<B>Eleven adult rowers from the Miami Rowing Club have spent the past six months training for the FISA World Championships in St Catharines Ontario.  The racing begins Thursday September 2 and ends Sunday, September 5.  

Check back often to see results and blog posts from Coxswain Tim Edsell</B>
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The winds were a howling when we woke up this morning.  Racing began at 8am.  Only Al and Eddie were able to race in the C2X before racing was cancelled for the day.  A real bummer as the events we were really excited to race were scheduled for 3 and 6pm.  In particular, there was going to be a monster showdown between the internationally loaded up Orlando RC A8+ and the reigning B8+ champs!  Who knows how it would have turned out, but plenty of smack talk was being bantered about.
 
All in all, a great and fun trip that sets the men up for future racing at major regattas.  Miami is back on the map as a program to be respected (if not feared!!).
 
te
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Saturday September 4
<b> races have been abandoned due to weather</b>

A few MRC entries were able to compete today before races were abandoned due to wind.

<b>Eddie Montalvo and Al Salas</b> finished 4th in the mens 2x and <b> Sunny McLean</b> earned gold in 2 of her events!

Full updates from our competitors will be added soon.

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Wow!  What very frustrating day of racing we had on Thursday.  It all started w/Fernando not feeling all that well Wednesday night & so he scratched himself from the B4- Thursday morning.  This lead to almost a complete change line-up change.  The rowers ended up being Clemente (stroke), Yunian, Carlos & John.  These guys showed our strength by dominating the race until the last 100m when there was a malfunction in the steering toe.  The guys ended up 2nd in a very close finish to Cambridge BC who had a wicked sprint starting w/350m to go.  Not bad at all for a lineup that had never rowed together before.
 
Next up was Yasser & Mario in the A2X.  These guys had a great race and were way out in front of the rest of the field rowing very strongly at a 36spm.  The only thing...there was a lightweight crew in front of them going at a 41!!!  GRRRRRR!  At the same time, I was very excited as we were showing our strength and giving notice to the rest of the competitors in the A & B categories that they better watch out!
 
The wind was a major factor in racing on both Thursday & Friday.  It was blowing at about 15mph from the southwest which made it a tail/port quartering cross wind for this course.
 
Friday was another beautiful day with the same winds.  We started out racing in the A4+.  This boat of Tim (cox), Yasser (stroke), Mario, Carlos and John rented a new Vespoli 4+ for the event.  We knew that the team to beat was from Potomac BC.  The steering issue again raised it's head as Tim (who adamantly does not like the 'stick shift' steering in the Vespoli 4+) had some difficulty in keeping the crew straight when the wind became an issue around the 500m mark.  Being down a half boat length to Potomac @ 500m, we took a power series to no avail & Potomac pulled away to win in convincing fashion.  Capital RC mounted a strong challenge to us at the 250m mark and it was a back and forth race to the finish w/MRC placing 2nd (again!) by a bow ball.  
 
Next up were the Pairs.  Al & Fernando had a tough race and were passed in the sprint to place 3rd.  It looked like the wind had blown them up against the buoy line for most of the race.  The other pair of Clemente & Yunian had a great race and battled for the lead the whole race.  Only to be passed in the last 10 strokes by a crazy sprinting crew in lane 7.  If I'm not mistaken, three crews finished within a boat length of each other.  We took 2nd, again!
This lead up to the B8+ race.  The one we had been waiting for as everyone was chomping at the bit to show what we really had.  Conditions were still windy and there was some serious chop.  The guys warmed up very well & we established our length when doing power 20s into the  head wind.  The starts were practiced with the tail wind (we only had a 500m area to warm up w/lots of singles, doubles, quads to maneuver around).  The start was good and after 5+20, we had a couple seat lead over a composite crew from Toronto made up of ex-Canadian National Team members.  After the settle, I was sitting on the bow man.  By 350m, I was on the bow ball.  We were steadily pulling away from these guys, so I altered the race plan a little and with a few extra intense words of encouragement to the guys, we took a power 10 at the 500m to "end this race".  The guys responded in an explosive fashion and we did just that!.  We gained open water and cruised the rest of the way w/out being challenged again.  It was a dominating performance!!!  The boat erupted in cheers after the finish.  We had done it!!!  World Rowing Masters CHAMPIONS!!!  It is a great feeling & lots of celebrating was going on!
 
