 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
May 2008 NewsletterBy Harold Aune VP Whitehall Rowing and SailIF SPRING EVER COMES WILL SUMMER FOLLOW? After what has to be one of the latest arrivals of warmer weather that we can remember, (Is spring here even yet?), at last people are finally getting out on the water. Here in Victoria we don’t get ice forming and can get out rowing all winter long. Setting yourself up for fast and easy boat access is the secret to getting out even when it’s nasty. Personally rowing gives me such good returns in terms of feeling great that it’s well worth feeling a bit chilled for a few minutes while the old body heats up. In fact once you’re cookin’ that cold air starts to feel pretty nice. I do wear gloves when it’s cold though. And I am definitely not a “frostbite” sailor although many are. Research tells us that active physical activities like rowing, jogging, squash etc. cause the pituitary gland, deep in the brain, to produce endorphins that are then absorbed by endorphin receptors in the “pleasure recognition” parts of the brain, resulting in feeling good. Sort of nature’s way of rewarding you for getting needed exercise. And as we all know rowing doesn’t stress out the ligaments and joints. So even though it’s been a sucky winter get out there and get those endorphins flowing. You will soon be addicted. One of the comments we have received from new slide seat rowers is that they get blisters. These are mainly caused by gripping the sculling oar with the whole hand instead of “hooking” the grip with the fingers as shown in the shots below. Feathering the blade is accomplished by “dropping the wrist” as shown in the second shot. I have to admit I’ve given myself blisters on occasion. Gripping the whole handle like it was a baseball bat causes a rolling pressure on the palm and the insides of the finger through the pull stroke and that action causes blisters. If you wear gloves the grip must still be with the fingers “hooked around the handle plus the gloves should fit very well – not too tight or to loosely. There’s also sock like gloves called pogies that shell rowers sometimes use during cold weather training.   “SALINE SOLUTION” ROWS SAN FRANCISCO BAY Marie and I were both in Sausalito for the Open Water Rowing Center’s annual rowing regatta on April 20. Over seventy open water shells, both singles and doubles participated in the nearly 7.6 nautical mile race along with Doug Gilmour rowing his Solo 14 the “Saline Solution”. I was planning to row the course myself along with Lee Klare in his double slide Whitehall Spirit 17 but as luck would have it he was called away for a training session in Nevada (Lee’s a fireman) so I ended up behind the lens of my trusty digital video camera and was able to film Doug put the “Saline Solution” through it’s paces plus meet several cool rowers and attend the great barbecue hosted by the OWRC after the race. The video is posted on Youtube – Here's a link! – Check it out! http://youtube.com/user/Whitehallrow A nasty incoming tide made for a counter current going out to the Golden Gate with a little lumpy water under the bridge and on to the Diablo Point turning buoy. Marie and I were aboard the “Arugula”, Doug’s 36’ sailboat, with a group of friends. I got some pretty good footage of the race showing the “Saline Solution” doing what Whitehalls do best – row fast. A short interview with Doug after is included and next year we are hoping to assemble a small fleet of slide seat Whitehalls for this event. Bob Dunshee saw a preview of the video and said … “I wonder what would have happened to the other boats had the wind piped up. And can they urinate while out in those boats? And in kayaks? Have a picnic aboard? Sail them?” Bob and his wife Marcia love their Whitehall Spirit 17. Anyhow that’s it for now. Call or email with your comments, I’d love to hear them.  |
 |
 |
||||||||
 |
|||||||||
| Int'l Call 001-250-361-2628 | Address/Map - Site Map | © 1996-2005 Whitehall Reproductions | |||||||
| Home - Row Boats & Sail Boats - Accessories - Details - Video Clips - Media Kit - Ordering - Articles - Links | |||||||||