Opening Day Regatta 1

Red Saturday is a very exciting day for Brentwood students. This year, for 18 rowers this Red Saturday weekend meant a lot more. The Varsity Women’s and Men’s Eights were given the opportunity to go to Seattle and race against the top US crews in the Pacific Northwest. At our Brentwood Regatta these two crews qualified as the fastest Canadian crews in their races which allowed them to race at the Windermere Cup / Opening Day Regatta in Seattle.  After an hour drive to the ferry, a two hour ferry ride, and a three hour bus ride down I5 everyone made it to Seattle in one piece. The following morning both crews headed over to the University of Washington to unload the trailer and rig up the shells for a practice out on the water. The boys was given the opportunity to do a star piece against the Dutch national women's crew. If you ask the boys, they beat the Dutch by a boat length, but asks the Dutch crew and they'll tell you they would have had the high schoolers in the body of the race. Following the practice we headed off campus for lunch. After a row and a big lunch it was surely time for a nap. Three hours later everyone woke up and headed back to UW to watch a boat christening. Not long after that it was time for more food for these rowers. Heading over to the NorthGate mall we split up to have crew dinners. After the crew dinners, a short walk to digest the massive amount of food was  a necessity. We all walked back to our hotels for an early bed time before the big race the next day.  A 7 am wake up call for the coxswains and coaches and an 8 am wake up for the rowers made nerves and adrenaline start to run through each athlete. After the coxswains and coaches finished their meeting to learn about the flow pattern and race schedule, everyone met up, warmed up, and got on the water.  The Women's 8+ was the first Brentwood boat to race down the Cut and they finished 4th. Soon after, the men came down the course. Racing against some top US crews, they finished 2nd and were able to walk away happy and ready for the upcoming weekend at the Shawnigan Regatta.  In the last race of UW vs UBC and Brooks, the University of Washington finished first. All crews turned around and paraded back up the course to celebrate a great day of racing and the beginning of Seattle’s yachting season.  Thanks to Warren Featherstone, Mr Carr, Mrs Biesenthal, and our bus driver Bruce for providing this memorable opportunity for the senior rowers. Emma H, Allard ‘18