Safety lesson learned the hard way

A couple of weeks before the ice set in, but after PBC’s winter rowing rules went into effect, senior member Nick Holland and his single had a run in with a log.  Upstream without a personal flotation device (pfd), with a water temperature below 45F, Nick would be the first to tell you that he was lucky to make it back to the dock alive.  Below is his story.  Sharing it with you is his penance for breaking the rules.

Before we get to Nick’s story, at the bottom of this post you will find links to Hypothermia and Cold Water Immersion - Information for Rowing and Coaches and Clubs by Jane Blockley of the Leo Blockley Memorial Campaign. Leo Blockley drowned on December 29, 2000, in the River Ebro while rowing with the Oxford University Lightweight Rowing Club during winter training camp in Amposta, Spain.  About fifty meters from the dock, Leo disappeared as he attempted to swim back to the boat. He was 21.

Please visit the Leo Blockley Memorial Campaign web site linked here for information that could save your life.

And now, a few words from Mr. Holland ….

* * *

As many of you know, I had what can only be called a lucky escape a few weeks ago when my single hit a large submerged log up river near the Hens and Chicks. Had it not been for some fortuitous circumstances, I might have ended up with a very cold swim to the Virginia shore.  I want to let you know what happened and hopefully draw out some valuable lessons for you all.

Following the collision, my boat was still afloat, so I elected to try to get back as close to PBC as I could.  Assisted by wind and stream, I started to row with one eye on my bow as the boat took on water.  When I could see that the bow ball was about to sink below water level, I spun the boat around and continued down river by backing down at the compressed catch position in order to keep the bow up as much as possible and to keep my weight as close to the stern as possible.  As I passed Three Sisters, the water came pouring over the gunwales and I was no longer able to row.

Knowing I could get very cold and wet - or worse - I took out my feet and got as far to the back of the boat as possible. After a second or two, I realized that maybe I could “surf paddle” the hull closer to PBC.  I wedged my scull handles under my stomach with the blades flat to hopefully steady the boat a bit more.  At that point, only my legs and lower torso were wet.

Straddling the hull with one leg on either side and lying forward on the tracks and foot stretcher, I was able to paddle the boat okay, but the wind blowing against the stern made it difficult for me to get to shore. I headed to a point up river of the Canoe Club, so that if I passed out, the wind and current might move my boat down onto the Canoe Club dock. As it turned out, I remained conscious and was able to paddle the hull all the way to the PBC dock, where some very nice people got me and my boat out of the water.

The lessons I learned are as follows:

1. It doesn’t matter how good I think I am, ACCIDENTS CAN AND WILL HAPPEN, when I least expect them.

2. DRESS APPROPRIATELY FOR THE CONDITIONS. I had on decent clothes which helped to minimize my heat loss a bit, especially the superb under armor beanie, which looks stupid, but certainly kept my head warm. Pogies kept my hands warm, but eventually they were lost in the ordeal. In retrospect, I should have had on a pfd or wetsuit, or both. I would have increased my buoyancy, retained more body heat, and bought myself a little more time should I have needed it. And you never know when you’re going to need it.

3. DON’T PANIC. Assess the situation and make a decision. Obviously, the best decision is the one that will get you out of the water and on shore soonest. My boat was still afloat and rowable for most of the time, but every situation will be different. Try to have a plan before you go out. If it comes down to saving the boat or you, just make sure you do what it takes to save yourself. You can always replace a boat.

Nick Holland

* * *

So, folks, once the ice has melted and those of us who simply must row - no matter what - are back on the water, please remember to follow the winter rowing rules and take basic precautions. Cold water rowing is an inherently dangerous activity. We don’t want you to do it, but if you do, don’t make us have to explain to your spouse/parents/kids that you didn’t make it back to shore because you were simply too stubborn to wear a pfd or wetsuit.

• Hypothermia and Cold Water Immersion - Information for Rowing Coaches and Clubs (ENG) (132KB - MS Word)
• Hypothermia and Cold Water Immersion - Information for Rowing Coaches and Clubs (ENG) (314KB - Adobe PDF)

Brrrr … 4-Oar Rule starts today!

PBC Members: Don’t be left out in the cold!

The access code to the boathouse changes on January 1, 2010.  After that date, existing keys, FOBS, cards, and shared codes will no longer get you into the club. 

But guess what?  You have until December 4th to choose a new access code of your very own!  Exciting, isn’t it?  (Just nod your head “yes.”)

If you’re a member, you should have received an email from the Security Committee on Sunday, November 22nd, explaining how to get your new access code.  If you didn’t get the message, please contact the Security Committee immediately at security@potomacstar.com, so you can be sure to meet the December 4th code application deadline.

