Last Chance to Register for GMH is TODAY!

Subject: 2011 Green Mountain Head Regatta

Attention - Last chance!!! Deadline is September 1.
Register for the 2011 Green Mountain Head Regatta.  
You will never have as much fun as this.
Thrills and spills.  90kfs!!!!!   
Vernon Dam is only 17 miles away!!!

Go to www.rowgmh.com and register!  
Do it now!  You'll be glad you did.

Structural Damage - Please report to Windham Regional Commission

Hello Everybody

This request is time urgent:  The Windham Regional Commission is working with FEMA and the state of Vermont to identify houses that have been washed away, undermined or otherwise suffered sgnificant structural damage from Irene. This information could help to qualify the state for Federal Disaster Designation. If you have observed or have other personal definitive information on houses in this category pelase respond to me now. Road name and house number and town is adequate for us to locate it.  A brief description is helpful -- like: "gone" or "foundation half gone".

Thanks for your help

Kendall Gifford
Windham Regional Commission 
Phone: 802 257-4547 ext 113 

Connecticut River headed to Connecticut!

The river peaked around noon today.

The roof corner of the big boathouse was under water. The two boathouses and the dock and ramp are still with us in Putney as of 5:00 p.m.

Becky, Graeme, Jim, Kendall and Patty were surveying the scene at around 3:30 p.m.

Afterwards Graeme had the idea to row down to the Dummerston Landing and see what the GMH landing would look like! All under water! You could not even drive to the Dummerston Landing. The corn was standing in water, and the river was on the road to the landing . . .

Connecticut River at 8:00 a.m. Monday August 29th

Here are some photos taken this morning! Still rising!

Still have 2 boathouse and a dock with a ramp!

Unbelievable!

Small boathouse. . .

Large boathouse . . .

Dock and ramp . . .

Jim, Kendall and Graeme assessing the situation . . .

Here is a movie of the river at 8:00 a.m. Monday August 29th!

New Connecticut River projection . . . aftermath of Hurricane Irene!

New river projection posted on the NOAA sight. Now they are predicting the Connecticut River to peak at 36.8 feet / ~130 Flow (kcfs) Monday morning between 8-10 a.m. This would mean there would be about 8 feet of water in the boathouse!

Tonight (Sunday Augsut 28th) at 10:00 p.m. the river is at 29.4 feet / ~71 Flow (kcfs), which puts water in the PRC boathouse Sunday night.

Flow Rate of Connecticut River:

25,000 cfs — starts to get dangerous for rowing the river

50,000 cfs — puts the river level at the top of the bank

60,000 cfs — it's lapping the PRC Boathouse

90,000 cfs — has about 4 feet of water in the PRC Boathouse. 

We will see on Monday morning what remains of the docks and/or boathouses, and what the river is doing! Check out the NOAA website for river predictions and conditions!

Will try to load some photos tomorrow! 

Hurricane Irene!

In an effort to keep club members informed of what has and is happening down at the docks... read on:

Yesterday, Saturday, started with numerous members out on the river including 5 of us participating in the PRC's 2nd Intermediate Clinic of 2011 coached by Peter Cortes. Thank you so much Peter for sharing your expertise and your gift of coaching. Again I came away with numerous things to work on AND an understanding of how.

The clinic finished at 10:00 AM and without missing a beat we started the process of removing boats from the boathouse to higher ground in preparation for the arrival of Irene. The club owes a very large Thank You to Basha, E Mac, Graeme, Kate, Kendall, Laura, Mike, Patty, Peter, Sally, Steve, and Wayne (please forgive me if I missed anyone involved) for their several hours of work derigging boats, carrying them to the trailer or car roof racks and then transporting them up to Graeme's shop. We carried the launch up to the parking area. The trailer was parked in between the wings of the shop and the other boats were placed inside. Many other items were also taken from the boathouse and left at Graeme's. Kendall made the final inspection of the boathouses and locked the doors. All seemed so placid at the time and we wondered if all this effort was in vain.

It was not! This morning, Sunday, around 9:30 I went down to the river to check things out. Though it had been raining all night, the river, amazingly, appeared to be a bit lower than on Saturday. You could have stood on the bank side of the dock and jumped onto the sand along the shore. The gauge at Walpole was reading 11.5 feet. I returned around 5:30 this evening to find things quite different. The ramp to the docks was nearly horizontal, a very large amount of debris was traveling down the now swiftly flowing river and the gauge at Walpole was reading 21.8 feet. That's a 10' rise.

Connecticut River level at Sunday at 8:02 pm in blue

Projected river level in green!

It ain't over yet folks. The current prediction, (no pun intended), is for the river to crest at 34-35 feet by mid afternoon on Monday. Flood Stage is 28 feet. At Flood Stage there will be water in the boathouse. You do the math. I'm wondering how the docks will fare. Graeme, have you ever seen this before, I mean with the docks in the water?

