Captain’s Report to the Committee 10th December 2006

Training and racing.

Nothing much has changed in the last six weeks. The long dark grind of winter training continues with weekend outings, optional weight training on Mondays and Wednesday nights, squad circuit training (with BBLRC) on Tuesdays and squad ergo training on Thursdays .

We have generally been getting at least two crew boats out at the weekends; either two eights or a smaller boats accompanying one eight and the majority of outings are coached. Sundays seem less popular than Saturdays

We potentially have enough numbers for 3 eights in the HoRR but will have decided to concentrate on entering just 2 rather than over-stretch our resources in an attempt to put out 3. The captaincy and coaches are currently putting 2 crews together based on rowing ability, 5k erg test, commitment to training and likely continued participation in racing after the head.

Boats, Sales, Repairs and Racking

Cygnets (shoulder), Ye White Hart and Hamhaugh Island (both hulls) are back from Andre, being replaced in his workshop by The Cox (hull, prow and stern). Currently the Du Parcq is rigged as a quad with the 12 Feb and YWH as doubles with the rest set-up to sweep.

My position on spending some of the money that the Treasurer assures me needs converting into a boat slightly changed in that I’m definitely starting to lean towards a new eight. I think that any new boat would certainly be a replacement rather than an addition and understand that the boat being replaced could fairly easily be sold on. We haven’t been very proactive about getting rid of the old sweep blades but it might be a good idea to sell them as a package with whichever boat we replace.

On the new boat front Chris Shea and Andy Rawkins are still looking to replace their single scull and their generous offer to give the club Louise still stands. I understand that we will accept this offer on the basis the boat being offered is a better one than our existing Burgashells. I appreciate that this involves extra rack rent and insurance so if necessary we could sell a Burga. I will offer a Cygnet Burga for the capsize drill and should it get damaged then I don’t think that it’s worth repairing.

The next major project for the Exec is to re-rack the boat shop but are still well short of funds based on the quote that we have finally had back. The exec will however go ahead with an additional (covered) rack for single sculls to be positioned on the concrete in front of the shed as this is effectively self funding and should actually generate some income.

Coaching.

Not much change here either. Kathryn and Pete continue to be our principle coaches both on and off the water with input from Mike, Alan, myself and of course Marj from the coxswains seat while Greg continues to push us increasingly hard at circuit training.

As well as Marj we have now elected Bec as another coxswain. Bec is committed to a regular Saturday outing for us. I’ve also had various offers for occasional coxing and may have rotating ‘guest’ coxswains on Sunday mornings but hope to co-opt Esme once again in the run up to the HoRR as Bec isn’t quite ready for that yet!

Neil 16/01/07