June 2 is National Learn to Row Day

The Passaic River Rowing Association opens its doors to the public on Saturday, June 2, from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm to educate everyone about the sport of rowing. We will have boats on display, rowing machines available to try out, and further information about how to get out on the water.

Check out the directions to our boathouse and bring a friend or two!

Notes on Passaic River pollution measurements

by Michael Naughton

Tonight I attended the Passaic River Cleanup Meeting held in Lyndhurst. Below are a few comments I recall from the presentation.

The meeting focused on the mud flats adjacent to the Riverside Park (North) in Lyndhurst where they found high levels of PCBs, mercury, and dioxin. The specific area is along the riverbank and falls within the northern and southern boundaries of the park.  There is no contamination within the park land. There is no or little risk to rowers. They intend to dredge the contaminated area in Spring-Summer 2012. They will remove two feet off the top of the mudflat and install a cap. The work is being paid for through an administrative agreement with 73 identified potentially responsible parties (known as the "Cooperating Parties").

Here's an excerpt from one of the sheets they handed out: "Very low levels of PCBs, mercury and dioxin were found earlier this year in soil in the Lyndhurst and North Arlington sections of Riverside Park that likely were carried there by flooding.  The concentrations of contaminants detected are well below established levels of concern for children and adolescents playing in the park and for workers maintaining the park."

The representatives mentioned there were between 6 and 8 other sites that have elevated levels of contamination that could require remediation, however they did not have information on their locations at the presentation. Additional samples were taken at these locations and the results should become available this July 2012.

A map of the lower Passaic River between Belleville and Lyndhurst showed between 6 and 10 samples were taken near the PRRA docks. The results may be available on the Lower Passaic River Restoration Project website.

Boathouse cleanup on Saturday, May 19

Volunteers are needed to prepare the boathouse for National Learn to Row Day. We expect to work from 10 am to noon. We will be weed-whacking, raking, and cleaning up around the boathouse. In addition, we will be looking to remove any big pieces of debris from the river. Please bring rakes and pruners.

Thanks,
Vinnie

Competitive team meeting on April 2

We will be having an open-house competitive team meeting on April 2nd, 5 am, at the boathouse. If you are interested in racing and rowing at the competitive level this season, please come to this brief but informative meeting.

We will be discussing coaching, boat lineups and practice schedules, registering for races and increasing membership. We look forward to seeing you there.

Anthony Scarpelli
Competitive Team Chairperson

Volunteers wanted for the Erg Classic on March 3

PRRA will be holding the annual St. Patrick's Day Erg Classic on Saturday, March 3rd, at the Parks and Recreation Annex in Nutley. This race has always been a great success thanks to the efforts of our volunteers.

We need volunteers in the following areas:

• Setup (start time 7:15 am)
• Registration (start time 8:15 am)
• Race administration
• Cleanup

We also need ergs:

• 8 ergs for racing
• 6 ergs for warmup

To lend a hand or an erg, please contact Vinnie Chell: Vinnie Chell

General membership meeting on February 23

Hello, PRRA members! We hope you are all enjoying the winter.

Plans for the 2012 PRRA rowing season will be discussed at our next general membership meeting on February 23rd at the Parks and Recreation Building at 44 Park Avenue in Nutley. The meeting will be held at 7:30 pm in Room 201 (upstairs). Please plan to attend, as this will be a chance for all members to hear our plans for this year and to offer input.

See you all there!
PRRA Council

PRRA merchandise for sale

Susan Valenza would like to liquidate PRRA's inventory of branded merchandise.

If you are interested in purchasing any of the items above, please contact Susan.

General membership meeting on November 17

All PRRA members are encouraged to attend the general meeting on Thursday, November 17, from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm.

The meeting will be held in the Parks and Recreation Building at 44 Park Avenue in Nutley. The room number will be announced once it is known.

For your review, the minutes from the last general membership meeting on March 31, 2011, are available for download. In preparation for the upcoming membership meeting, we are asking for your help with the following two tasks.

Call for nominations of new council members

The terms of the council members Ben Delisle, Anthony Fiory, Pat O'Donnell, and Bill Sichel are expiring, so we are looking for nominations to fill their positions. If you are interested in standing for a council position or if you would like to nominate someone, please contact Jeff Lahm.

Call for nominations for Volunteer of the Year

Once again we are asking you to nominate an outstanding member for the Volunteer of the Year award. Please forward your nomination with a brief justification to Ben Delisle by November 12 at the latest.

Finally, please mark your calendar with the following dates when we'll need your help.