Stay tuned.  Jim

--
Secretary, Putney Rowing Club

NOAA ~ Please stay tuned . . . to the weather!

NOAA WEATHER NOAA is predicting moderate flooding for the Connecticut River at 32.5 feet/ 110 Flow (kcfs) for Sunday night into Monday morning ~ meaning water inside the PRC Boathouse!

FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT

* HURRICANE IRENE WILL BRING THE POTENTIAL FOR 5 TO 10 INCHES OF
  RAIN WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE TO THE WEST OF THE
  TRACK. WHILE THE EXACT TRACK REMAINS UNCERTAIN...IT APPEARS THAT
  INTERIOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND STANDS THE HIGHEST PROBABILITY OF
  EXPERIENCING MODERATE TO MAJOR FLOODING. HOWEVER...IF THE TRACK
  ENDS UP SHIFTING FURTHER EAST IT WOULD PUT THE BOSTON TO
  PROVIDENCE CORRIDOR IN THE SIGNIFICANT FLOOD POTENTIAL.

* THE POTENTIAL FOR MODERATE TO MAJOR URBAN AND RIVER FLOODING
  EXITS ACROSS THE REGION. THE HIGHEST PROBABILITY CURRENTLY
  EXITS ACROSS INTERIOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND.

URGENT: Tropical Storm and Flood Evacuation Plan

All PRC Members ~ An Actual EVACUATION Plan is in place:

We will be taking advantage of all the people who plan to be on the River on Saturday morning at 10 AM to de-rig and move all the big boats and as many PRC Club Singles as will fit on the trailer. Work can and will continue Saturday afternoon, and we may well decide Saturday to move all the other stuff on Sunday morning.


The club group boat-out on Saturday at 10:00 will be for PRC Club boats only.  Any members with private boats who for some reason can't take care of their own boat can let us know but there is no guarantee we will actually be able to move any other than the club boats.

Conversely, if you think this is alarmism and want your boat left in the boathouse it wouldn't hurt to send out a general e-mail to that affect.
We will also decide Saturday what other extraordinary measures may be called for based on existing and forecast conditions.

Quite a few people responded to my original all hands e-mail.  Thank you. 


It would be good to hear from people who can be on call for later Saturday and Sunday morning.



Kendall for the Boathouse Committee

Flip & Dip - after Saturday Scrambles on August 20th

a change in schedule . . .
the Flip & Dip will be after Saturday Scrambles on August 20th,
not at 3:00 p.m. as originally scheduled!

So come on down . . . just after scrambles . . . Saturday, the 20th . . . and anyone brave enough to flip and dip . . . coach or giggle from shore . . . hang around!

expert / novices / flip experienced or eternally dry 

are welcome to demonstrate and participate!

Bring a towel!

Post dip (or post drip?): 

Coffee and stories to be shared at the Putney Co-op.

"just for the fun of it" . . . the social committee 

PRC Guest Waivers & Payment

Welcome all friends of PRC members who are rowing out of PRC!
There are now waivers in the boathouse for the guests to sign.
Remember NOT to leave the $5 guest fee in the boathouse, but bring or mail it to the PRC Office in Potash, at 29 Brickyard Lane (the yellow house in between The Green Mountain Spinnery and West Hill Bike Shop.) As we just had a break-in it is very important NOT TO LEAVE ANY MONEY in the boathouse. All guests must sign a waiver before rowing with the PRC member.
Happy Rowing!

SAVE THE DATE! August 24 6 p.m. GMH Potluck!

SAVE THE DATE!
On August 24, 2011 at 6 p.m. there will be the Annual GMH Potluck dinner for ALL PRC members at Graeme King's house.
This is the annual PRC summer potluck, where we all join in signing up for GMH tasks at hand. Bring a delicious dish to share with your fellow rowers. The event will start at 6:00 p.m. Directions and more information will be forthcoming.
SAVE THE DATE now!

Putney School Rowing Season Fall Schedule

n The Putney School Fall Rowing will begin September 12, 2011

n PS will have five days of practice, at the following times. Please be aware that the students will be using the club and PS boats during these hours, and it is helpful to keep the dock clear for them during practice.

