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There were murmurs of wonder today in Canberra as the rumour spread quicker than grassfire…… Shallow Hal had been spotted at Regatta 6. As the crowds swelled around the shores of the lake, children pushing through to get to the front to see, all was revealed. It was none other than Mako, a knucklehead gang from Jervis Bay, sponsored by Club Jervis Bay, who were experimenting with speed racing and loading their entire crew at the back of the boat to reduce drag. Did it work? Well the stats report a 1km/ph increase in speed and Chicki had a 10% bigger smile so that’s a yes in our book.
2000m turns racing
2km racing was up first and the Opens crew fronted up to marshalling looking around nervously, as there were only 8 men. Luckily Mako dames are born to be wild, and 12 feisty ones joined the lads to rampage around the course un-overtaken to take out Silver. Mixed 2kms was up next (yes with the same 8 men) and snatched a 4th place in a field of 15. Not too dusty
200m 10s up next
Well where do we start? Is it Ellen in her stroking debut with Bear?
Is it Court and Jack stroking Mako Snappy to 4th place in A Finals out of 18 crews?
Is it the ladies who managed to snag a 4th out of 20 crews?
No, it’s got to be Mako Bitey, the Shallow Hal crew, who had to bring 2-way radios into the boat to communicate with Rach the drummer, who was 2m in the air, and 6m away from the strokes.
At the end of the day Regatta 6 can be summed up beautifully by Roving Reporter Jack Stratton
“By the Nuclear waters of Grevillia Park, 12 clubs including a fierce bunch from Jervis bay set up camp ( with canopy and all ) for a big day of racing. Hats off to our 2000m opens crew up first up and punching out a very solid first race of the day and first across the line off the line and holding off fierce competition. It was a great feat of determination and all round, great paddling. Up next was the mixed and having paddlers jump out of one boat and into another and paddle a second 2km, Mako gave just as much fight as our first race. All round a great achievement, well done both crews!
After a well-timed and wobbly nut bush dance (cough, Chicki turning in her grave)Super Stroke Ellen made her stroking debut in a slightly unusual maybe genius configuration Shalllow-Hal style to the amusement of the onlookers.
Women, Opens and 2 Mixed Crews punched well above their weight to make 3 Major Finals, not expected, but very much earned. The result? We measure success by the smiles of our members, but a 4th, 6th and 4th aren’t too dusty at all in such esteemed and experienced competition.
To have mystery warm schnitzel appear on the regatta table at the end of racing was a bonus (thank you Jo & Lawrence Gonzales). To spend the day racing well, and racing with mates was a blast. To belong to a Club full of laughter and shenanigans is the BEST.
Overall amazing performance from everyone our hard work in training is truly paying off, it’s clear as day. Rest up everyone, well done”
#makomojo is on the rise