• Saturday, November 19: Derigging and winterizing the boats and the boathouse 

• Sunday, November 27: Taking the dock out

With best regards,
Your Council

Calling all members for pre-race river clean-up

In anticipation of the Head of the Passaic Regatta (HOPR), a river clean-up has been scheduled for Saturday, October 8th, starting at 8:00 am. The clean-up will consist of pulling debris from the river and tidying the grounds near the boathouse by pruning, weed-whacking, and so forth.

The HOPR has grown every year and is an excellent opportunity to showcase our boathouse. This cannot be done without the support of our members. We appreciate all the help PRRA members have given us in the past, and we look forward to your attendance on October 8th.

For further details, please write to Vinnie Chell: Vinnie Chell

Rowing restrictions lifted

As of Wednesday, September 14, the recent rowing restrictions are lifted for all programs at PRRA. Singles and doubles may launch, and rowing north of the Lyndhurst bridge is permitted. Please exercise caution around the bridge, and be mindful of downed trees along the shoreline that stick out into the river, as well as other debris left by the storm.

The restriction on rowing north of the train bridge remains in effect for all PRRA and high-school programs due to Route 3 bridge construction. Rowing south of the Kearny bridge is prohibited for PRRA-owned boats.

Thank you for your cooperation.  I look forward to seeing you on the river.

Be safe!

Jeff
Chair, Rowing Programs

Rowing restrictions are in effect

Due to present water conditions, a rowing ban remains in effect for small boats. Singles and doubles are prohibited from rowing.

Larger boats (fours, quads, eights) are permitted to row, but may not pass north of the Lyndhurst bridge. PRRA club boats are always prohibited from rowing south of the Kearny bridge.

All boats must have experienced rowers making up at least half of the crew.

You will be kept informed as conditions change.

Be safe,

Jeff
Chair, Rowing Programs

Summary of fall rowing schedules

Please note that our docks will be fairly busy on the weekends around midday. We ask that you be mindful of others and boat out as quickly as possible.

Thanks,

Jeff
Chair, Rowing Programs

Rowing suspended until September 9

As a result of the deluge over the past two days, once again the Passaic River is running very high and fast, causing unsafe rowing conditions. Rowing is suspended until Friday, September 9, when the water level should recede and the flow calm down. You will be informed when it is safe to resume rowing.

Jeff
Chair, Rowing Programs

Paddlers wanted for relay race on September 24

The 7th Annual Passaic River Paddle Relay will take place on Saturday, September 24, at 10:00 am. PRRA has participated in this event for the past five years, showing our support for PVSC and honoring the legacy of Bob DeVita. This year's event will require four paddlers (two teams). If you are interested or need more information, contact Vinnie Chell: Vinnie Chell

Rowing resumes on September 6 at noon

The river has finally slowed, although it remains high. The gangway is planned to be installed in the morning of Tuesday, September 6, so by noon our facilities will resume operation for all programs! Thank you for your patience and understanding. 

On a safety note, be sure to take special care when you return to the river after the hurricane. Chances are that the water will be high for several days. Watch out near bridges. There will also be a lot of new debris and trash floating in the water, so take care not to damage your boat. 

Jeff
Chair, Rowing Programs

Rowing suspended until next week, help wanted for clean-up

In the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, the Passaic River continues to run fast and high. The park remains littered with debris and the ground remains very soft and slippery. The good news is that our docks handled the flooding very well thanks to the outstanding work of our engineers, Ken Snapp and Mike Naughton. The water reached a level of two feet or so inside the boathouse, leaving quite a mess in its wake, but there appears to be no damage to the boats. Our preparatory steps served us well.

Due to the prevailing conditions, all rowing programs will remain suspended through this weekend and into some time next week. The gangway will not be put back in place until Tuesday, September 6, at the earliest.

In the meantime, we are asking for the assistance of all club members to clean up the boathouse. It would be great if you could come down for an hour or two this Saturday, September 3, starting at 8 am. Please bring along a bucket of water and some towels or rags to wipe things down.

Jeff
Chair, Rowing Programs

Hurricane Irene prompts boathouse closing

After careful consideration, we have decided to close the boathouse and secure it against the pending storm. These steps were taken this morning. All boats inside and out were moved to higher racks and secured. Oars and other items on the floor were moved to higher places at least 2 feet off the ground. Rowing is suspended until further notice, and the gangway will be removed as soon as possible. We will keep you posted on further developments. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope you understand that these extraordinary measures are necessary.

