The Nassau Rowing Club (NRC) is raising the bar of the sport in the country. On April 10, the club participated in the 41st Annual Miami International Regatta, and made history once again by fielding the first female entry and the first sweep rowing entry from The Bahamas.
The NRC was the only international club out of the 15 that were in attendance. Their entry in the event officially made the regatta an international one.
The NRC is a non-profit organization established in August 2012 by six rowing enthusiasts. Their aim was to develop a premier competitive rowing program in The Bahamas for rowers of all ages, experience and fitness levels.
Alyssa Reid and Shannon O'Meara competed in the girls' high school double sculls event as the only novice level in the field. They competed against a tough field of experienced crews and managed to finish in sixth position.
"After our race, one of our competitors came over and said how impressed she was with our performance," said Reid.
Both Reid and O'Meara have been sailing for less than a year, but gained needed experience going against such elite competition.
Tanyelle Lowe coached the boys' novice coxed four team which consisted of Patrick Colle, Michael Mindorff, Luigi Charles, and Luke Pyfrom.
The boys' coxed four team finished fourth and managed to overcome a collision in the middle of the race that stopped the boat. The boys' coxed four team was also invited to participate in an exhibition race with the Coconut Grove Rowing Club, it finished second to Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, from South Florida.
"I am very proud of how our juniors performed, the rowers had one short practice in a disorienting regatta environment, with new equipment on a new piece of water, but still held their own against much more experienced crews.
"The regatta was an eye-opener. We realized we were at a disadvantage; our rowers are accustomed to an older configuration and steering system from a boat made in 1987," said NRC Head Coach Kyle Chea.
Collie, a member of the boys team, said, "Competitions like the Miami International Regatta show us how much we need in terms of resources and support to create a truly competitive program, but they also show the innate talent and drive of our rowers."
The rowers are excited to get back to training. They look to take advantage of the return of Stephanie Ricker, who is the head rowing coach at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. She will bring a collegiate approach to the club, both on land and on the water. They are also excited for the new rowers Coach Ricker's Learn to Row program will bring into their squad.
The crews are looking forward to more opportunities to compete in the autumn and have their sights set on returning stronger, faster, and more competitive to next year's Miami International Regatta in April 2015.
The club is supported by law firm Holowesko, Pyfrom, Fletcher, as well as Club One Fitness Centre, Odyssey Aviation Bahamas, PCL Imports, SMG Cabinetry, Lyford Cay International School, and Sun Tee.
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