Diamond State Masters Regatta gets in 73 events, despite third year of rain

For the third year in a row rain and lightning caused delays and race cancellations at the 17th Annual Diamond State Masters Regatta on July 27.

The regatta, hosted by the Wilmington Rowing Center, takes place each year at Noxontown Pond near St. Andrew’s School in Middletown. The Diamond State Masters Regatta is one of the largest rowing events on the East Coast, drawing over 1,000 participants, including 30 from Orlando, Fla., said Su Hordy of the Wilmington Rowing Club. 

“It’s sad that people come from far away just to have their race canceled,” said Wilmington Rowing Center spokeswoman Diane McGrellis of Hockessin.

The event was delayed for rain shortly after lunch and resumed at 4:30 p.m., resulting in the cancellation of the last 26 races and 10 events.  The remaining 73 races were divided into 30 events and events were classed by boat type, number of rowers and gender.

“It’s just so well run,“ Hordy said.  They keep a good schedule and run each race at their start time, nearly every five minutes."

The regatta is a volunteer-run event, with Boy Scouts directing parking, Girl Scouts carrying a “Shoe Box” to hold rowers' shoes and helping deliver water, and organizers spending the day running the regatta instead of rowing in it.

The word “masters” in the regatta's name denotes the age of rowers, in this case 21 and older.

“Older” includes Lydia Turner, 82, who rows with the mixed gender sweep boat team with the Wilmington Rowing Club. 

Turner started rowing in Berlin, Germany, at the age of 16 and has rowed with the Wilmington Rowing Center since 1985.

It’s a zero-impact sport, making it ideal for older people, said Danielle Battaglia of the Wilmington Rowing Club. 
 
There are two boat types in rowing; sweep and scull.  The main difference, besides the hefty size and weight of a sweep boat, is the number of oars each rower uses.

The boats are 18 inches wide at the top, the widest part. 

“The boats are so unstable that if you were in the boat without your oars in the water you have about 30 seconds before you tip over,” said John Paulson, from the team “4-Play”.

Sweep boats can have two, four or eight rowers, each with one oar.  These boats also have a non-rowing member, the coxswain, who directs the boat.  Sculling boats, rowed by one, two or four, rarely have a coxswain and instead charge the bow person at the rear of the boat with looking backwards to help steer.

 “The thing about rowing is, you’re always going backwards,” said Battaglia.  So for rowers, the bow is the stern and starboard is port.

A stroke person sits at the stern of the boat and sets the rhythm for the other rowers.  The middle is called “the engine room” and it’s where the strongest rowers sit, said Battaglia.

Rowing is very technique oriented, said Paulson.  The team that does everything exactly the same will move faster than one with a lot of power.

“The repetitive nature of [rowing] gets you into a Zen-like state,” said Paulson.  The team Paulson rows with, “4-Play,” wasn't the only one with a playful name.  Other teams included “The Rowing Stones” and “Motley Crew.”

Medals were awarded for the winner of each race, with additional trophies awarded to the best time in each event.  The Wilmington Rowing Club had the best overall time in the Men’s 8+ Sweep race.

A number of special trophies are awarded each year, including the Dead Poets Trophy for the greatest overall team points.  This trophy, won this year by the Saugatuck Rowing Club, is named after the 1989 film “The Dead Poet’s Society,” which was filmed at the school.

“A lot of people come for the camaraderie,” said Horty.  “Rowers are phenomenal people, mostly.”

Selected event results below, full results at www.diamondstatemasters.com/results.html/

Footage from race 16a. Women's C 8+. The race was a close, final second finish.