The PRRA Council

Schuylkill Navy and Catch the Cooper race results

PRRA's competitive team is off to a great start, winning a total of 10 gold medals in three events. Leading the gold medal count are Jeff Lahm and Tony Fiory with 2 gold medals each in the Men's Masters Double (Schuylkill Navy Regatta) and Men's Masters Quad (Catch the Cooper Regatta). Following with one gold medal each are Bill McCord and Vinnie Chell, also in the Men's Masters Quad (Catch the Cooper Regatta), and Anthony Scarpelli, Andrea Hurwitz, Denise Cenit and Charlie Scorsone in the Mixed Masters Quad (Catch the Cooper Regatta). 

Other PRRA crews raced well at both regattas, finishing ahead of other crews, including:  Ben Delisle, Gail Lahm, Dave Lewis, Rainer Martini, Sue Rauth, Chris Roemer, Jessica Schnieder, Jay Tuchinda, and Allison Zimmerman.

On-site registration for the summer youth program on June 4

PRRA's summer youth program offers sculling and sweep rowing in small and large shells. The head coach of the program is Felix DeCarvalho, who is also head coach for Don Bosco Prep.

The summer youth program runs from June 22 through August 24, with practices held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 4 to 6 pm. Participants will train to race at the Philadelphia Youth Regatta on July 16.

On-site registration will take place at the PRRA boathouse on Saturday, June 4, from 10 am to 1 pm. Please bring a completed membership form together with the program fee of $200. (There is no charge for coxswains. The program fee does not include regatta fees.)

If you are unable to attend the on-site registration, please mail us your completed membership form and application fee.

If you have any questions about the 2011 Summer Youth Program, please write to: contact address

No Community Row on May 19

Due to the threat of severe thunderstorms, as well as continuing high river volume from the past week's rain, Community Row is canceled for the evening of Thursday, May 19.

Saturday should be nice; hope to see you all at 10 am.

Thanks,
Pat

Community Row meeting rescheduled

The kick-off meeting for Community Row is now scheduled to take place on Thursday, May 24, at 6:30 pm. However, regular Community Row sessions will still be held on Thursday, May 19, at 6:30 pm and on Saturday, May 21, at 10 am, weather permitting.

June 4 is National Learn-to-Row Day

If you've ever seen rowing in the Olympics or watched the rowers on the river and wanted to try it out, please join us on Saturday, June 4, from 10 am to 1 pm for Learn-to-Row Day at the Passaic River Rowing Association (PRRA) boathouse. Learn-to-Row Day is sponsored by USRowing, the national governing body for the sport of rowing.

The event is free and open to ages 14 to 90. Come and get proper training on the erg (indoor rowing machine), then climb in a boat to get your first experience pulling an oar. Find out what the coxswain does, learn about the various types of boats, and enjoy spending time with the rowing community at PRRA.

If you have any questions about Learn-to-Row Day, write to us at: contact address

Community Row starts on May 17

It's that time again—Community Row starts up on Tuesday, March 17, at 6:30 pm. After carefully reviewing the surveys from last year, we plan to make some exciting changes for 2011, such as coached sessions, more "themed rows", skilled rowers at each session, and more. Please join us on Tuesday to hear about all of the exciting changes and then plan on going out for a row! Refreshments will be served.

Hope to see you there,

The Community Row Committee: Bill, Bill, Eric, Pat, Gail

Saturday Smackdown on May 7th

Come one, come all to the first Saturday Smackdown of the season! Rowers from all programs are welcome. Race starts will be staggered according to boat size and class.

To participate, just show up at the boathouse this Saturday, May 7, ready to go at 6 am. The start location will be chosen based on the current and weather conditions.

Hope to see you there!

Anthony
Competitive Committee Chairperson

Boat cleaning and maintenance on May 7th

Please join us for a boat cleaning and maintenance hour or two on Saturday morning, May 7th, starting at 8:00 am. We will meet at the boathouse. If you have a bucket, sponge, or old towel, bring it along. This will be an opportunity to make sure that the boat you have been rowing or will be rowing is clean all over (including the hull, deck, and rails), the bolts are tight, the seats rolling and squeak-free, and so on. We're all responsible for keeping the PRRA fleet in first-class shape. We look forward to seeing you. 

Thanks in advance for your help.

Equipment Committee

Architectural renderings of future PRRA boathouse

Below are the architectural renderings that were used to apply for a Green Acres grant toward the expansion of the PRRA boathouse. Although the application was successful, plenty of work remains to be done. We will need help with refining the plans, soliciting in-kind donations, and general fundraising. Anyone interested in helping with the development of this project can contact Ben Delisle.

PRRA wins grant for boathouse expansion

Big news! The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has announced that PRRA is the recipient of a $275,000 Green Acres grant for the expansion of our boathouse. The DEP has published a press release describing the Green Acres program. Stay tuned for more details about this exciting project!