We just chose our new code!  It’s the birthday of the mother of the person who rowed 6-seat behind us in ‘91, plus 1869, minus 12, divided by pi, and multiplied by the number of cupcakes we ate for lunch today.  Easy!  Now, go get yours.

Social Committee socks it to us at the 140th Anniversary

Fortunately for you, the Social Committee still has a few left … and they’ll only cost you $100 a pair! Okay, for you, $5 a pair, if you can pick them up at the Club, or $6, if they have to be mailed.  Interested?  Send us a note to editor@potomacstar.com, and we’ll send you what you need to know to get your very own pair.  Supply is limited, so hurry. [Available sizes for men:  shoe size 6-8=M, 8-10=L, 10-13=XL. For women:  7-9=M, 9-11=L, 11+=XL.]

Potomac heads home to the Charles

The Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR) is like homecoming weekend for many rowers, especially for us at Potomac Boat Club.  We’ve been there each of the regatta’s 45 years, winning the Men’s Championship Eight event in year one.  When not racing, it’s our opportunity to catch up with old friends and teammates, some we haven’t seen in years.

If you’re going to the Charles this weekend, make sure you get to the racecourse in time to cheer on all the folks keeping PBC’s rich HOCR racing tradition alive.  As you’ll find below, there are quite of few of them, so remember to wear layers, bring the throat lozenges, and maybe make friends with the guy with the flask (um, if you’re into that kind of thing).

Oh, in case you weren’t at the Semi-Annual Meeting last week, the Board announced the first winners of the David Challinor Head of the Charles Memorial Fund awards!  Congratulations to Margot Shumway and Bill Greer!

Best of luck to all of you this weekend … and a special “go get ‘em, ladies” from the Star to PBC-sponsored WeCanRow DC as they compete in their very first Head of the Charles Regatta!

Saturday, October 17th

01. Grand Master Singles Men 50+ (7:45)

00052 Potomac Boat Club (E. Ryan)
00076 Potomac Boat Club (T. Baxter)

02. Grand Master Singles Women 50+ (8:16)

00012 Potomac Boat Club (C. Cole)

03. Senior Master Singles Men 40+ (8:43)

00013 Potomac Boat Club (R. Lewis)

06. Senior Master Eights Women 50+ (9:43)

00017 Potomac Boat Club

08. Senior Master Fours Women 50+ (10:17)

00012 Potomac Boat Club

10. Senior Master Doubles Women 50+ (10:52)

00014 Potomac Boat Club (G. Edie/J. Hopkins)

13. Club Singles Men (11:46)

00051 Potomac Boat Club (J. Moncton)

17. Club Eights Men (13:26)

00012 Potomac Boat Club

25. Championship Doubles Men (13:47)

00006 Riverside/Potomac Boat Club (B. Wilkinson/S. Gorman)

26. Championship Doubles Women (16:02)

00006 Potomac Boat Club (M. Wimberley/K. Stainken)

29. Championship Singles Men (16:57)

00014 Potomac Boat Club (W. Greer)

30. Championship Singles Women (17:14)

00002 Potomac Boat Club (M. Shumway)
00020 Potomac Boat Club (M. Gaab)

Sunday, October 18th

31. Senior Veteran Singles Men (8:00)

00006 Potomac Boat Club (C. Sutliff)

41. Master Singles Men (12:32)

00008 Potomac Boat Club (B. Howe)

Posted: Scullers Head of Potomac Photos!

Photos from the Charlie Butt 29th Annual Scullers Head of the Potomac are up on SportGraphics right now!

• For pics of Potomac Boat Club, go here.
• For pics of PBC-hosted WeCanRow DC, go here.
• To search the whole shebang, just visit the SportGraphics SHOP search page here.

By the way, did you miss out on getting a t-shirt from this special event?  Well, it’s not too late.  Contact Nancy Butt-Packard to see what she has left.  Proceeds from t-shirt sales go to benefit young athletes through the Charlie Butt Scholarship Fund.

Looking good, Potomac!

Only three days left to RSVP! Party details here!

JOIN US!

140th Anniversary Party
Saturday, September 12
7:00 - 10:00 PM
Cocktail Attire
Silent Auction
RSVP by Tuesday, September 8

This is your 140th Anniversary Party Reminder!

Potomac Boat Club’s President, the Board of Governors, and the Social Committee request your presence next weekend at the boathouse for a very special celebration … PBC’s 140th Anniversary!

