Great weather, flat water and fast boats were in store for Vashon Island Rowing Club master and junior rowers at American Lake Regatta last Sunday, Oct. 13.

During the first race of the day, the Masters Women’s 8+, cox Lisa Huggenvik and stroke Kit Gruver won gold, beating the pack by 35 seconds. Seventeen events entered by the 35-plus rowers from VIRC received four gold, one silver and four bronze medals.

Novice master rower Laurie Thorpe, racing in a novice quad on the 5-kilometer course, passed by her son’s boat and heard them say, “We need to pass the moms!” The team would like to give a shout-out to Carlos Chavez, who coxed the master’s women’s 4+. His daughter Erin will be coxing at the Head of the Charles this coming weekend with VIRC.

Brothers Oz and Bowie Hitchens each won first place in their singles events. It was exciting to see our novice junior men’s quad winning gold, as well as the novice junior women’s quad, take silver.

VIRC rowers also got the opportunity to volunteer with Seize The Oar Foundation’s four adaptive rowers launch for their race around the lake. The fifth year of racing for STOF at this event was founded by masters row coach Tara Morgan.

Thank you new masters coach Sarah Deal, junior coach Ben Steele and junior novice coach Maya Krah for working together and making VIRC a great place to row and grow in a supportive community.

A great race day is a community effort — from food tent prep service to boat loading and rigging, it’s a tall order for the experienced, young and old alike.

— Sarah Eden is a VIRC masters rower.