Ben Delisle
PRRA President

Adult competitive team meeting on Monday, April 4

There will be a meeting at 5 am on Monday, April 4, for current members of the adult competitive team and for anyone thinking about joining the team or racing this season. We will be meeting at the PRRA boathouse.

Anthony Scarpelli
Competitive Committee

General meeting to reconvene on March 31

All members are urged to attend the reconvened general meeting on Thursday, March 31, at 7:30 pm. Due to insufficient attendance last time, we did not have the necessary quorum to vote on the membership guide and the annual budget. In addition to voting on these matters, we will have a special presentation by the Lower Passaic Cooperating Parties, a group of 70 companies in the Newark area who are funding a comprehensive study of the Lower Passaic River.

Meeting location:

Nutrition Room (entrance from the gym)
Nutley Parks and Recreation Building
44 Park Avenue
Nutley, New Jersey

Rowing safety warning

This safety warning is being issued because construction activities on the Route 3 bridge have necessitated changes in river traffic patterns to ensure the safety of our rowers. We expect all teams and rowers launching from the PRRA docks to adhere to this safety warning. Ensuring the safety of all rowers is a priority at PRRA. Those who do not comply are subject to revocation of their rowing privileges.

Some of the effects of construction on and around the Route 3 bridge are listed below.

• Both side openings on the Route 3 bridge have been filled in, funneling the river through the main center opening only. This has led to more turbulence under and around the Route 3 bridge as well as the train bridge.
• Pilings to support the new lanes have been installed in the middle opening, reducing the two-way river traffic by about 25 feet.
• Platforms installed for the work crews extend beyond the new pilings, with I-beams extending over the water at a dangerous height for rowers.

In light of these dangerous conditions, all rowers launching from the PRRA docks, including all high-school programs, are prohibited from rowing north of the train bridge.  Because of additional turbulence in the train bridge area, crews should plan to turn well before the train bridge. 

Three miles of rowable water (a six-mile loop) between the train bridge and Kearny bridge remain available for rowing. 

Jeff
Chair, Rowing Program Committee

Docks to be installed this Saturday at noon

As a reminder, your assistance is needed to install the docks this Saturday, beginning promptly at noon. (Please note the revised time.) With the increased river flow, we need and will greatly appreciate all the help we can get.

At this time, we are still planning on Saturday. We will make an announcement if the weather causes a change of plan. See you at the boathouse at noon!

Thanks,
Jeff

Docks to be installed on Saturday, March 12

Please mark your calendars! We are calling on all members to help install the docks on Saturday, March 12, at noon. (Previously announced as 1 pm; please note the new time.) The more hands we have, the faster the installation will go.

Rain date: Sunday, March 13, at 2:30 pm.

Thanks in advance.

Jeff

Volunteers wanted for the Erg Classic

PRRA will be holding the annual St. Patrick's Day Erg Classic on Saturday, March 5th, at the Parks and Recreation Annex in Nutley. This race has always been a great success thanks to the efforts of our volunteers.

We need volunteers in the following areas:

• Setup (start time 7:00 am)
• Registration (start time 8:00 am)
• Race administration
• Cleanup

We also need ergs:

• 8 ergs for racing
• 6 ergs for warmup

To lend a hand or an erg, please contact Vinnie Chell: Vinnie Chell

General meeting on February 25th

PRRA's next general meeting will be held from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm on Friday, February 25th at the address below. All club members are encouraged to attend.

Room 201
Nutley Parks and Recreation Building
44 Park Avenue  → view map
Nutley, New Jersey

Holiday erg challenge a hit at PRRA

Congratulations to the following rowers for meeting the Concept 2 Holiday Challenge by erging 100,000 or 200,000 meters in the month leading up to Christmas Eve:  Patrick O'Donnell, Jeff Lahm, Mark Cenit, Chris Roemer, Vinnie Chell, Mike Bell, Bill McCord, Tony Fiory, Gail Lahm, Charlie Scorsone, David Lewis, and Rainer Martini. Also, congratulations to Patrick O'Donnell for logging one million meters on the erg this season.

Patrick O'Donnell named PRRA Volunteer of the Year

Club officers named Patrick O'Donnell the PRRA Volunteer of the Year. Although Patrick hasn't rowed in several years, he remains one of PRRA's most dependable volunteers. He serves on the council, coordinates community rowing, and is always willing to lend a hand. Patrick is a shining example of the spirit of volunteerism at PRRA. "We are honored by his dedication to PRRA," said Ben Delisle, PRRA president.

