Unexpected winds causes major damage to pair of quads at Nelson Sprints Regatta
By Nelson Daily Staff
An unexpected wind extensively damaged a pair of Vernon Rowing Club quad rowing boats during Saturday’s Nelson Sprints Regatta on Kootenay Lake.
The strong winds whipped up Saturday afternoon on Kootenay Lake as the men’s quad race was ready to begin near the starting point near the Prestige Inn Lakeside Resort war.
The boats were being used by members of the Kelowna Rowing Club.
The winds, coming from the north, whipped up whitecaps that flooded two of the damaged quads in the race, snapping the boats in half.
To make matters worse at the time of the race a person with the Nelson Rowing Club told The Nelson Daily radios quit, taking out communications from the finish line to start officials.
One rowers said at finish line, while holding two cups of coffee to get warm, said he was in the water for approximately 25 minutes before being rescued.
Rowers were seen carrying oars along the Lakeside Soccer Fields from the start to the race headquarters next to the Lakeside Park Tennis Courts.
Head coach of the Kelowna Rowing Club, Dan Thompson, told CBC Daybreak South he had his team purposely capsized the quad to avoid damaging the boat.
The Nelson Sprints Regatta is held annually by the Nelson Rowing Club.
Rowers from the Okanagan and the Couer d’ Alene Rowing Club join competitors from the host club in races on Kootenay Lake.
A member of the Nelson Rowing Club told The Nelson Daily the Sprints event was canceled one year due to choppy water on Kootenay Lake.
