The Wine Country Rowing Classic in Petaluma

October 5, 2014 - On an extremely warm fall Sunday, the Cal Maritime men's crew team competed in the first regatta of the fall season, the Wine Country Rowing Classic in Petaluma, with a win in the men's collegiate four and strong finishes in each of the other races. Temperatures in the 90's combined with the 5,000-meter tidal course, along with strong early-season competition, made for a challenging first regatta. In the men's collegiate eight, the varsity eight, rowing with an incoming tide, finished second in a time of 16:46, and the novice eight finished fifth in 19:29 despite breaking a rigger during warm-ups and rowing the entire race with only seven rowers. In the men's lightweight eight, the Keelhauler crew, consisting of seven novice and rowing on a slack tide, finished second in 20:42. The men's lightweight four, with three novice rowers, finished third in 22:36 in their race against an outgoing tide. In the men's collegiate four, Cal Maritime entered two boats which placed first and third. The A boat won in a time of 21:42, and the B boat finished third in a time of 23:40 rowing against the tide. It was a good day for the entire team, and an opportunity for the novice, with only four weeks of training, to get their first taste of competition. The Keelhaulers' next competition will be at the Head of the Port in West Sacramento on Sunday, October 12.