I was excited from the moment I was asked to go on this trip as it was my first trip to the US, having already cancelled 2 trips there because of rowing so it’s quite ironic that I was given a chance to finally go there by rowing. We arrived in Boston after the flight with Hodge and Acer absent as they were meeting the Queen or something like that and instantly the American banter started between the crew.
Tom's aim was to have A-team style van to transport us around and when the hire company gave us a 7 seater (for 10 people), he was angry. Anyway cut a long story short and hour later, after Tom and Henry haggled with the American lady that thought Australia was an American state, we finally got what we wanted and hit the road. A mini road trip later (Tom kept getting lost) we eventually found the boathouse that was to be adopted as the Molesey boathouse for the next 5 days.
The boat clubs in America should be used as an inspiration not only to Molesey itself but also many other clubs across the UK. Like most things American, they are big and but simple at the same time. Every Molesey member that was there (seniors and veterans) both agreed, the type of structure they have for their boat clubs is what Molesey needs to develop into something greater than it already is. We have the space and the will to do something along those lines; all we need now is the money. I am sure one day Molesey will have something to be proud of that is similar to that of Northeastern.
The hospitality that we had was amazing and we are grateful for Maura (is that how its spelt?)and her family. I hope that we did not disrupt them too much but one thing has to be said that she can bake an awesome cake. This was shown with 14 loaves of pumpkin bread being consumed by the crew in less than 4 days.
The cool thing about this event is its substantial size and how well it is run as an event in comparison to something we have back home. With over a thousand crew racing and as many trucks and trailers to park up, the complexity of the event is something to admire. With an estimated 300,000 people coming to watch and compete at some point over the 2 days, you can only imagine the size of this weekend and the excitement you feel before and when you race. It felt like this weekend means more than winning and just taking part in something so large is an honour.
The race was bittersweet due to the fact the crew really wanted to win and upset some of the crews that have trained for the last couple of months for this event, however, realistically with only 2 sessions as a full crew we must be proud of our 5th place finish. The race itself is unreal due to steering and the bridges and the crew was glad we had Acer coxing us, as he showed his true skill when he done up the French twice!! More seriously, though, if a top Molesey crew was to train for a couple of more sessions, I have no doubt that we could win this event and I hope to be part of the crew that does eventually win this event. I hope that next year we can once again have another American adventure and win the event. The crowds were amazing and buzzing with activity and you feel that buzz when you are racing.
A good night out, meal and laughs later, we prepare to go home and shop for the presents and clothes that we have been asked to get for those back home. This is a nice touch to the trip as we get to see the other side of the event and chill out as a crew.
To sum it up, this trip was spectacular in its own right and one that I will most probably remember as a prominent reason why I row. It’s for trips like this that make the early mornings and winter training seem worth it and I feel privileged to be given the opportunity to have gone. Finally, I must thank our sponsors for funding this trip, as without that input this whole trip would not be possible.
Bring on Boston 2009!!
