April 4th - Dedication for Haraka 2014 and Essex race - Page 1

Today on the Merrimack. Warm temperature, strong wind with rising gusts. We started the day with the dedication for a new boat, Haraka 2014, for the Boys' program donated by the Arnold family.
A huge thank you to Rome and Lisa for this kind gift.
The Andover rowing program is the students and coaches with the generous support in time and money from the parents and alumni.
A few years ago we completed the boathouse project. This was followed with a new fleet of wakeless launches that made life much easier for the coaches and provided better safety for everyone on the water. Now in the past 2 years with a fund raising program led by Cathy Rasenberger and the generous donation from Rome and Lisa Arnold we have been able to replace 3 boats for the girls and add a new V1 racer for the boys.

Thank you to everyone who made this possible.
Today we were scheduled to race 3 visitors but Simsbury and Glastonbury had to cry off because the winter weather has delayed the start of their season. We decided to carry on with Essex Rowing Club but Mother Nature had other ideas.
She kindly allowed us good weather for the dedication but once we tried to start the races she increased the wind and added powerful long gusts.
After running the one race for the G1 boats, the coaches on the water made the reluctant decision to stop the racing. The students who were already on water preparing to race were disappointed but it is much better to be safe than sorry. This is for first time in the 12 years I have been attended races that we have had to abandon racing. Hopefully it will be another 12 years before we do it again.