Patrick O'Donnell, the 2010 PRRA Volunteer of the Year

Tony Fiory and Jeff Lahm named PRRA Athletes of the Year

Tony and Jeff were recognized for their outstanding success.  Competing in both the double and quad, they won a total of 22 medals (20 gold and 2 bronze), accounting for nearly a quarter of the competitive team's 90 medals in 2010.  They won gold and bronze at the USRowing Masters Nationals, and finished second in both the double and quad at the FISA World Masters Regatta in St. Catharines, Canada. PRRA president Ben Delisle attributed their success to the hard work and dedication of rowing daily, logging 900 miles on the water in 2010.

Jeff Lahm and Tony Fiory, the 2010 PRRA Athletes of the Year

Adult competitive team end-of-season get-together

The season is over, so it's time to eat, drink, and be merry—or just drink, or just be merry!

Date: Wednesday, December 15th

Time: 7:00 pm

Place: J.K.'s Boathouse, 558 Washington Ave., Belleville. For those who are not familiar with this bar, it's decorated like a boathouse. The owner is a Nutley crew parent and former Belleville High School rower. They have good bar food and even better drinks at reasonable prices.

Please feel free to bring your families. Everyone is on their own regarding food and drink, but we will provide coffee and cake.

Hope to see you there,
The Competitive Committee

Jon Bone wins gold at British erg championship

PRRA's own Jon Bone won the Men's 55-59 age group at the British Indoor Rowing Championship (BIRC), the largest erging competition in the world. Jon bested a field of 31 competitors with a time of 6:25.6, coming within seven seconds of the world record. Congratulations, Jon, and good luck in Boston!

We need you for dock removal on December 4th

It's that time of year—please mark your calendars.

The last opportunity to row will be the morning of Friday, December 3rd. The gangway is scheduled to be removed at 9:30 am on that day.

Your help is needed to secure the docks for the winter on Saturday, December 4th. Please arrive by 6:45 am so that we are ready to go at high tide.

Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

Jeff

General membership meeting this Friday

All members are encouraged to attend the PRRA general meeting to be held at 7:30 pm on Friday, November 12th. We will meet in Room 201 of the Parks and Recreation building at 44 Park Avenue in Nutley.

Saturday Smackdown and Boat Appreciation Day

The 2010 season is almost in the record books—let's go out with a bang! Everyone is invited: Community, Competitive, Recreational, Social, and Youth programs. We'll mix it up, put boats together, and have some fun! Please bring a treat to share. This is the last day for Community Row. Please bring water for boat washing after the smackdown.

Rowing suspension lifted

The river has calmed down quite a bit and as a result, the suspension of rowing has been lifted. You can resume rowing today.

Jeff

All rowing suspended this Friday and Saturday

Please be advised that all rowing programs at PRRA will be suspended on both Friday, October 1st, and Saturday, October 2nd. The volume of rain has caused very fast river flow and unsafe rowing conditions. 

We hope the river will be rowable on Sunday. Check your email for advisories on late Saturday or early Sunday before heading to the boathouse.

The good news is that a lot of debris should be flushed out.

Jeff
Chair, Rowing Programs

Masters Nationals results and photos

USRowing hosted the Masters National Championship Regatta from August 12th to 15th on the Cooper River in Camden County, New Jersey. There were over 1,560 entries from 138 clubs, representing 31 states and three countries. PRRA members turned in an exceptional performance, winning eight gold, two silver and three bronze medals. Of the 16 PRRA members who competed, 14 won medals. Congratulations to all competitors on great racing and fine results! The Masters Nationals will be held in Oklahoma City next year.

event	result	crew
Men's Club G 4x	1st	Jeff, Tony, Bill, Charlie B.
Men's Club B 4x	1st	Charlie S., Ben, Dave, Anthony
Women's Lwt. C 1x	1st	Denise
Women's Lwt. B 2x	1st	Helen, Denise
Women's E 8+	1st	Andrea, unaffiliated rowers
Women's E 4+	1st	Andrea, unaffiliated rowers
Women's E 4x	1st	Andrea, unaffiliated rowers
Men's A 2x	1st	Jim, unaffiliated rower
Women's Lwt. A 4x	2nd	Helen, unaffiliated rowers
Mixed B 4x	2nd	Jim, Helen, Denise, PRRA alumnus Chris
Men's B 4x	3rd	Charlie S., Clemens, Dave, Anthony
Mixed F 4x	3rd	Tony, Gail, Jeff, unaffiliated rower
Men's B 2x	3rd	Jim, PRRA alumnus Chris

Diamond States Masters regatta results

Members of PRRA's competitive team participated in the 20th anniversary of the Diamond States Masters Regatta in Middletown, Delaware. Although the regatta was cut short by fierce thunderstorms and a tornado warning, 11 members competed in at least one event each.

