ONE WEEK IN!
What a great first week of summer we’ve had! We have many rowers returning and some really great skill developing with new rowers this year! Jeremy and I and our other coaches feel so lucky to be able to share in this on water experience with you!
DOMINION DAY REGATTA
Robin coming off the water after her race
This year, Robin Fowler attended the annual Dominion Day Regatta which is held at the Toronto Island every year on Canada Day. This was the first time Hatchets was represented at the regatta! This was Robin’s first “sprint” race also. Sprint races are usually 2000m and sometimes (like this race), 1000m, and you race in usually 6-8 lanes, and all start at the same time and race a straight buoyed course. Robin is 14 years old and competed in the U17 (under 17 years of age) category, and she placed 2nd of 4 participants. One rower was out ahead, meanwhile 2nd, 3rd and 4th came in close enough that we didn’t know until later how they placed. Robin had a great race, and felt, as everyone does after their first race, that she will be able to push harder on the next race now that she has a better idea what to expect. It was a great regatta and a really fun way to spend Canada Day and hopefully we will have more attending next year! Another kind of race is a “head” race, which refers to a race where rowers are started one at a time, at time intervals (for example every 15 seconds), and typically this is a course that is not straight, along a river or around a “head land” - hence the name. Robin raced last fall in two head races: the Muskoka Fall Classic in Gravenhurst, and the Head of the Trent Regatta in Peterborough. There are likely a few more that will join her for those two head races this year. We have 10 rowers that are all in and around the same ages training together this year and are going to have fun getting fast together!
hatchets LEADERBOARD!
Again this year, we have our Hatchets Leaderboard up! Throughout the summer, we will be tracking the “TOP 10” in three different categories. The challenges started May long weekend when our spring season started. These challenges are for us to have a reason to push ourselves to grow in fitness and mental stamina and because it’s fun to keep track of our kms, and scores. The results will be posted every Friday at noon for the week. We will send out a Summer End total at the end of our summer season which ends Friday August 22nd at NOON, but then we’ll keep tracking them through the fall - because it’s fun!
FISH GAME: This challenge is open to those UNDER 14 only. The Fish Game is on the Concept2 Rowing Machines, On our rowing machines, compete for the top score for the summer in the fish game.
DISTANCE CHAMPION: This challenge is open to all ages and levels of rowers. All on water rowing kilometres count, regardless of where they are rowed. Rowing on a machine, other forms of paddling and other activities do not count. Just rowing on the water, in any location. This year, we are back to our initial tracking method, where I will send you an individual tracking spreadsheet that you can fill in - and then I have another sheet that tracks all the totals. You can also ask me to put them in while you’re here, or keep track on paper and get me to fill in a few at once. Let’s see how many kms we can track this season!
PULL UP CHALLENGE: Remember, pull ups or chin ups must be witnessed, and you must go ALL the way down and ALL the way up for each chin up/pull up. You can choose to do chin ups or pull ups. I find pull ups harder, so I do chin ups - but it all depends on your muscles and what you are most used to.
The Leaderboard has just been re-set! We’re excited to update it over the coming weeks!
Save The Date: HATCHETS HAT-TRICK WEEKEND
August 9th & 10th
Mark the date in your calendar and come join us for one, some, or ALL of the events on August 9th & 10th!
We will kick off the weekend with our annual Muskoka Poker Run, a 22km row/race, launching from Port Carling at 6 am! Then we will head over to Hatchets for our Indian River Relay at 11am - for EVERY SKILL LEVEL of rower. Our Indian River Relay is a short race open to everyone! We race to the first buoy and back to the dock to switch with the next person for the relay part of the race. It is a team-based event. Then we will finish off the weekend on Sunday morning with a long but relaxed pace Row to Windermere! A 20km day trip where we take out our bigger open water rowing shells and visit David’s dock for a nice rest stop. If you’re not sure whether it’s the right fit for you - talk to us about it when you come to row, or email Kathy kathy@hatchetsrowing.com.
This Week's Focus is SAFETY on the water!
This week's focus is safety!
Before heading out onto the water - don't forget your life jacket, safety kit, and whistle! Always be aware of other boaters, buoys, and the shoreline around you and IF YOU FLIP, STAY WITH YOUR BOAT, it's visible and it floats! And remember, WEAR BRIGHT, VISIBLE CLOTHING.
Where should you row? You should be close to your left (starboard side) shore when you are rowing. If you have to pass someone you move closer to the middle, and then back close to the left (starboard) shore. Of course watch for docks and buoys, but as a general rule - WHENEVER POSSIBLE ROW WHERE A MOTORBOAT WOULDN’T DRIVE AND ASSUME BOATS DON’T SEE YOU. If you’re not sure if a boat sees you, move over closer to shore and do whatever you can to get their attention. You will notice a boat change course quickly as soon as they spot you.
Summer Rowing programs!
Wondering when our programs are this year?
Check out our schedule here! We row every weekday morning from 6 am to noon, and weekend mornings from 7:30am to noon. Contact us before you come so that we make sure it is the best fit and that we have your boat ready for you!
Competitive Rowing: Every week day at 6 am and 7:30 am. Weekends at 7:30 am.
Fitness Rowing: Every weekday at 6 am and 7:30am. Weekends at 7:30am.
Junior Scullers: Every day at 10:30am.
ALL REGISTRATION IS BY EMAIL OR PHONE! Just reach out to Kathy by phone/text at 705-765-1939 or by email at kathy@hatchetsrowing.com.
Once again we have lots of opportunities for you to get on the water, rowing, and we can’t wait to see everyone again!
2025 PICTURES!
As usual, we are posting pictures that we get a chance to take when we remember! Check them out - as well as pictures from past years!
PHOTO GALLERY
Not sure if you can tell from the photo - but our resident loons that nest on the marshy island between SWS Marine and Foodland every year have returned and this year they have two baby loons:). It has been fun watching them pop on and off the backs of their parents and practice diving!