The festivities will kick off on Saturday, September 12th, at 7:00 PM and continue until 10:00 PM.  The Social Committee anticipates many will want to be part of this historic night, so it is limiting guests to one per member to give everyone a chance to be there. Also, you must RSVP prior to the event, and the deadline is Tuesday, September 8th.  Let the party planners know you’ll be there by sending an email right now to PBCRSVP@yahoo.com.

What to wear?  The Social Committee is calling for cocktail attire, but valet parking will be available, so consider it an opportunity to strap on those 5-inch heels or show off that jacket and tie combo your teammates have never seen.  What about the kids?  Sorry. They have to stay home for this one, but the Committee promises plenty of beer, wine, soft drinks and hors d’oeuvres to keep your mind off of what they might be doing to the poor baby sitter you hired for the evening.

Over the last 140 years, we’ve become well known for our spirit of competition, and this anniversary party will reflect that.  No, not a hat race.  The Social Committee has put together a silent auction to benefit the Potomac River Sports Foundation and our Open Sculling Program.  Your fellow members have generously donated a variety of items for you to bid on throughout the evening, including weekend getaways, theater and athletic event tickets, special services, and much more, so get your checkbooks ready!  You might even get a sneak preview of the auction items in the Star later this week.

Stay tuned for last minute details!

Register for the 29th Annual Charlie Butt Scullers’ Head of the Potomac

Registration is now open!

Potomac Boat Club’s Regatta Committee is proud to announce the 29th annual Charlie Butt Scullers’ Head of the Potomac (SHOP) will be held on Sunday, September 27, 2009.

Once considered a tune up regatta for the Head of the Charles in mid-October, the SHOP today is a milestone on the fall racing calendar and includes more than 40 sweep and sculling events.

Registration for the SHOP is open from now until Saturday, September 19, 2009.  Visit the Scullers’ Head of the Potomac online registration area on Ronin Racing to sign up.  Once there, you will also find a schedule of events, directions, a link to the waiver, athlete check-in information, and the most up to date list of competitors.

Please note, entries must be received by Saturday, September 12, 2009, to avoid the late fee.  And once registration closes on Saturday, September 19, 2009, it’s closed.  There is no race day registration this year.

Still have a question about the SHOP?  Please send it to PBC’s Regatta Committee chair, Samantha Byrd, at headofthepotomac@gmail.com.

Through one of the Nation’s most historic corridors, the Scullers’ Head of the Potomac is a true test of physical endurance and mental toughness for sweep crews and scullers alike.  Don’t miss it!

Reminder! Passcode change on Aug. 20!

Planning to head down to the Club?  Before you do, you better check your email for the new locker room code.  The old code goes away on August 20.

Last week, the Security Committee sent the new code to active status senior members via email with the subject line, New PBC Security System and Measures: PLEASE READ!!!

Now, the committee is reaching out to all senior members. If you’re a senior member in good standing, who has yet to receive the new code, please send your name and a current email address to security@potomacboatclub.org, as soon as possible.

Competitive members, they haven’t forgotten about you!  Get with your coaches for the latest news on code changes and access to the Club.

The Security Committee plans to use the senior member email list to release more security information in the very near future, so make sure they have your latest email address, and stay alert for those messages!

New security system details revealed! Or not.

Did anyone else notice the crowd’s reaction at the last Annual Meeting when then House Committee Chair Cal Sutliff announced we were getting a new security system?  There was definitely a buzz.  How many times did you overhear: “Security system?  Uh, I have a ‘friend’ who likes to erg at the boathouse after bar time, I mean … after midnight.  Would he set off an alarm?”

And the answer to that burning question?  Maybe.  Or maybe not.

The truth is, we can’t give you any details about the new system.  Well, we could try, but we would be guessing.  All we know is that it’s live, and while your personal privacy is assured - in other words, no one is trying to record you in the shower - there are only a few people in the universe who know all of the details.  One of them is Miles Fawcett.

Miles is the president of Urban Alarm, the company that designed and installed the system.  Based in DC, Urban Alarm is different than your average security and alarm company because it seeks to be truly invested in the community it serves.  And this is certainly true in our case.  Not only is Miles a senior member of the Club, but he is the son of the late great Chip Fawcett, the longest serving president of PBC.

Makes you feel like we’re in good hands, doesn’t it?

So, for now, just know that we finally have an active security system.  It’s a long-awaited, much anticipated, major upgrade to the Club, and our thanks goes out to Miles, the House Committee, and the Board for getting it done.

Oh, and if you show up to erg at the Club after midnight, or at any time for that matter, smile for the cameras.

Of course, if you show up for more devious reasons, maybe try throwing the dog a bone.

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