This past Saturday, high school groups from around New England gathered at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum in Ferrisburgh, Vermont to compete in the annual Spring Wave rowing race.
Mt Abraham Union High School racing in the four-oared gig Wysquaqua
Photo by Buzz Kuhns
The Spring Wave brings more than 150 youth racers together to compete, encompassing 25 crews. Teams participating included North Haven, ME; Station Maine, ME; Sound School, CT; New York Harbor School, NY; Vergennes Union High School and Middle School, VT; Mt. Abraham Union High School and Middle School, VT; South Burlington High School, VT; Champlain Valley Union High School, VT; Rice Memorial High School, VT; and Burlington High School, VT.
Vergennes High School with Nate Devoss as coxswain crosses the finish line just in front New York Harbor School
Photo by Buzz Kuhns
The event was comprised of a series of combined time races including a 1-mile sprint and a 3/4 mile triangular racecourse. The day’s racing was broken up into three divisions: experienced, intermediate, and novice with further division between 4-oar and 6-oar boats. One of the closest races of the day was the experienced 4-oar division.
Mt. Abe in the 4-oared gig, Wysquaqua, begins to overtake New York Harbor School in the 6-oared gig, Frank Beckett
Photo by Buzz Kuhns
Taking home first in the experienced four-oar division was Sound School from Connecticut with Vergennes Union High School coming in close behind with only a 10-second difference. The intermediate 6-oar division was the biggest category of the day, championed by Sound School as well with a combined time of 17 minutes and 52 seconds. Vermont’s own Vergennes Union High School took first place in the intermediate 4-oar division with New York Harbor School taking a close second. Sound School took first in the novice six-oar division, with New York Harbor School taking first in the 4-oar division.
Vergennes Middle School in the 32’ pilot gig Frank Beckett lines up for the start
Photo by Buzz Kuhns
Racing took place from 9am to 2:30pm with all crews traveling back to their homes after the award ceremony that afternoon. Good times were had this weekend with some healthy competition joining like-minded youth rowers from around New England, while sharing a beautiful piece of Vermont.