A big storm came blowing through that delayed racing for about 1 & 1/2 hours.  Afterwards, Yasser was up in the A1X and lost a close race to a gentleman from Orlando RC.  Next up was the C4X who rowed well but I believe finished 4th.  Finally, it was the C2X, who gave it a good shot, but ultimately succumbed to all the previous races and faded to finish in the middle of the pack.
 
Today, (Saturday), it's much cooler and the winds have changed to the North which will make for a head wind...oh boy!  We'll have lots of tired oarsmen when the day is through.
 
Wish us well as we have more opportunities to be winners in several different boats!
 
te
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<B>Friday September 3</B>: Master Men are FISA World Champions

Competitors for Miami Rowing Club raced in six events today with many impressive finishes included<B> First Place in the Men's B8+!</B>

The day started for Miami Rowing Club with the <B>Men's A4+</B> event.  The crew of <B>Yasser Vasquez, Carlos Menacho, John Wesley, Mario Alonso</B> and Coxswain <B>Tim Edsell</B> finished second (3:18.6) to Potomac Boat Club (3:11.42)

Shortly after the men's A4+, two<B> Men's B2-</B> (pair) entries for the Miami Rowing Club finished in the top three for their races. <B>Fernando Mendoza</B> and<B> Al Salas </B>finished third in their heat with a time of 3:33.48. <B>Clemente Sanchez</B> and <B>Yunian Cabrerra </B>placed second in the fastest heat with a time of 3:18.6 which was 7.01 seconds faster than the winning time of heat 2.
 
The Highlight of the day came in the<B> Men's B8+</B>.  With a winning time nearly 5 seconds ahead of second place, <B>Tim Edsell</B> (Coxswain), <B>Clemente Sanchez, Carlos Menacho, Al Salas, Fernando Mendoza, Eddie Montalvo, Yasser Vasquez, Mario Alonso,</B> and <B>Yunian Cabrerra</B> are<B> FISA WORLD CHAMPIONS!!</B>

Afternoon races included <B>Yasser Vasquez</B> placing second to Orlando Rowing Club in his heat for the <B>Men's A1x </B>(Single) with a time 3:38.47; the<B> Men's B4x (quad)</B> of <B>Mario Alonso, Al Salas, Fernando Mendoza </B>and<B> Eddie Montalvo</B> placing fourth with a time of 3:20.56; and the <B>Men's C2x</B> (double) of <B>Eddie Montalvo</B> and <B>Clemente Sanchez</B> finishing fourth with a time of 3:32.81.

Although two more days of racing remain for the regatta, the Miami Rowing Club only has one more day of racing.

Tomorrow, the men have seven races and<B> Sunny McLean</B> races twice.

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<B>Thursday September 2</B>
Racing started today with two events for the Miami Rowing Club.  
 
In the <B>Men's B4-</B> (straight 4), Miami Rowing Club finished second (3:06.17) to Cambridge Boat Club (3:05.1).  The race was close from start to finish and with a last-minute substitution due to a rower being sick, the lineup of<B> Clemente Sanchez, Carlos Menacho, John Wesley and Yunian Cabrerra</B> represented MRC well!

Later in the day,<B> Mario Alonso and Yasser Vasquez</B> were in a dogfight with the crew from Brazil in the <B>Men's 2x</B> (double).  At the finishline, MRC crossed the line three seconds behind Associação De Remadores Master De Santa Catarina.

Congratulations to today's competitors and good luck during the next three days of competition!

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What an exciting day of travelling! Whereas, nobody missed their flights or were delayed. Two members were lacking the proper documentation to go into Canada. Yes, one person completely forgot his passport; another picked up his expired one!

After picking up our 'van' (really it's more like a small bus with plenty of comfort), we headed for the border. Lots of teasing and joking going on with anticipation of meeting the Canadian Immigration Services. We were directed to a special building and after some snide remarks and very stern looks from a Canadian officer, the two violators were directed to a special area to be 'processed'. Five minutes later, they return. Faces aglow with smiles & smirks! Yes, we made it in!!! (Woo Hoo!) (Justin Lednar shared with me that his crossing of the border was quite a bit more annoying with the trailer. From what I gathered, it was a major hassle and the border boys were not as 'friendly'.) 

The merry compadres continued to the hotel which was to be an easy drive. HA! After accidentally passing the appropriate exit, the gang began to learn what was going to be involved in our driving escapades. See, the QEW (the an-acronym for the main highway to Toronto) is having lots of construction and many ramps heading east (which is where we needed to back track to) are closed. So, out come the GPS, street maps, etc.! The beginning of our 'sight seeing' tours had begun! We finally made it to the hotel, checked in and headed for Port Dalhousie (a small town on the finish line end of the race course) for dinner. Again, we experienced a few detours but made it to our destination. As you might imagine, the drive home was a bit of another 'detour'.