Bob DeVita Scholarship winners

On Saturday, July 24, our Friends and Family Day began with the dedication of the new heavyweight quad in the name of Bob DeVita, followed by the Bob DeVita Scholarship Awards presented by Bob's nephew, Jonas DeVita. The winners of the inaugural Bob DeVita Scholarship Awards are Bree Fearon from Kearny High School and Bryan Villaruel from Belleville High School. Both recipients were four-year rowers for their respective high-school programs. Afterwards, friends and family participated in an introduction to rowing programs, including rowing on the Passaic River. Overall, the day was a huge success. Special thanks to Gail for organizing the event and to PRRA members who volunteered to help out.

Pictured from left to right: Jonas DeVita, Bree Fearon, Bryan Villaruel, Jeff Lahm

Help keep our boats clean

We all share in the responsibility of keeping our PRRA boats clean. This requires only a few minutes of effort after each use. We have added a new set of orange towels and a drying rack in the boathouse to enable wipe-down of each boat after use. We are adding a couple of watering cans to facilitate rinsing before wiping. So what do we do with this new equipment?

1. Each time you finish rowing a PRRA boat, place it in slings outside the boathouse for rinsing and wipe-down before returning the boat to its storage rack.

2. Use a watering can to rinse debris and dirt off the boat. River water, or water from home, will do until our water line to the boathouse is installed.

3. Completely wipe the hull and deck of the boat with one of the orange towels.

4. Place the towel(s) on the drying rack, and the watering can(s) on the floor at the foot of the drying rack for the next user.

5. Dirty, dry towels may be placed in the basket at the foot of the drying rack for laundering.

Thanks for your help!

July 24th is Friends and Family Day

Date: Saturday, July 24th
Time: 10 am
Place: PRRA boathouse

If your friends and family have been wondering just what takes up so much of your time and energy, this is the opportunity for you to show them what it's all about. They will have the chance to do some hands-on erg/dock work and even get out and row! If they are not quite ready for the full crew experience, maybe a tour of the Passaic in a launch would be appealing.

In addition to the friends and family fun, we will be dedicating our new heavyweight 4x, the Bob DeVita, and awarding the Bob DeVita scholarship to the winners.

Please R.S.V.P. with how many people you will be bringing and how you would like to help—we'll need launch drivers and volunteers for boat/erg/dock demos. Please bring a treat to share.

Thanks,
Gail

Saturday Smackdown (the sequel)

It's time again to get out a big can of whoop-ass and do some race pieces.

Date: Saturday, July 10th

Time: 6:00 am

See you then!

Firecracker 500 on July 3rd

To celebrate the 4th we will have a little 500 meter smackdown on Saturday. Everyone is welcome.

Date: Saturday, July 3rd

Time: 10 am

Everyone interested in racing, meet on the north side of the Lyndhurst bridge at 11:30. This will allow plenty of time to get your small-boat coaching or warm-up in. Youth are welcome to stay and participate.

We will be racing from the Bridge to the middle of the dock. Please wear something patriotic, bring a treat to share, and get ready to start your engines!

Coaching sessions for Community and Recreational members

Coaching sessions will begin Saturday, July 3rd at 10 am. The sessions are offered during the months of July and August and are open to all community and recreational members. There is no fee for these coached sessions, although participants are asked to donate $1 to cover miscellaneous expenses. Community and recreational rowers are reminded to sign up in advance by emailing Jeff Lahm.

Catch the Cooper results

Members of PRRA's competitive team traveled to the Cooper River in Camden on June 26th to compete against 28 clubs from eight states. Twenty members competed in eight events throughout the day. Congratulations to all competitors, especially to Valerie Spies, who competed in her first regatta.

Carnegie Lake Regatta results

Members of PRRA's competitive team traveled to Carnegie Lake in Princeton on June 19th to compete against 24 clubs from seven states. Seventeen PRRA members competed in nine events throughout the day. Congratulations to all competitors!

Navy Regatta results

Last weekend the Masters' Competitive Team attended their first race of the season, the Schuylkill Navy Regatta, with promising results. Fourteen rowers entered eleven events throughout the day. Congratulations to all competitors at our first regatta!

Full results are available from the Schuylkill Navy.

Saturday Smackdown

Racing season is upon us. The first race of the season, the Navy Regatta, is a week away. What a perfect time for a Saturday Smackdown event! Come one, come all! Be at the boathouse by 6 am so that boats can be organized for everyone.

