By JANET WILLIAMS

For The Beachcomber

On Nov. 7, the Vashon Island Junior Rowing Club traveled to Greenlake in Seattle to race in the 2009 Frostbite Regatta, a 1,000-meter sprint race from the north end of the lake to the south end.

In Vashon’s first race, Avalon Koenig, Meaghan Connors, Laney Williams, Marja Haflinger and coxswain Olivia Sayvetz took first place in their heat. Rowing in extremely difficult weather, the girls beat out Greenlake Crew, Bainbridge Island Rowing, Stanford Rowing Center and Deep Cove Rowing.

The next race for Vashon was the junior men’s quad. A quad is a boat with four people, and each rower has two oars. In the boat were Nolan Shinn, Wes Paulsen, Ky Burton, Alec Spencer and coxswain Sarah Warner.

Vashon competed against Brent-wood College School, Northern California Crew, Greenlake Crew and Bainbridge Island Rowing. Vashon pulled hard, and in a very close finish, took third place. The weather continued to deteriorate, so for safety reasons the remaining regatta races were canceled.

Vashon Island Junior Crew is a cooperative program between Vashon Park District and Vashon Island Rowing Club. The spring season will start Jan. 11. Check with the park district for registration information at 463-9602.

— Janet Williams is a crew mom.