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Dockmaster’s Journal: Why be Normal?

While a normal regatta might say “best of luck, sir,” at the Springfield Rockrimmon

Regatta, volunteer Jim Broderick sheds his shoes, hands the Dockmaster his wallet

and cell phone, and wades in up to his waist to help a sculler who was having

trouble returning to the dock to adjust his oarlocks.

 

While a normal regatta might scratch a boat on the course with an equipment

problem, volunteer safety launch pilot Tom Carmody comes alongside a sculler

approaching the racecourse with an equipment problem and performs an on-the-

water repair. He communicates the situation to the Race Marshall and the following

event is launched around the rower, giving him every opportunity to race.

 

While a normal regatta might note in the literature or at the Cox and Coaches

meeting, “there are hazards, stick to the middle of the course,” volunteers Jonathan

and Benjamin Moss spend hours laying a dozen buoys the night before the race,

marking hazards.

 

While a normal regatta might make do with coaching launches to monitor and

provide safety, a volunteer flotilla from the Police Police Department and

neighboring clubs, Pioneer Valley Yacht Club and the Springfield Yacht and Canoe

Club, are a part of our family on regataa day.

 

While a normal regatta might direct visitors away from its boathouse to port-o- lets,

a volunteer who shall remain nameless takes it upon herself to clean the Men’s and

Women’s bathrooms at 6 o’clock in the morning on race day. Because everyone

cleans the bathroom before company comes.

 

While a normal regatta’s Race Marshall might show up on race day to fulfill his or

her duties, Arne Arneson spends the week before the race screwing plywood to

pallets at the river’s edge to ensure his Timing Team has a workable platform.

 

While a normal regatta might clear a path to the dock for scullers to handle their

own equipment, at the Rockrimmon, swarms of youth and Masters rowers

volunteers assist any rower looking for help with boat, oars, shoes, bow numbers,

and more. In the staging area. At the dock. Without having to be asked. And with a

smile.

 

While a normal regatta’s grounds preparation might include sweeping off a dock

and cutting some grass, Bob Englehardt runs his own chainsaw to clear an area for

our Timing Platform while Cheri Haimowitz sweeps Springfield sidewalks of broken

glass and other dangerous items; Hunter Mnich and Ryan Carmody go through a

tank of gas and two batteries running weed whackers, and Tom Carmody does the

work of many men to blow debris from the staging area. And the docks get swept by

youth volunteers.

 

While a normal regatta might say, “oh well” to a girls’ four boat short a cox, Marissa

Chamberland of Springfield Crew hops into the Pioneer Rowing Club’s boat. This is

her first race as a cox. And she is racing against her own team.

 

While a normal regatta might mean all rowers get to row their own equipment,

Laura Cristoph lends her single to one Masters and one youth rower, and races a

different boat.

 

While a normal regatta might be stalled by a few non-working walkie-talkies,

Sharon Carmody and the rest of the Timing Team add to their very full plate the task

of linking cell phone calls to the functioning walkie-talkie network. And running

messages to and from the dock. While timing an event which in one case is decided

by two-tenths of a second.

 

While a normal regatta might make no accommodations for food and beverages,

volunteer Regatta Coordinator Julie Quick arranges for two local businesses to

provide reasonably-priced healthy food for sale on site. Then she sends lunch to the

four officers on the police boat. Delivered by a volunteer coach.

 

While a normal regatta might not involve local businesses in the event, the food

donations from Big Y, a local supermarket chain, are so overwhelmingly generous

that volunteers Ruth and Kent Griffiths have to make two trips in their SUV to pick

up and deliver the cases and cases and cases of fruit, water, steaks, and apple pies

donated to the Regatta.

 

While a normal regatta might be a common occurrence, not worthy of any special

attention, the Mayor of Springfield, Dominic Sarno, visits the Rockrimmon – on the

same day Springfield gets international news coverage for a different event: the

Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement ceremonies.

 

Those not mentioned here have done the most valued task imaginable: show up

early, perform a vital task conscientiously, receive a thank you, a handshake and

maybe a hug in payment, then go about their day. The sea of volunteer help our

regatta receives is deep. These notes represent the top few inches of water, from

just one person’s perspective. Volunteers of and affiliated with the Pioneer Valley

Riverfront Club, you are unsung heroes. Of our event. Of our city. Of our world. It is a

pleasure, and a privilege to toil by your side.

 

Hurry back.

- Dockmaster, 2015 Springfield Rockrimmon Regatta