When: On the water this Saturday, June 5, at 6:15 am, ready to race.

Where: High-school race course, racing in both directions.

What: Race whoever shows up, at least three across with staggered starting positions by boat size and ability. Plan for two, three, or four race pieces altogether.

Because this is so close to the first race, some boats may be rowing their race lineup for the Navy Regatta. Others will be looking to make pick-up boats. Please write to Anthony Scarpelli if you already have a boat in mind for Saturday and list who will be in it so that we can reserve it for you.

Hope to hear from you soon and hope to see you there!

Anthony Scarpelli
Competitive Committee Chairperson

June 5th is National Learn to Row Day

The Passaic River Rowing Association throws open its doors on Saturday, June 5th, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm in order to educate the public about the sport of rowing. We will have boats on display, rowing machines available to try out, and further information about how to get out on the water.

Check out the directions to our boathouse and bring a friend or two!

Community Rowing to begin on May 15th

On Saturday, May 15th, the Community Rowing program will begin at 10 am. We will start with a brief review of the traffic patterns and safe rowing zones, and we will watch a video clip on getting back into a single that has flipped. After the review, we will row.

Hope to see you then.

Jeff Lahm
Committee Chair, PRRA Rowing Programs

Paddlers needed this Saturday

We need 3 additional canoe paddlers to participate in the Passaic River Paddle Relay this Saturday, May 8th. PRRA has supported this event with club participation as well as sponsorship of the event. If you are interested, please write to Vinnie Chell: Vinnie Chell

Council meeting on Thursday

The biweekly council meeting is being held in the Tops Diner at 500 Passaic Avenue in East Newark on Thursday, April 29 at 6:00 in the morning. All PRRA members are welcome to attend.

Reminder: Saturday Smackdown in the morning

As announced earlier, the first intra-squad race of the season will take place at 6:00 am on Saturday, April 17th. All recreational and competitive team rowers are invited to attend. Everyone will likely be able to race several times over the 1000-meter course. Just make sure your membership fees are fully paid, and send a message to entries to reserve your boat for the race.

New heavyweight quad arrives

The new Kaschper heavyweight quad has arrived. It remains unrigged, and is stored on the rack where the Good Intentions was. The Good Intentions is now under the two eights.

Here are some guidelines on the usage of the quads:

The new Kaschper heavyweight quad will be used by the competitive team. As per our prior discussion, Scarp and Rainer will rig it before its first use, using either the sculling riggers that came with it or the sweep riggers we purchased with the Quad Almighty. (The boats are the same width, and the riggers are interchangeable.)

The Good Intentions will still be available for competitive use, as well as for open row sessions once Community Row starts. If the new quad is rigged for sweep, and the weighty competitive rowers want a quad for sculling, please use the Good Intentions, not the Quad Almighty. (One reason we bought the HW quad is to relieve the overuse of the Quad Almighty, in some cases by rowers too heavy for a mid-weight boat.)

I'll welcome any questions, and look forward to feedback from those who take the new quad out for its first few rows.

—Bill McCord

PRRA hosts the Passaic River Northern New Jersey Championship Regatta

On Saturday, April 10th, 488 high-school athletes together with their coaches, families, and alumni came to PRRA for the inaugural Northern New Jersey Championship Regatta. The regatta, jointly hosted by the Kearny Crew and sponsored by the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission (PVSC) with volunteer assistance from PRRA, Kearny, Belleville, Nutley, Ridgewood, and Nereid, was a great success. The finish line was the newly renovated PVSC site, where bleachers gave spectators a full view of the race course from start to finish. Scott Belford, Head Coach for Christian Brothers Academy, congratulated the regatta committee by email: "Just wanted to say thanks for hosting us. It was a great regatta and fantastic day of racing!"

PRRA youth win gold medal at Passaic River Northern New Jersey Championship Regatta

In an exhibition event, PRRA members Talia Bronfin and Jessica Geiger won gold in youth doubles. As members of a public rowing club, they were not formally eligible for the high-school regatta, but were invited to compete against the Nereid Boat Club in an exhibition race. Talia and Jessica, along with other high-school students, are members of PRRA's first spring youth program. The program, coached by Jeff Lahm with assistance from Wolfgang Hiller, offers experienced rowers an opportunity to train and to compete in spring regattas.

Intra-squad race on April 17th

The adult competitive team is holding an intra-squad race on Saturday, April 17th. Please be ready to launch at 6:00 am and be at the line to race at 6:30. We will use the high-school race course, which measures approximately 1000 meters. We are planning staggered starts so that boats of all sizes and skill levels can participate. Each boat will probably have the opportunity to race several times. This is our first race of the season; it's better to get the cobwebs out at home!