Wednesday was a hot almost Florida type of day with high's in the upper 80's, lots of sun and some humidity. Not everyone is staying at the hotel, and the two groups got together and started unloading the trailer. The trailer transported 32 boats. Quite an engineering feat to get all of the boats from ORC, MBRC and MRC to St. Catharines. I am impressed! We rigged some of the smaller boats and the Okie and the small boats went out for some practice rows. Some of the comments after coming off the water were mostly about the swift tail current and the tail wind. Looks like there are going to be some very fast races for Thursday and Friday as the wind will be a tail. Also, we were noticing the way the current flows which will effect steering. All in all, everyone was happy to get out on the water and start burning off some of their 'extra' energy.

In the afternoon, the last two members arrived in St. Catharines. The Mendozas headed for Niagara Falls for some sight seeing. The rest relaxed and lounged around their residences. The team got back together at the race course at 5pm for some more practice rows. Some boats are moving well, others are struggling. We'll see what happens! A group of 9 people (rowers and family) went back to Port Dalhousie for dinner. The others went to their B&B. It is unknown how things went for the B&B people. The 'gang' had another enjoyable 'sight seeing' tour of lots of side roads to get back on the QEW. (The ramp that we used earlier in the day has now been closed.) Oh Boy!

Thursday the racing begins!!! MRC is racing in the B4- (Al, Carlos, John and Fernando) at 3pm in a 7 boat flight. At 5:36pm, Yasser and Mario race in the A2X against 6 other competitors. Wish them well!!
 
-te 

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After having a very successful showing at the Miami International Regatta and the Florida Masters Regatta in Orlando, the Master’s men’s team has set it sights on making just as powerful a performance at the FISA World RowingMasters Championships on Martindale Pond in St. Catharines, Ontario, Sept. 2-4.

The team of ten members is competing in 11 events across A, B, and C age categories.  On Thursday, September 2nd, MRC will be represented in the B4- and the A2X..  Friday brings a busy day with entries in the A4+, B2- (2 entries), B8+, A1X, B4X and the C2X.  Saturday is another action packed day with entries in the A4X, B4+ (2 entries), and the A8+.  You can check out our competition in the events at RegattaCentral.

Unlike most championship regattas, these championships do not have a progression system and instead, medals are awarded for each flight of competitors.  So, if you win, you are crowned a “World Master Champion”.  The participants in the sculling events have been putting in lots of practice for the past 2 months in the mornings and evenings and their efforts are paying off with many boats posting very competitive practice times.  The coxed boats have been getting most of their work accomplished on the weekends.  I am happy to report that the 8 is getting much faster and the technique of the crew has made very impressive improvement in this past week.  Our last piece (500m) was especially fast with the crew being able to finish with a very moving 25 stroke sprint above 40spm, leaving everyone in a very good mood.  Humbly, I submit it was the best piece I’ve experienced with these guys in the one & a half years I’ve been coxing them!!

The team members are:  Mario Alonso,Yunian Cabrera, Fernando Mendoza, Carlos Menacho, Eddie Montalvo, Yasser Valasquez-Rodriguez,  Clemente Sanchez, Al Salas, John Wesley and Tim Edsell (cox).

The team is traveling on Aug. 31st and Sept. 1st with our main warm-up practice scheduled for the afternoon of Sept. 1st.  Racing begins in the afternoon of Sept. 2nd.  The team will be returning on Sunday, September 5th.

The team wishes to thank our families, loved ones and friends for putting up with us as we prepared for this competition.  There are several shout-outs I want to make.  To Cesar Herrera, thank you for taking the time to coach us and develop a practice schedule for the crew to follow.  To Katie Davies, thank you for putting up with our antics and helping the team in so many ways!  To Monk Terry, thank you for fixing the harness in the Okie & videotaping our practice (this had a major impact on our improvement this past week!!).  To our subs - Chris, Tom, John, Fabian, Sal and Mateo for filling in when we needed you.  Without your participation, we would not have gotten the practices in that we desperately needed.  And finally, to Justin Lednar for driving the shell truck to Saint Catharines and helping us get equipment to repair our shells.

Next update will cover our travels and anything interesting that may arise while getting to St. Catharines.

Tim
