After the storms on Thursday, it look to be a chilly weekend, unfortunately. Still awesome rowing weather tho’!
Satuday, 1/30 – Buoy FabricationDay! - just one of the tasks that must be complete with volunteer hours before our Heart of Texas Regatta, the largest regatta in Texas.
From ARC Equipment Director Kourt De Haas (kourtney@mail.utexas.edu):
This Saturday, January 30, from 9:30AM to noon, we will commence with the fabrication of new buoys for our spring regatta race courses. In the last few years we have enjoyed the expertise of several great volunteers in this effort.
“What is buoy fabrication? “
Good question. It’s the process by which we take mass produced white virgin plastic 32oz bottles, add 5-foot UV resistant strings (knotted inside the cap) and tie on a stainless steel snap on the end to make the individual buoys you see every 10 meters on our race courses. These buoys cost over $5 each when you buy them pre-fabricated from race course suppliers, but we make our own for less than half that cost due to shrewd bulk purchasing and your volunteer effort.
“What will *I* be doing?”
Any number of simple (but repetitive) tasks: drilling holes in bottle caps, cutting string, threading string, knotting string or tying on snaps. ARC will provide the drills, hot knife (for cutting string) and parts. You provide your capable hands.
“What do I get out of this?”
The satisfaction that you played a part in the key component to regatta logistics–the race course. When you look out there this March and see gleaming white buoys floating proudly on the lanes, you can say, “I did that.” Men and women on the competitive teams can accumulate hours of credit towards their volunteer obligations through this easy task.
SUMMARY
Buoy Fabrication
9:30AM to noon, Saturday, January 30
Austin Rowing Club
Please respond if you are interested in participating- -I need a head count to prepare the distribution of work.
Saturday, 2/6 – the first Introduction to Rowing class of the new year! There’s still space available; if you’ve been reading this blog and are intrigued by rowing, sign up today! The ITR class is six sessions total, each Saturday and Sunday from 10am to noon for three weeks.
Saturday, 2/6 – Erg Rodeo! Hosted by Texas Crew, this is their annual indoor rowing championship. Put all that hard work you did during the Holiday Erg Challenge to good use. It’s a 2000m piece and there are different categories for age groups. The Austin Rowing Club Juniors as well as the competitive teams will be participating. To enter, go to Regatta Central and click on the Erg Rodeo link. (I apologize, I can’t link this directly)
Saturday, 2/13 - Lady Bird Lake Cleanup hosted by Keep Austin Beautiful. Yet another chance to help keep our gorgeous lake beautiful. The even runs from 9am to 11am and the Austin Rowing Club will be donating the use of a launch as well.
Saturday, 2/20 – the Winter Warrior, the annual Austin Rowing Club hosted 10k race from Red Bud Island at the western end of Lady Bird Lake to the gazebo at the eastern end (across from the Holly power plant). The race is always interesting as it’s anybody’s guess what the weather will be like; one year we actually rowed in the snow! We’ll have entry information posted soon.
Saturday & Sunday, 3/6 – 3/7 – the Heart of Texas! The biggest rowing race in Texas held on the northern shores of Lady Bird Lake at Festival Beach (just east of IH35), it’s hard to believe it’s almost regatta time again. We’ll have a lot more information as regatta time draws nearer but it’s never to early to start thinking about volunteering. The regatta committee is already forming, contact ARC Vice President Paul Scripko at vp@austinrowing.org if you’d like to help.
