By  JINGLAN WANG ’16

Contributing Writer

Every year, for spring break, the crew team travels to Chestertown, Md. to train on the home waters of Washington College for six and half hours a day — three and a half hours at dawn and three hours in the late afternoon. After months of being unable to practice on the frozen Charles River, varsity and novice athletes alike were able to break their grueling indoor training regimen to feel the flow of the water beneath them again.

Unfortunately, mother nature had other plans, but neither rain nor snow could dampen their spirits. The routine was as follows: rise, eat breakfast, row, eat lunch, nap, have technical review, snack, row, eat dinner, have miscellaneous activities, sleep and repeat.

At the end of the week, all four boat groups, the first, second and third varsity as well as first novice, were pitted against Washington College in their traditional season kickoff regatta. The first heat of races consisted of Washington College’s second varsity and the Wellesley second varsity, third varsity and first novice crews. The Wellesley second varsity won, posting a time of 6 minutes 51 seconds, four seconds ahead of Washington College. The last heat of races consisted of two crews: the first varsity boats from both colleges. Wellesley swept, with a lead of 19 seconds ahead of Washington College’s 6 minutes 24 seconds. These times were recorded on a shortened course, due to heavy fog.

“We were anxious to see how such a young team and new lineups would stack up against the competition. The win has made us excited to see what the rest of the season can bring,” said Olivia Thayer ’16, two seat of the first varsity boat.

Blue Crew will be back on the starting line next Saturday on the Connecticut River against University of Massachusetts Amherst, Williams, William Smith and University of New Hampshire.