Reminders:

1. In order to race next week, you must pay your membership fee in full.

2. We would like to have everyone fund their escrow account so that we are ready for regatta registration.

We hope to see you bright and early on April 17th!

—Competitive Team Committee

Small boat rowing resumes

The river seems to have calmed down somewhat, although the current is still running faster than normal. All rowing can resume subject to standard safety guidelines.

Be mindful of the 90-degree safety threshold: we recommend that small boats stay in the vicinity of a coaching launch when the air and water temperatures add up to less than 90 degrees Fahrenheit. For example, if the water temperature is 46 °F (as it was yesterday), small boats are advised to row near a coaching launch while the air temperature is below 44 °F.

Also bear in mind that your 2010 membership fees and liability waiver are due before you may go on the water.

Small boat rowing suspended

Due to the turbulent flow of the Passaic, small boats (singles and doubles) are prohibited from rowing until further notice. Large boats should exercise great caution in the meantime. Thank you for your understanding.

Boathouse closure on April 10th

PRRA will be the host site for the Northern New Jersey Championships high-school regatta on Saturday, April 10th. Due to the expected volume of activity, our facility will be closed for the entire day. All PRRA members (except those participating in the regatta) are asked to refrain from rowing on April 10th. We appreciate your cooperation.

Boat cleaning on Saturday; volunteers wanted

We are planning a work session for this Saturday morning, March 27th, to clean, rig and adjust our club boats in readiness for the coming season. We'll meet at the boathouse at 7:00 am and should be finished by 9:00 am. We'll need 12-15 volunteers. While we consider this primarily a competitive team undertaking, since it's early in the season, we won't turn any volunteers away. Please bring a bucket, a sponge, and an old towel or two to assist with the cleanup.

—Bill McCord

Adult Team meeting at Lyndhurst Diner

The Adult Competitive Team will be meeting at the Lyndhurst Diner at 540 Riverside Avenue on Monday, March 22nd at 5:00 in the morning. All adults who plan to race for PRRA this season must attend this meeting. See you there!

Adult Team row postponed to Friday

With the high water levels following the recent storm, the river is not yet safe for rowing. The adult competitive team row is now scheduled for Friday morning at 5:00. The team meeting is still scheduled for Monday.

Adult Competitive Team starting up soon

If you have been thinking about racing for PRRA, come on down and learn about the adult competitive program at our next two events.

Friday, March 19th, 5:00 am—Team Row in big boats. Grab some oars, get a seat, and get used to getting up early all over again.

Monday, March 22nd, 5:00 am—Team Meeting at the Lyndhurst Diner at 540 Riverside Avenue. If you are planning to row at the competitive level this season, you must be at this meeting. We will not be going on the water; the purpose of this meeting is to convey important information. Even if you don't plan on rowing with the rest of the team at the regular practice times, we have to see you at the meeting if you plan to race this season.

Docks successfully installed

Despite the wet and windy conditions, the docks were installed without mishap on Saturday. The work was done by a group of volunteers headed by Jeff Lahm, who wishes to thank all those who came to lend a hand, including the Ridgewood Crew contingent. A crane will install the gangway on Monday, bringing us another step closer to the start of the new rowing season. Last year's memberships expire on March 31, so don't forget to register for the 2010 season soon.

Dock installation weather alert

The dock installation promises to be a challenge given the weather forecast and water conditions. Since we really need to get the docks in this weekend, we are monitoring the weather closely. At the moment, we are still planning for Saturday morning at 6:30. However, in the event of unfavorable conditions, the backup plan is Sunday morning at 7:00. We will need plenty of volunteers to overcome the challenges that we expect whether we go on Saturday or Sunday. We hope you can support us on either day.

Please check your email on Saturday morning before you leave home for any change of plans. If you don't receive a message, we are going ahead on Saturday as originally planned.

Docks going in March 13—help needed

We are planning to reposition and secure the docks on Saturday, March 13. Since high tide is at 6:51 am, we will gather at the boathouse at 6:30 in the morning. Please mark the date on your calendar if you can lend a hand.

We will need plenty of volunteers to lift the truss arms into place and secure the cables. A crane is scheduled to install the gangway on Monday, March 15.

General meeting on February 24

All PRRA members are encouraged to attend the general meeting on Wednesday, February 24, from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm.

The meeting will be held in the Parks and Recreation Building at 44 Park Avenue in Nutley. The room number will be announced when it is known.