Rocket Fuel: First Row

A Panorama of the boat bays and launching area at the course. Easter eggs to find: Andy and Shane rigging our boat; matching shoes/laces and trou/shirt; the italian light quad checking true pitch; and a very tiny Olympic Champ and undefeated in the men's heavy pair Hamish Bond.

The course was loud today as fighter planes from an air show streaked to near-misses only a few hundred meters overhead. We took three laps of the course, each a little improved as we felt out the boat, the water, the scenery.. although truth be told as soon as Shane calls us to row we automatically tune out everything but the rowing itself.

Here are some pics and video from this morning. Just back from lunch, which was delicious as always. Shared the shuttle back to the hotel with the Aussie women's eight (I think?). Bubbly group, fun and friendly. It's definitely hot out there but we're used to it coming from Philly. It was a pretty sharp row, especially for our first on the course. I feel much more normal having actually gotten out there and taken strokes, first since Saturday morning. With a late entry by the German men's light quad, we now are 11 crews in our event, and we believe this changes the progression system, possibly with two reps, not sure on that yet. Our racing should be available to watch online once it starts on the coming Monday the 26th.

We're proud to be pulling for Malta, Undine, and of course the USA. If you have not contributed, or even if you have, we'd love to also be pulling for YOU! Here's our link: http://natrowing.donorpages.com/SeniorNationalTeam2013/LtwtMensQuad2013/