Cal Maritime Crew

Long Beach Christmas Regatta – December 4, 2005

Cal Maritime finished its fall racing season with a change of pace, competing at the Bill Lockyer Christmas Regatta in Long Beach, California.  Unlike the longer head races with distances of 4,000 meters or more, the Christmas Regatta is an 850-meter sprint to the finish, whetting the appetites of rowers eager to get a head start on the spring sprint season. 

The Keelhaulers put together a strong showing in their races, placing in three of the eight races in which they competed.  In the men’s lightweight four, the boat of Emily Ramos (coxswain), Matt Mossinger, Ken Christie, Joe Swindel, and Tom Norton finished second to San Diego State University in a time of three minutes and ten seconds.  The men’s novice four of Domonique Pongun (coxswain), Jack Rouse, Mike Hess, Tyler Burns, and Grant Hager finished third in 3:19 behind Long Beach State and University of San Diego.  And in the men’s open double, Tommy Stillwachs and Matt Mossinger finished third in a time of 3:10.  In addition, Cal Maritime competed in five other races, including the men’s novice eight, the women’s novice four, the men’s open four, the women’s open four, and the men’s open eight.  And while they did not place in those races, the Keelhaulers put together strong efforts in each.

The crew team finished a strong season, competing up and down the state, as well as the East Coast, against crew teams from all over the country, as well as a few international teams.  In most cases, collegiate teams were from schools several times larger than Cal Maritime, but the Keelhaulers took up the challenge and competed with those programs. 

After a break, the crew team will be back in action in the spring, competing in 2,000 meter sprints.