Despite choppy headwind conditions, a boat stopping "crab" and the swamping of one of the freshman boats, the Penn women's crew team rallied convincingly against Georgetown this weekend for a successful opener to its spring racing season.
Penn claimed the varsity four and varsity eight events losing only one race to the Hoyas all day.
Typical of the weather conditions on the Schuylkill River at this time of the year, the strong wind and rough water proved to be a challenge for all boats.
After a loss in the first novice eight, the Quakers were able to claim a strong 25-second victory in the freshman varsity four.
The victory was not typical, however, as battling the water was just as difficult for the Quakers as their opponent.
Adverse water conditions made racing times atypically slow and did not allow for an optimal performance.
"Conditions were horrific," Penn junior Beka Strock said. "There were crashing waves over our gunnels; [the race] was about who could row the cleanest."
In the varsity eight race, both of Penn's boats immediately overtook Georgetown's and were closely paced until a rower in the second varsity eight caught a crab -- caused by turning the oar blade so that it becomes trapped underwater and cannot be removed at the end of the stroke -- which enabled the first varsity boat to easily capture the win.
"The race was pretty close until the other boat broke a rigger," freshman Erica Lederman said.
Rough water and strong wind were too much for Penn's second novice boat. Shortly after the start of the 2000-meter race, the outlook did not look positive as the Quakers began taking in water that swelled over the sides of their boat. While the athletes tried to persevere, their boat progressively submerged into the Schuylkill, making completing the race impossible.
Members were forced to abandon their boat and forfeit the race.
The Quakers are hopeful that water conditions will not present such a challenge this weekend as they compete in back-to-back events. The Quakers will race against Ivy opponents Columbia and Yale for the Connell Cup on Saturday and Navy on Sunday.
Ranked third in the national preseason polls, Yale will be the team to beat this weekend. Taking the Connell Cup would present Penn as a strong force in the Ivies this year.
The Quakers will have the home course advantage, as both races this weekend will be on the Schuylkill.
While the Red and Blue women race at home this weekend, the men's heavyweight rowing team will head off to warmer waters when they race in the annual Windermire Invitational in Redwood City, Calif.
