Temperature in the '60s, 10-20 mph cross winds for early races, shifting to straight tail and 20-30+ mph for last race.
(This is a new course, and ideal for rowing. Sadly, this was the first day in the 28 years of the lake's existence on which whitecaps were observed!)
To expound a bit on the conditions:
The course was set on Friday at Lake Monticello in beautiful weather; 10-15 mphwinds barely ruffled the water. Conditions were similar when we arrived at 8AMon Saturday morning.
As the varsities raced, a strong cross wind roughened things up, but still notworse than I've seen on the Potomac and Severn.
Both Miami and Virginia were hot-seating crews; the boat rowed by the noviceshad already been in the rough water for 2 hours. We drained it briefly beforegoing out, but things turned for the worse.
The winds really picked up, gusts were apparently recorded at 40 mph in thearea. In consultation with the Coast Guard Auxiliary and USRA officials, itwas decided to suspend launching, but we felt that the eights already on thewater would be able to row.
The novice race began with a floating start, necessitating a quick turn for theUVa A eight, where they took on considerable water - the cox box stoppedworking at this point. A quick but fair start ensued, with all three crewshandling the conditions. About 800 meters into the race, Miami caught an overthe head crab and jumped a slide. Almost immediately after they recovered, theVirginia A boat stopped rowing.
The launches converged, and no one apppeared injured. We then looked at thebow and noticed that there was no bow deck above water, and the bow four werehip deep. At this point the boat sank to its underwater buoyant point - about4-6 inches over the gunwales.
We immediately pulled the coxswain and stroke. Due to the winds, some of thelaunches had difficulty getting in close, but a diver was on the eight in lessthan a minute. The remaining rowers removed their oars, allowed the boat toroll, and pushed the boat to shore under the watch of several launches. Theywere able to climb out and were rushed to shore and warmth. The LakeMonticello Rescue Squad checked out all the athletes.
On checking the videotape, the bow of the eight had disappeared maybe 500meters into the race! The bow woman was rowing in hip deep water for severalhundred meters...
By the time the boat had stopped rowing, most of the nine women were laughingand mugging for the camera. America's Funniest Home Videos, here we come.
Anyway, just wanted to clarify what happened. I think the rescue preparationswere top-notch, and we were very thankful for the Lake Monticello Community'sthoroughness.
Joel Furtek
Head Coach,
Novice Women's Crew
Graduate Program in Exercise Physiology
The University of Virginia
MN4
UVa A 7:03.9 UVa B 7:05.8 Miami 7:37.96
W2V8
UVa 3V 6:37.8 UVa 2V 6:45.8 Miami 7:12.32
MV8
UVa 5:33.3 Miami 5:46.81
WN8
UVa B by 33.9 seconds over Miami A (no course-time taken as referee assisted in rescue) UVa A capsized in whitecaps; crew safely pulled from water by Lake Monticello Water Rescue Team, officials, coaches, and divers.
Events halted after WN8.
WV4 raced on Rivanna Reservoir, approx. 2000 meters with one turn.
UVa 8:21 Miami 8:27
Miami faces Univ. of Tennesee on Thursday.
Virginia faces Michigan on Sat. AM and Ohio State Sat. PM on Lake Monticello.