week.
https://www.regattacentral.com/regatta/?job_id=8018
I don't see a lot of our coaches or coaching alumni rowing this year: Katie obviously, along with Sally, Cailin, Mary, and Aidan. There might be others, but I was up late reading about the Backyard Starship and my vision's a little furry at the moment. However, it is the first time that the regatta is being held at the National Training Centre on Quamichan Lake.
NRC's volunteers
Looking at the volunteer sign-ups for the regatta, there are still a number of positions to fill... safety boat drivers and things. I am impressed at how many positions are filled. There are some straightforward ones: blowing the horn at the end of each race, safety boat drivers and stuff. If you have time, please take a look and consider helping out: https://mbrc2022.ivolunteer.com/NRC.
Head of the Lake/CURC's
All of our coaches that went to the Canadian University Rowing Championships back in St Catharine's, where it was warm and apparently sunny at times (I am so happy for you) made it through to their A finals, and it looks like Caitlin got a gold in the Women's Pair, and Aiden gold in the Men's 8+. Obviously past performance is no indication of future results, but it would seem that coaches who coach with us also do well elsewhere. https://www.regattacentral.com/regatta/results2/?job_id=8051&org_id=0 Perhaps being at FCRC helps people be their best selves?
Rowing BC Regatta Attendance Survey
In order to help the Local Organizing Committees throughout the province Rowing BC is hosting a survey to determine who is going where next year. If you are a coach, help coordinate regatta attendance at your club, or are just plain go to regattas, could you please fill out the survey.
Don't put the cover on the big coach boat if it's going to rain
The cover is waterproof and it creates a huge swimming pool in the boat. To the point where the weight will break the wheels and likely the dolly it is resting on. And pull the drain plugs out of the coach boats for the same reason please when they are in the compound.
Rowing BC Conference - November 26 & 27, 2022 in Richmond
https://rowingbc.ca/2022-rowing-bc-conference-and-agm/
Our own Cal Oliver is on one of the Community Rowing panels, and looking at the various streams, certainly coaches will get a lot out of it but I suspect board members and senior athletes might as well. This will be Terry Paul's first time presenting his direction in terms of athlete development in his new role as Director of High Performance at Rowing BC. Along with that will be several sessions on rowing club sustainability and some focus on this coastal stuff. I'll be there in the Umpire Stream, so if there are others going that would be grand. Thank you.
Saltwater Sports Vancouver
I've had some conversations with people in various organizations in Vancouver about working together with a goal of helping the City and Parks Board understand sports that operate on saltwater and bring us together to forge stronger communities. In the past there has been support for sports in the City of Vancouver through the Vancouver Sport Network and then the OnWater Community. The VSN hasn't been active since 2013 on Facebook, and there hasn't been any work done to update the Vancouver Sport Strategy since it was approved in May of 2008. The OnWater group has met perhaps 3 times over the past several years to discuss where to place flags on the beach as the tide comes and goes.
I was thinking that perhaps it might get more traction if we come together as a community first and then use that as a place to identify what we need to do to make Vancouver a Waterfront City, rather than a city with a waterfront. The Field Sports, Ice Sport and Pool people certainly have found success doing this.
So far I have identified the following groups that should be involved - they are not for profit or charitable organizations that operate non-motorized sports programs on English Bay, False Creek and Coal Harbour. The rest of Burrard Inlet (from a Vancouver perspective) and the Fraser River are commercial waterfront and not likely to host any organized sports groups. If you are aware of other groups that I should also invite to a kick-off meeting, please let me know.
- Dragon Zone
- False Creek Rowing Club
- FCRCC (False Creek Racing Canoe Club)
- Jericho Sailing Centre Association (and possibly component organizations)
- Kitsilano Yacht Club
- Royal Vancouver Yacht Club
- Vancouver College Rowing Program
- Vancouver Rowing Club
- VOS (Vancouver Ocean Sports)
- Pacific Reach Outrigger Club (at Kitsilano Yacht Club)
- Pacific Swim Academy (Lifesaving Academy)
- Vancouver Open Water Swim Association
- Four Fires Festival (indigenous canoe races)
Carla and the Poppies
Carla Pace, one of our life members and Canada's best teachers, organized a poppy planting with her Grade 5 class in front of City Hall on 12th Avenue. Every year she and her classes take time to remember those whose lives have been lost - November 11th is coming. https://www.instagram.com/p/CkoFxk4J-d8/.
"Our poppy art installation for a seventh year offers a wonderful display for veterans. Our orange and red feathers acknowledge Indigenous veterans recognizing that most were also residential school survivors. Purple poppies acknowledge animal victims of war… millions perished, especially horses. This year we added sunflowers to send support to the Ukraine."
Remembrance Day Row
There is also (weather permitting), a Remembrance Day row on Friday the 11th of November. It starts at 10, and if people could congregate at 11 am out near Science World for a moment of silence that would be appreciated. Signups on the Google Sheet.
Boats for sale
We have 2 boats for sale at the moment: an extremely old yellow Maas 1x with a cracked rigger that may or may not have been used by the CIA during the Bay of Pigs invasion. Also, a lightweight single of indeterminate heritage that's seen some life. I will post an ad on Rowing BC's classified section at some point, but it won't be "or best offer". They are more of a best offer kind of boat, or a good story. If you are going to offer us money, please don't make me feel guilty and suggest more than $500. If the offer is a good story of its future life, that would work too. P.S. These aren't boats you could live aboard.
The crack is on the starboard rigger. Or if you are the same age as Jenny Fitz or younger: the "star" rigger. I am pretty sure the seat is around somewhere, but no guarantees. All sales final. As is where is. You are responsible for your own use, insurance and conduct.
Gene's old boat even has a handle to pick it up! And seats and shoes! Are those newish rails? I think they are!
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