World champion and SCRC member Norman Thetford. Provided photo.

The Lake of Banyoles is the largest lake in Catalonia, Spain. Seated in a tectonic depression, the lake is approximately 2,100 meters by 750 meters, fed by underground water sources from the foothills of the Pyrenees, which surround the body of water. The Lake of Banyoles is picturesque, serene and most of all, fast. Although that might not be a word one typically uses to describe a lake, it is fitting—for Rachel Bowman, president of the Sarasota County Rowing Club (SCRC) and the rest of the field at the World Rowing Masters Regatta held from September 10-15, the lake was like a race track.

“All the racing was very tight,” says Bowman. “The competition was pretty brutal, because you’ve got the best people from around the world racing against each other. What was interesting was trying to put a crew together that would be competitive—in some cases we had people in our boat that we hadn’t practiced with, which was a little challenging.”

For Bowman, the unfamiliarity was intentional. Several members of the SCRC live overseas, joining the club in Sarasota during the winter and competing in international events. While rowing with new crew members can offer more of a challenge—chemistry and timing are tantamount to rowing fast—the World Masters Regatta was about more than just winning races for Bowman. “It is about sharing the love of the sport with people from around the world. Yes, everyone’s competitive, but it’s really fun to meet people from different countries, share experiences and network,” says Bowman.

That isn’t to say that Bowman—and the SCRC team—didn’t have success in Banyoles. In the Women’s F 4+, meaning a coxed four in the “F” age category, Bowman’s boat finished second to Warwick Boat Club from England. Dr. Sara Simmons, a Bradenton orthopedic surgeon, won gold with her teammates in the women’s quad sculls and 82-year-old Norman Thetford won gold in the Men’s J 8+. “Most of the people that rowed for our club ended up in the top third of the brackets in at least one or two races, which says a lot about the skill level of our club. When you go that far, you just want to know that you’re in the hunt,” says Bowman. “It was also just fascinating to see these fledgling clubs in remote parts of South America or Eastern Europe that end up at this regatta. People are dedicated—no matter where they are, if they love the sport they are going to do whatever they can to keep rowing.”

Sarasota County Rowing Club, Boathouse Address 800 Blackburn Point Rd, Osprey, 34229

World champion and SCRC member Norman Thetford. Provided photo.

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