Head of The Charles: Dues and Coaching Updates

President Audrey Novak informs us that any outstanding dues must be paid by September 1st (oh my gosh, that's today!) to be eligible to row in a sweep boat in the Head of the Charles. The HOCR is unlike all other regattas, in the sense that the entry limits per club, as well as the requirement of a club registration fee, means that NHRC has to pay to have our crews race there. For this reason, seat opportunities are extended only to members who are paid in full by the registration due date. Please contact Dick Thackaberry (thackr@sbcglobal.net), Treasurer, or Audrey, if you have any questions.

Also, Coach Nich is back in town, and has issued the following near-term strategy for effective training of sweep crews destined for the HOCR:

For this week:

Wednesday - Rig, Check Measurements, Swing Row (coaching TBD)
Spread = 84.5cm
Inboard = 114.5
Pitch = 5 Degrees

Thursday - Team Row

Friday - Team Row

Starting September 6, 2008 through HOCR:

Coach Nich has distributed a .PDF file and a .ICS calendar (for those of you using ical or another calendar program) via email. Also, he announces that a new and improved training website is coming! Once finished, it will also include a MUCH better system for evaluating yourself on video (Nich has purchased a camera).

ERG DATES!!!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008 = TOYO 20' Erg Piece at Maximum Effort...This is training on your own (TOYO) so that you can prepare and execute the piece at your own pace, control, etc.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008 @ 600AM = PAYNE WHITNEY GYM = HOCR Team Erg Piece 20' @ Maximum Effort

Coach Nich says that is looking forward to seeing everyone and getting back into the swing of things for the HOCR!

Head of the Charles Rules Changes

I know this seems far away, but take a look at the new rules for entries at the HOCR. Most of them affect sweep boats, and virtually all of them address the college and university divisions. But there are a few for us too, and one that alter our collective destiny a bit.

If we are reading the changes correctly and our memories are not flawed, last year's women's masters four, which *narrowly* missed out on the top five percent for a guaranteed entry, will actually have one after all. The new rule is that the top 50% of finishers in fours and eights get a guaranteed entry, and this change is retroactive to the 2006 results. Anyone else in sweep boats at last year's regatta should check their finishes to see if they too have benefited from this rules change.

This decision by the regatta committee obviously means that there will be fewer lottery spaces available (although the regatta committee has raised the total number of sweep entries from 850 to 950), but that the rise in competitiveness of masters' events will accomodate those who have actually demonstrated good performance in the past but have not been among the top finishers. The new rules should also benefit more competitive clubs as well as individual crews, since each organization is no longer restricted to one boat in each sweep event.