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Peggy Myre

2024 KISS - Kitsap Invitational Summer Scrimmage

Updated: Aug 5

Rats and Nails celebrate after the KISS (LTR: Peggy, Donna, Ted, Andrea, Mari. Missing: Aimee M)

Four Rats and two Nails (one shiny, one polished by time) represented Port Townsend

at the Kitsap Invitational Summer Scrimmage, or KISS, held on Sunday, July 28. The

friendly folks of Kitsap invite several of our local clubs to this fund-raising event.



The race course was in Liberty Bay along the shoreline of Poulsbo. The day was

marginal even by Port Townsend standards: wind blowing up into Liberty Bay from the

southeast, cloudy and cool. There were two heats: eights (sweep, no Octs on this

course!), and quads/doubles/singles in the second. The course, which was about 5000

meters, required a 180 degree turn around a buoy, requiring most boats to perform a

rushed river turn in windy, choppy conditions. Another good reason to practice this skill

on everyday rows.

2024 KISS race course

We decided to participate in the regatta’s “Ham and Egg” style setting of boats. This

term, originating from the University of Washington, describes the mix and match style

of setting boat crews. (There is another theory that it is named because the UW rowers

went for ham and eggs after the row.) We are indebted to Bainbridge Island Rowing for

not only bringing the boats, but also providing coxswains (for both eights and quads)

familiar with the course. The effort required by the local clubs to de-rig, transport, re-rig,

transport, and clean up afterwards was monumental, making our participating easy as

cake.


Speaking of cake, there was potluck food available during the whole race, allowing a

quick downing of a muffin for extra energy, or a full plate of salads, sandwiches, fruit,

and chips afterwards.


Aimee M, Andrea (shiny Nail), Mari and Peggy decided to participate in the eight sweep

race that got started about 9:00 a.m. Aimee stroked in her boat, with Mari in Seat 3.

They came in second in the heat, with a time of 25:38:52. Nice job Aimee and Mari!

Aimee (8 seat) and Mari (3 seat) rowing in their Ham ‘n’ Egg Bainbridge Island Rowing club boat, the Karen Campbell.
Another photo of the Ham 'n' Egg Eight with Aimee (8 seat) and Mari (3 seat).

The quad race was next, with Aimee, Andrea and Peggy hot-seating to the next event.

Aimee, Donna and Ted were assigned to one quad (in a boat named Ted) with another

rower who did not show up, so Mari jumped in to help them take second on the quad

course (time of 22:55.37)! Peggy got to row with some strong Bainbridge Island rowers for the quad race, taking the overall leading time of the quad race of 21:46.33. The Rats

and Nails really showed their competence in the challenging conditions.

Aimee, Donna, Mari and Ted in the coxed quad Ted
Bainbridge Island rowers with Peggy (seat 1) in the coxed quad Linda
Andrea's quad

Everyone helped to load the boats back on Bainbridge Island Rower’s big trailer. When

someone noticed that the trailer had a flat tire, Donna jumped into action, pulling out the

mobile air compressor she and her resourceful husband keeps in the car, saving the

day!

Donna and Ted fix BIRs trailer

In addition to Port Townsend, there were a few rowers from Sequim and Port Angeles

as well. The Kitsap crew announced that they were hoping for more participation from

“up north” so next year, let’s send some crews!

Rats and Nails with Sean Halberg from Port Angeles
Group Photo

More details and photos available on Kitsap Rowing Club’s Facebook page

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