NorthWest Regional Championship Regatta June 20, 2025

The Capital Crew Masters teams raced at 2025 NW Regional Championship in Eugene Oregon on June 20th and won 1 gold and 4 silver medals...

The full list of our results is:

* Womens F 4x: Heat 3/6, no advance

* Mixed C 4x: Heat 1/4, Final 2/13

* Mixed D 4x - A: Heat 2/5, Final 6/11

* Mixed D 4x - B: Heat 5/5, no advance

* Mixed AA-A 8+: Final 1/3

* Mens AA-A 4+: Cancelled

* Womens D 8+: Heat 3/6, Final canceled

* Mens AA-B 2-: Canceled

* Mixed E 2x: Heat 1/3, Final Canceled

* Mixed E 8+: Heat 4/5, no advance

* Womens E ltwt 1x: Cancelled

* Men’s AA-A 1x: 2/4

* Mixed D 2x: Heat 4/4, no advance

* Womens G 2x: Heat 2/5, Final 2/9

* Womens E 8+: Heat 4/5, no advance

* Mens C 8+: Heat 2/4, Final 4/7

From Sebastian Cohn who coordinated and led the teams for this regatta has this to say...

Racing was, as always, an adventure! A group of us showed up early Thursday morning, and while Mark and John fulfilled our team’s volunteer duties by helping direct trailer parking, the rest of us took advantage of our early arrival to grab a primo spot to set up “Camp Sac”. We set up three tents directly next to the boat return ramp, with trees on either side and a picnic table underneath.

Maureen drove her trailer with small boats belonging to us and River City, while River City put our 8+ on their trailer, and both trailers conveniently showed up just before 3:00 Thursday. We unloaded/rigged and met to discuss the details and logistics of the upcoming weekend - most details were similar to last year although this year there was an actual dock for launching boats! No more wet socks to start the race (in theory)! Returning was still at the beach though.

We raced (or planned to) in nearly every possible event this weekend, from singles through eights; men’s, women’s, and mixed boats; age categories AA through G; and although we didn’t have a novice-specific event several novices did take the dive to join in and we had a blast racing with them in lineups alongside our more experienced rowers. There were highs - winning gold with open water in the Mixed 8 on Friday, getting to race a 1x that I rarely practice and not only NOT flipping (as opposed to my only other 1x race…) but coming in a reasonably close second, Derek’s coxing, and newer team members experiencing spring racing in all its glory. And lows - cancelled races and barely missed finals (Women’s 4x). But the best part certainly was simply the time spent and laughter with teammates and friends. As I spend more years in the sport I find the off-water time is just as important as the on-water time to my memories.

The big story of the weekend was weather. Typical for this time of year in Lowell is 70s and sunny. Last year was unseasonably hot and this year we were hit by the other end of the spectrum. Setup on Thursday was beautiful, but it cooled off Friday and by mid-morning we were starting to get scattered showers and more wind. By afternoon racing the wind was howling and I can honestly say it was some of the roughest water I’ve raced in. The competitors all had a good laugh at the end of each event just that we survived! Not all fun and games though, while approaching the starting line of our mixed 8 event a wind/rain/hail front came through for a couple minutes that we were barely able to keep control in. There was a singles race happening and one boat was thrown over and the rower rescued, thankfully we have the safety launches.

Saturday the rain continued to worsen, becoming a constant deluge, soaking volunteers and athletes alike, and turning the shoreline into slick mud. As many of us were returning to the course from lunch the race organizers determined the slick and cold conditions were too much of a risk and cancelled the remaining races. This was absolutely an understandable choice but very bittersweet as we missed out on finals we had qualified for in the Women’s D 8 and Mixed E 2x, along with several races that would have been one-and-done finals (two 1x events, 2-, and 4+) - even more so as with the increased rain the wind died down making the water pristine relative to Friday. Nonetheless we went home, refueled, and got rest to prep for racing to resume Sunday.

Luckily Sunday the weather front finally passed through. There were some clouds in the morning but no rain and as the day moved on more sun came out and the temperature increased - I even got a sunburn in the afternoon (oops). Racing was understandably intense; without the weather conditions keeping us in “survival mode” athletes were able to put everything on the line. Our men’s 8 and Women’s 2x both made finals, and the 2x received a silver medal! I also received a silver in my 1x (transferred the cancelled Saturday entry to a lower age category to race Sunday).

The help and support from all of our teammates was consistent and wonderfully positive all through the weekend - no matter the conditions or how their own personal events may have gone just minutes before we could always count on a cohort of teammates to be carrying oars to/from the water and to be at the end of the dock closest to the racecourse yelling their heads off as the racers passed the 600m mark.

And as the weekend came to a conclusion on Sunday we all chipped in to derig boats, put them back on the trailers, and shared some beers from our friends at the Drop Bear Brewery truck…. in the sun.

From Francis Ogata ( Novice rower)...

It was such a wonderful experience!!! I feel so very fortunate to have such a supportive team around me!!! And that welcoming feeling made the regatta even more memorable for me. Can’t say enough about my Quad teammates and my eight teammates and a special shout out to Taryn O'Connell, my partner in the Double!!! She is Amazing!!!!

From Kelly Gibson ( newest Master rower )....

It was great rowing and being part of a team. Loved how everyone helped out and cheered each other on. Even with the inclement weather, we were supportive of each other. It was a great weekend. Lots of laughs and support.

Gold Medalist Team!