Photos
Last weekend the LARC mixed 8+ raced at the San Diego Fall Classic. The race course is a beautiful meandering route through Mission Bay, hosted by the San Diego Rowing Club.
After a phenomenal night out at the gas lamp district we woke (hardly hung-over at all, honest) and raced one of the most fun, painful and fast races our boat has ever done.
And, we won!! (It didn’t hurt that we were the only mixed masters 8+!) Our time was 19:04 for this long head race course.
Thanks to Mimi for putting the boat together, Vijay for helping out with the race organization and Greg for coxing.
Here are some pictures.
Halloween Rowing Costumes
Yesterday our club had heaps of boats in the Head of the Marina race down here at Marina del Rey. This year it was particularly spooookkkkyyy since it was Halloween. I’m proud to say that we had about 40 medalists from our club, including three boats with first place medals! We had the Mens’ Masters 8+ A and B, Womens’ Masters 4+, Womens’ Masters Double, Womens’ Open 8+ and the Mixed Masters 8+.
Our home court advantage really came across when our boats managed to execute the course’s hairpin turn like Michael Schumacher while the other boats continued on towards the breakwater. Note to next year’s crews: Robert’s tip of ‘Ports Out, but not holding’ was shockingly effective and needs to have a solid place in your playbook. See forthcoming ‘Robert’s Tips’ book.
It was the usual hilarious hang down at the beach beforehand, some great team spirit and cheering, and afterwards a scrumptious buffet-style banquet put on by the race organizers, the California Yacht Club. Thanks everyone for coming out and rowing and/or cheering.
And, here they are as a slideshow.
Here are the official results:
MM8+ A
Place: 1st
Elapsed time: 17:58.0
Final time: 17:55.50
MM8+ B
Place: 4th
Elapsed time: 21:03.00
Final time: 20:54.90
WM4+
Place: 2nd
Elapsed time: 23:54.00
Final time: 23:47.09
WM2x
Place: 1st
Elapsed time: 23:22.00
Final time: 23:03.75
WO8+
Place: 1st
Elapsed time: 19:45.00
Final time: 19:45.00
MxM8+
Place: 2nd
Elapsed time: 19:05.00
Final time: 18:48.10
Well done, champs!
It’s my pleasure to let you all know that, in tandem with Ryan’s brilliant upgrade of the launch to the “right” engine system, last Saturday 20th we finally placed the name on the launch!
You can see a slideshow of last Saturday’s installation project HERE. (Hit PLAY)
Thanks Ryan Reid, and also Gary Smoot, who came in to save the sticky process…
The name “Tener R” comes from my father Tener Riggs Eckelberry (Senior), who died on October 23, 2007 in Southwest France.
There is a short bio HERE. Scroll down for a fascinating collection of his postwar stories including some great CIA anecdotes…
Here is a photo from the last quality time I spent with my father, in 2006:. Some of you will recognize this as the photo I use, cropped, for all my social media profiles.
I am honored and thankful for the opportunity to remember my father in this fashion.
Thanks, LARC.
Riggs
(Tener Riggs Eckelberry Jr.)
This morning LARC raced in the Petite Final here at the San Diego Crew Classic, having advanced through from yesterday.
It was a spectacular, nail-biter of a race.
After leaping into first place in the start, LARC strongly owned the first 500 meters.
MAC and SD crept ahead by more than four seats in the second five hundred, and then continued to pull ahead.
In an incredible move, LARC triumphantly dug deep to neck and neck with MAC.
Although a photo finish was not provided, official results show LARC in 2nd place, one hundredth of a second behind MAC with a time of 7:37.21.
Coxswain Beth said, “in the last 250, from five seats down, We pulled the ballsiest move I have ever seen, and arguably won the race!”
Congratulations, team!!!
A special thanks to the dozen or so people who helped cheer down in San Diego.
Learn to row was this weekend. The whole thing went off very smoothly, thanks to Adrienne for organizing.
Click here to see the pictures.
Click Here to see as a slideshow.
Here’s what Adrienne said:
“Hello Everyone, I wanted to to say thank you so much to all of the volunteers who came out this weeekend to help with Learn to Row. We had a 100% return rate on Sunday and I know it was because of all of you!
“A special thanks to Chris Reins for planning the training for the group and to all the coaches who helped make it happen: Darius, Jill, Casey, Rebecca, Mike, Ryan, Iva, Tamara, & Robert.
“I also want to thank the coxes on Sunday: Lily, Jill, Ryan, Casey, Robert, DeAnna, Darius, Simon and Susan.
“I appreciate so much all of the help from everyone else who volunteered, whether it was to be a runner for something, organize ergs, lend an erg, do nametags, make the directions, hold the boats, row in the boats, sit in the boats, move the boats, bring food to the party, socialize with the newbies, give encouragement, bring coffee and bagels, and a VERY BIG THANK YOU to Robert for hosting another fabulous Barbecue (and finishing the new deck JUST IN TIME).”
Holy bananas, the Banquet was awesome. Thanks to everyone for coming and making it such a great night. We must have the sharpest-looking rowing club in the country. Here are some pics 
To see the pics as a slideshow, click here.
Or, click here to see all the pics directly on Flickr without slideshow.
The launch is broken, and Ryan our Boatswain is out of town. In an effort to restore it for tomorrow’s fun race, Ryan called from Washington DC (from a bar) to talk me through the diagnosis and possible repair. Unfortunately it needs a part that is on back-order so it won’t be ready for the race. But it was fun anyway. Here’s pics. While we were down there, Jessica noticed the motor in the water and demonstrated perfect technique of lifting it out! Thanks Ryan! Thanks Jess! Woooooo! See you all at the banquet!
Simon
So yesterday was boat maintenance. We got a stack of things fixed thanks to the great attendance. As you can see from the pictures we had a great time as well. Thanks, everyone for coming and helping. See you at the next boat maintenance day! P.S. I forgot my camera so apologies for the cellphone pics, ha
