The Olympians Are Coming!

Well, the rumors are true. The Regatta Team here in Miami is proud to announce that members of the US Men’s Olympic Rowing Team will be taking a break from the  cold weather up north and coming down  to participate in the 36^th Annual Miami International Regatta.

Cameron Winkelvoss, Dan Beery, and Jason Read,  will be relaxing on the beach , soaking up rays, chatting up the kids and  signing autographs. Hang out with them and find out what it’s like to row bow in a world record eight, or get some tips on how to row the pair.  It could have been the sunshine or the good fishing that lured them down, but thanks to Brendan Crotty of Wintech Racing for helping twist their arms.

Once again we have some fast teams headed this way and following is quick preview of who’s coming;

Always a force to be reckoned with in the small boats, Head Coach Alex Dragos has got Sarasota Scullers  firing on 8 cylinders and tearing up the big 8 events this  fall with impressive results at the Head of the Indian Creek and Sunrise Sprints. They will overwhelm the field with impressive depth and be tough in all events.

Pine Crest will  take a break from their advanced studies and return once again. Reportedly in a “rebuilding year”, our inside sources have learned that  Coach Liza and Steve Casey have a few aces up their sleeves --we will just have to wait and see which events they choose to focus their strength on.

Boone is Back!  So far, our only Orlando team to make the commitment.  Their men’s V8 pulled off a bronze medal last year here in Miami and capped the season off with a gutsy  win in the repecharge at states last year in a tight 5 boat race that was up for grabs right until the end. Don’t underestimate them.

 Belen  will always be tough in the boys freshmen 8 since they are so flooded with talent they send their 6 foot 160 pound leftovers over to MRC. They’re a well coached team with discipline, depth, and a knack for patience and peaking at the right time. Look for them to under stroke the  field but stay in the hunt until the end.

 Last years winner of the Men’s Varsity 8 at MIR and silver medalist at States, Sarasota Crew is returning to test their speed. Led by some summer Junior National Team members, they will be fast in the sculling events as well.  Should also be tough in the fours considering one of the Taafes’s   stroked the US Men's Dev Team 4+ to victory at US Rowing Club Nationals last summer.

Crosstown rivals Miami Beach Rowing Club look to be a force in the Men and Women’s 4X since Head Coach Francisco Viacava will coaching the US Junior National Team Men’s 4x this summer. Look for them to be  right in the thick of a dogfight in the 2x events with Sarasota Scullers , and Sarasota Crew as well.

The young upstarts  St. Edwards and Cape Coral team will be back gunning for some respect and University School of Nova returns after a two year hiatus. Both are trying to sneak in  under everyone’s radar.

The Masters Races are shaping up to be more competitive this year with more teams  showing up including an interesting mixed eight.. The “McDevitt 8”  all the way from Island Rowing Club in Ventnor New Jersey is making the long haul down. Made up of brothers, sisters, and a coxswain daughter from this  notorious rowing family; this crazy bunch of Irish Catholics have been training since the summer and have just concluded some vicious seat racing to finalize the lineup. Sponsored by Wintech Racing, they will be rowing in a new self bailing Medalist Eight with the new top secret yet to be released Hyper Drive™ foot stretcher system. 

Our own MRC Men’s Master’ s eight  has found their mojo again after winning Silver  at the Hooch this year and are training hard for their  homecoming.

 A strong Sarasota  Masters team is also reportedly about to make a commitment and round out the field along with Miami Beach , and Cape Coral.

Coaches try to get your entries in early even if you’re not sure about lineups so we can get the schedule firmed up. As usual—we are trying spread the events out so your kids can at least double or even triple.  The pool will be open once again and we will have an expanded concession area with a unique Miami flair.

There will be another update on some surprses for the regatta after the Novice Regatta.

Paul Mellinger

Miami Rowing Club