      Monday 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

      Tuesday 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

      Wednesday 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

      Thursday 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

      Friday 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

n PS will occasionally take out a small group of singles rowers/racers in the mornings, but this will be based on the students' schedules. It would be great if some club rowers were interested in rowing doubles with these students, but we know more once they know what the PS team is like.

n No practice October 15 - 23, 2011

n Off the water by November 5, 2011

n Dryland training, finish closing up boathouse, boat work, etc.  November 7 - 18, 2011

n PS will attend the following races. Kristin Dawley would be happy to trailer boats for other PRC members as well.
Sunday, September 25 - Head of the Merrimack (few singles and doubles)
Sunday, October 2 - Green Mountain Head (few singles and a double)
Sunday, October 9, New England Junior & High School Regional Championship Regatta (few singles and doubles)
Saturday/Sunday October 29, Head of the Fish (most of the PS team to race)

Big Boat Row, Sunday August 14, 2011

There will be a big boat row this Sunday, August 14, 2011 at 7:00 a.m., led by Basha. Please sign up in the big boathouse, and be at the PRC docks by 7:00 a.m. on Sunday.
There will be no BBR on Sunday, August 21, 2011, because of the Pairs race at RowBOC. 
On Sunday August 28, 2011, Beth Spicer will lead us. 


Thanks to all those who have been volunteering to lead BBRs. It's important to have an experienced person in charge and it's nice to not have the same person responsible all summer.
Education Committee

Experienced Rowers Clinic Saturday, August 27, 2011

The second intermediate clinic has been changed to Saturday, August 27, 2011. Peter Cortez will be leading the clinic and there is room for 3 to 6 people. The time will probably be from 8-10 am. There will be a sign up sheet in the big boat house next week. 


Education Committee

PRC Boathouse Break-in

Sometime between Saturday morning 8/6/11 and early Sunday morning 8/7/11, 
someone pulled a tarp off one of the pile of GMH docks, 
tipped over the Port-o-Potty, 
broke one of the slats off the side of the small boathouse, 
removed several oars, 
removed a sweep oar from the big boathouse ~ without breaking in to that boathouse, and 
moved the red kayak off its rack, which is outside, beside the big boathouse. 


The sweep oar was found by the ramp at the Putney Landing, one of Victor's oars was on the ground outside the small boathouse and one of Michael Donahue's oars is still missing. This missing oar is a Croker oar with a bright pink sleeve, and a white blade. Please keep an eye out for it along the shore or anywhere it might have been dumped.


We do not detect that any other equipment was moved or is missing, however it would be wise for every one using equipment at the boathouse to check it out and notify any PRC Board member if you discover anything else is missing or damaged.


The VT State Police have been notified of this incident and the missing oar. 


PLEASE make sure to lock the boat house when leaving to row or for the day, returning the lock to 0000. Pull on the lock to make sure that it is secure. DO NOT LEAVE MONEY or VALUABLES in the boathouse. Please make sure to lock your cars when you are out rowing. We do not want to encourage thefts of any kind at PRC.


The person/s did break into the boat house, as they were locked, but we must all be aware that the boathouses are vulnerable and we must make every effort to keep them secure. Please all be vigilant and be aware of any suspicious activity or persons in and around the docks. Please notify the police and the PRC if you find any vandalism. Be safe and take care of yourself, if there are suspicious persons at the boathouse. Phone the authorities and report any activity, then let any PRC Board member know what you have found.

BE ON THE LOOK OUT for a Missing Oar!

Please be on the lookout for Michael Donahue's Croker oar . . .
It is missing after the break in to the small PRC Boathouse, which occured the weekend of August 6-7.

The oar has a bright pink sleeve and the blade is painted white.
Only one oar was taken, but it might have been dumped in the river, or the thrown up on the back or in the corn field. Please keep your eyes peeled for any sighting of this oar.

Please notify Michael (michaeld@sover.net) and Patty (patty@stillwaterbindery.com) if you find or see anything!
Thanks

August Sunday Big Boat Rows

Sunday August 7, 2011 ~ Canceled! as we haven't found anyone to lead it. 

Sunday August 14, 2011 ~ Anyone interested in leading? Please let Sally Newton know!

Sunday August 21, 2011 ~ No Big Boat row -  to avoid conflict with the pairs race at the RowBOC


Sunday, August 28, 2011 ~ Led by Beth Spicer


Education Committee

Join us to SCRAMBLE!

SATURDAY MORNING 

Participants, spectators, volunteers to help with the timing, idle on-lookers -- all are welcome

Those who want to use a club boat should defintely arrive by 7:00 to sign up. 

SIGN IN BY 7:00

LEAVE THE DOCK FOR THE START BY 7:15

START TIME ABOUT 7:45

CALL ME AT 387-5503 IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS

kendall

Saturday Morning Scrambles!

Saturday Morning Scrambles!

Sign-in at 7:00 for launch from the PRC docks at 7:15.  

Warmup row to the start, which is usually 3 miles up the river, but sometimes we run the Green Moutain Head Course, if we have the properly experienced and equipped timers. 

Cancellations or other changges are announced by blanket e-mail.

(People may bother Kendall with e-mail (kendallg@sover.net) or more reliably a phone call 387-5503) 

Kendall will show up on rainy days, when it seems at all rowable, but timing for the record may be constrianed.