The theme of the annual Opening Day boat parade at University of Washington’s Montlake Cut was Myths and Monsters with vessels wrapped in giant squids, chased by Loch Ness monsters and swarming with shimmering mermaids.

Prior to all of this pageantry were the invitation-only rowing races for masters, junior and collegiate categories: the 29th Annual Windermere Cup regatta.

For the second year in a row, a strong international team — this year New Zealand’s Under-23 men’s team being groomed for the Rio Olympics — took home the cup, racing against the University of Washington’s top varsity eight and the top boat from New York’s Columbia University. This year Vashon’s crew secured three invitations to this prestigious event, and each acquitted itself well.

The junior men’s quad (Patrick Hanson, Fletcher Call, Liam McConnell, Forrest Miller and coxswain KaiLi Scheer) took home the George Corkery Jr. Cup with a wire-to-wire victory. The junior women’s quad (Kalie Heffernan, Rhea Enzian, Riley Lynch, Kirsten Girard and coxswain Ally Clevenger) took second place, as did the mixed masters eight (over 50 age category). The masters crew consisted of Bruce Morser, Colby Atwood, Bob Horsley, Ed Zapel, Holly Zapel, Su Dewalt, Kim Goforth and Marilyn Kleyn with coxswain Lisa Huggenvik.

Two recent Vashon graduates also raced on Saturday.  Junior Charlotte Kehoe rowed in the University of Washington women’s four race, taking second to another UW boat. Freshman Baxter Call stroked the Oregon State University eight in the Erickson Cup race.  The OSU JV eight was edged out over the last 500 meters by Columbia University and finished in third place.

Patrick Hanson who stroked the junior men’s quad had this to say about the day’s racing: “This regatta is the absolute best one on our calendar.  Rowing down the canyon of yachts into the cut with people cheering and screaming for the entire race is a unique experience. And then there is the ‘swag bag.’ You don’t get that at any other regatta.”

Coach Richard Parr was pleased with the club’s performance.

“We worked on some technique issues this past week, and it was great to see the crews put some of that learning into practice. Now we have two weeks to prepare for the Junior Northwest Regional Championships, and we need to find several seconds for each of our varsity boats during this period.”

— Pat Call is the father of a junior crew member.