This German Reunification Day race has become something of a favourite event with Quintin, the club having first raced it in 2003.
Adopting a hitherto unheard of approach towards the event the Barflies elected to put together regular outings and some even went on a training camp ahead. Throughout the weeks building up to the race the athletes (note the lack of inverted commas there) were cajoled and driven on by our Tour Leader, Mr Roger Griffiths. A training plan was put together using AI by our strokeman, Mr Mike Harris. The precise inputs have not been declared though we can safely say that ChatGPT had no access to Dave Nicol’s Strava records from the practice outings.
A big thank you has to go out to the wider Quintin community for fleshing out the crews in the run-up. Some things don’t change and it was not until the eve of the race that the full crew assembled for a practice outing.
A revolution appears to have taken place at the mighty Berliner Ruder Club. They no longer seem to invest in the nation’s finest yellow products, despite the spending power of their 700 members. Whilst their finest young oarsman checked the rig on their white Italian shells the Barflies took possession of a 100kg Empacher – a boat big enough for the Chiswick Breakfast massive. The AI training plan had sensibly recommended a tapering paddle – we ignored it.
An added bonus with the equipment was that we were offered a choice of blades, opting in the end for a set with wooden handles. Not only did the selection provide the chance for everyone to wax lyrical about better times it ensured our hands remained in tip-top condition to pick up both beer and wine glasses during the meal that followed.
Race Day dawned and with it came near perfect weather – bright blue skies and next to no wind. The still conditions kept the Wannsee’s sailing types from enjoying the national holiday weekend.
On the row to the start we were treated to a history tour by our cox Otto who pointed out the many castles and grand houses that lined the course, including the three villas that Stalin, Truman and Churchill stayed in for the Potsdam conference.
In previous years the race was fully circular and kicked off with a mass start. For this year the different boat classes started in groups of around 4 to 5 boats at a time and was a race from the famous Glienicke “Spy” Bridge, round the wider stretches of the Wannsee, finishing in front of the fabulous Berliner boathouse. Having elected for a racing shell the crew watched in dismay as the opponents closer to our age departed in “lake boat” eights. This left us sharing the start area with the host club’s U23s and U18s, a Leander eight packed with ex-Olympians racing as GB Rio, and a crew from the German Women’s training base at Potsdam testing out a brand new Wintech design.
Eventually it came round to our time to race and we lined up against a younger Berliner vet crew, a Parisian U23 women’s eight and a superb women’s veteran composite mostly from Sheffield.
Starting off in what seems like the wrong slot with only the very fast crews behind you is disheartening enough in the Plum Puddings. Over 8.7 kilometres it is even worse. Despite some expert steering by Otto the chasing boats closed with an air of inexorability leaving Quintin to paddle in on our own. Rowing through the bridge we were treated to applause and the rate rose to a credible crescendo (or 28 if you want to be picky about it).
Post-race isotonic replenishment was welcomed by all. Whether it was Otto pointing out Churchill’s “pink house” before the race, or the influence of some particularly fine Amarone on top of the copious beers, our own leader, Roger, made a speech. No one can remember what was in the speech but it sounded marvellous at the time.
Bow – Dave Nicol
2 – Roger Griffiths
3 – Sakti Narayan
4 – Aubrey Capel
5 – Richard White
6 – Mark Rusell
7 – Nick Gittins
Stroke – Mike Harris
Cox – Otto Bradaczek
Quintin will undoubtedly go back to the boathouse on Bismarckstrasse in a year or two. The comforting fact is that, as ever, you will be made to feel welcome and the racing will be worth it.
A big thank you to all who helped us get there from the crew.
Richard White
