By: Timothy Stoeber
Crew is the ultimate team sport, typically consisting of eight rowers and one coxswain. Using one oar each, the eight oarsmen must pull hard for long periods of time while remaining perfectly in sync throughout the race. Not only must all eight oars enter and exit the water at the same time but they must also move through the water at the same depth below the surface. Even though the coxswains are not rowing, they are a crucial part of the crew team. The coxswain sits at the stern of the boat. From the back, he commands his rowers and steers the boat by pulling two strings that connect to the fin, which is on the boat’s hull. The coxswain tells the oarsmen how hard to pull and what the stroke rate should be. Only the coxswain can see which direction the boat is headed because the rowers actually face backwards. Coxswains are on the smaller size because they are not contributing to the boat’s overall speed. The less the coxswain weighs, the
faster the boat can go.
In an eight man boat, there are four oars on each side of the boat. The left side of the boat is known as the port side and the right side is known as the starboard side. Inside the boat, rowers wear shoes that are bolted into the boat and sit on a seat that rolls back and forth as they pull on their oar. During practice, the coaches ride on small motor boats called launches. From the launch, the coach can instruct the rowers by megaphone and the coxswains via a walkie talkie.
The launches are transported from the boathouse to the dock on small dollies by the team. Even though a racing shell only weighs about 200 pounds, it requires all eight men to carry the boat because it is 60 feet long. Similarly to when rowing, there are four rowers on each side of the boat when carrying it down to the beach. The boat is normally carried at shoulder height when walking long distances. Once approaching the beach, the rowers lift the boat overhead. They wade into the water about knee deep, where they then place the boat into the water by rolling it to the side. After this, they retrieve the oars from the beach and place him into the oar locks. Finally, one rower is appointed to carry the coxswain into the water and place them into the boat. This is done to ensure that the coxswain stays dry because he will not be able to stay warm since he is not generating any heat by rowing.
Boats are washed with soap and water at the conclusion of each boathouse practice. Shells are strapped to specially designed racks so that they do not get damaged overnight. Team members not only play the sport, they serve as equipment managers as well. Mr. Larry Muri is the head coach of the Chaminade Crew Team, assisted by Mr. John Callinan ’84 and Mr. Vincent Lupardi. Mr. Thomas Patton ’06 is the freshman crew coach.
When not rowing outdoors at Bar Beach in Port Washington, the team attends practices indoors. The oarsmen row on machines called Concept 2 Ergometers, also known as “ergs.” The ergs are used to perfect form and increase fitness level. One’s ability is tested by how fast one can row a set amount of meters. The standard test during the fall season is 6000 meters while the
test during the spring season is 2000 meters. Rowers must have a lot of strength and endurance in order to compete at the highest level. This combination makes crew one of the most physically demanding sports. Each rower must also have a “team first” mentality and a willingness to devote a great deal of time to the sport. Races, called regattas, take place almost every weekend during the season. The largest regattas can consist of hundreds of teams. Regattas are all-day events with races for all ages and team types. During the fall season, the races are about 6000 meters long and they are a time trial. Races in the spring season are about 2000 meters in length and they are head-to-head races. Most of the regattas that the Chaminade Crew Team attends are in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Delaware. In the spring of 2023, the Scholastic National Championship Regatta was held in Tennessee. This spring, the Youth
National Championship will be held in Sarasota, Florida. Due to the hard work and dedication of the team members and strong coaching, the future of the Flyers crew team is very bright!
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