March 22, 2025 - Teamwork Is Everything

One of the many murals painted by the clubs, teams and classes that race through the Montlake Cut highlights the importance of working together through the technical steps of rowing - feathering, catch, drive, rhythm - that allows these 9 individuals to drive a 60 foot long, 3 foot wide, 220 lb shell (2200 lbs with rowers and coxwain) 13-15 mph for a mile and a quarter.

Today was the 124th Class Day Regatta for the University of Washington rowers.  At stake was pride and pins as the teams prepare themselves for the season.

March 8, 2025 - A Sign of Spring

At 47 degrees latitude, Seattle has one of the most extreme dark seasons in the continental US. Even after the third driest January on record, the city is ready to be done with the Big Dark.   

Fear not! Spring is near!  Tonight, we move the clocks forward.  Today there will be 11 hours and 33 minutes of daylight. Our first post 6pm sunset in several months occurred earlier this week.  The cherry blossoms are starting to show.  (The University of Washington peak cherry blossom is about two weeks ago.)  

The Husky Open, the first home rowing event of the year, is a reminder that Spring is just around the corner.  On a brisk, gray day, the UW Women's Rowing team competed against one another and a few Oregon State University and University of British Columbia boats.  After the 8s and 4s were completed, they rowed back to the Conibear Shell House, changed up lineups and raced again.  A full slate of junior and masters races for boys, girls, men and women from high schools and clubs rounded out the morning. 

       

April 22, 2023 - When a Dual is a Duel

 

It was a fantastic morning for a pair of traditional rowing powers to square off on Lake Washington's Montlake Cut.  The rowing teams of the University of Washington and the University of California, Berkeley have the oldest rowing rivalry in the Western US.  The UW-Cal Dual was first contested by the men's teams in 1903.  Washington leads the series 76-33-1. The women's teams first competed in 1977.  

'Dual' is short for 'Dual Meet'.  If you ask anyone in either program what 'Dual' is they'll let you know it is simply UW vs Cal.  

For the 111th UW-Cal Dual, the Cal Men's Varsity 8 came in ranked #1, Washington #3. The top ranked team crossed the finish line just two seats ahead of Washington.  The Washington Women's Varsity 8 (above) were ranked #6 with the Cal Women's Varsity 8 ranked #7.  They held off Cal, winning by a boat length.

In the closest race of the morning was the Women's Second Varsity, with Cal crossing the finish line just six tenths of a second ahead of the Washington boat. Initially it was ruled a 'dead heat' as the Washington boat hit two geese on the course.  At the conclusion of the regatta the coaches amicably agreed to award Cal the race by the original margin. 

November 19, 2022 - Fall Cut

 

A bright Saturday afternoon on the shores of the Montlake Cut.

March 27, 2022 - Sunday Morning on the Cut

 

A peaceful early morning read on a bench at West Montlake Park at the edge of a very still Portage Bay.

  

Nearby a boat manned by members of the Seattle University crew team, rows from their nearby boathouse thru the Montlake Cut towards Lake Washington and the starting line for this morning's races.

The Montlake Cut and Montlake Bridge at sunrise.

The Washington State University #1 Novice 8 has a commanding lead as it enters the Cut.

May 5, 2018 - Row Town USA

The University of Washington men's varsity 8 boat, nudges out the reigning collegiate champion of Britain, Oxford Brookes University, in one of the featured races of the 32nd Windermere Cup.

Each year the Windermere Cup event allows for a unique opportunity for the public to view local, national and even a few international teams competing in a sport that is rarely televised.  The event features over 1000 rowers ranging from ages from 14 to 70 competing in 23 races.

The 2000 meter course begins in Lake Washington and runs west under the Montlake Bridge.  Moored boats line both sides of the course in Lake Washington and thousands of fans on either side of the shore at the 'Cut' cheer the rowers on.  It is a scene unique in the sport of rowing.  One UW coach goes so far as to call Seattle "Row Town USA".

In the final event of the 2018 Windermer Cup, the Dutch National Team, beat the #2 ranked University of Washington's women by 1.225 seconds. 

November 22, 2014 - Still Sunset

An early sunset on a mild November Saturday afternoon brought streaks of pink and orange to the mostly still waters at the marina at the Seattle Yacht Club.  Still several hours from kick-off, the majority of 'sailgaters' haven't yet begun their trek under the Montlake Bridge to nearby Husky Stadium. 

April 5, 2014 - Race Day!

A pair of UW boats lead the Varsity Four race of the Husky Open, passing under the Montlake Bridge ahead of Seattle University and a pair of Western Washington University boats.  

The Husky Open this year featured over two dozen races and rowing teams from several universities - Brown, Washington, Drexel, Oregon State, Western Washington and Seatte University - as well as local club teams.  It is one of the last events the Huskies will host this season.  The crew season is capped off by the Windermere Cup, held on the opening day of boating, the first Saturday of May.  This year the Huskies will host the national team of Great Britain on May 3rd.  Each year thousands of fans line the Montlake Cut's 2000 meter course.  The mile and a quarter length can be covered by an 8 man boat in 5 1/2 minutes!

The UW Varsity 4 A team with an open water lead as they approach the finish line.

The starting point of the race is over 1500 meters east of the Montlake Bridge near where the second point of land on the right side of the frame. 

The Washington Women's Open 8 boat cruises to an open water victory over Western Washington. 

The last stroke of the race for the number 2 seat in the Women's Open 8 team...

...and then catch your breath!

The Husky Novice 8 team nears the finish line with less than a boat's length lead on Seattle University. 

The Western Washington Varsity 8 prepares to enter the cut with a boat length lead.  They would hang on to win.

A local club team rows back under the Montlake Bridge after their race.