May-7-1978
A story told to Rob Wettach’79 by Pups:
From Bill Landuyt (Pupps) Captain 1978
Spring of 1976: At Dad Vail, Four-with borrows shell from Penn, with plastic versus brass oarlocks – a new technology. After practice row, boat flips at the Boathouse Row dock when crew unlocks oarlocks, unaware that plastic oarlocks bend, and the oars supporting the starboard side slip out.
Local photographer on hand, and a very wet ND crew makes Saturday’s sport page in Philly paper. Serious consideration as to whether tetnus shots is necessary given the quality of the Schuylkill River water.
Four-with makes finals but equipment failure results in last 1000 meters being rowed by only three oarsmen.
