The boys’ crew was anchored by bow man and team captain Josh Corliss, along with Tom Kicinski and Sam Kenyon. Completing the varsity quad through the Gorge on Saturday was Nat Clark, while Kyle Pringle rounded out the crew for Sunday’s Elk race.

“What really made our boat fly through the water was that we rowed together,” said Corliss. “Unlike other sports, crew is a genuine team effort. If one person makes a mistake, the entire boat will feel it.”

Also competing in Canada for the first time was the junior girls varsity eight, with Hannah Jackson in the stroke seat, followed by Morgan Wegner, Emily Hyde, Suzannah Bard, Alena Courtney, Johanne Krogness, Lauren McKallor, and Nell Welsh. Coxing the eight was Eddie Protzeller in the Gorge and Nick Bordner at the Elk.

“The girls rowed two excellent races this weekend, the result of much hard work,” said Lichtenfels. “Their time for the 5k Gorge was as fast as their time two weeks ago in a 4k race.”

The men’s and women’s masters teams also competed well in their annual appearances in both regattas. The men’s eight, with Cindy O’Brien in the coxswain seat, missed first place at Elk Lake by just three seconds after their boat was hit by a junior quad from Edmonton who took a wide turn into Vashon’s path.

“We came to a complete stop, but we were able to quickly get the boat back up to racing speed,” said VIRC co-captain Bob Horsley. “Overall, the eight rowed a steady, strong race and we passed Victoria City, our main competition, two-thirds of the way down the course.”

Including juniors and parents, Vashon sent an all-time record 38 people to Victoria for the weekend. Saturday’s race through the narrow and twisting Gorge Waterway took place under sunny skies and warm temperatures. Sunday’s longer race around Elk Lake outside Victoria was an about-face, with a chill in the air and steady rainfall.

Womens' Junior 8+ boat: