The University of Washington Friday announced the lineup for the 27th Windermere Cup, the annual spring rowing event on the Montlake Cut May 4. The Huskies crews will be joined by Ivy League members Dartmouth and Cornell.
The Cup is held in conjunction with the Seattle Yacht Club and coincides with the opening of boating season. Washington seeks a four-race sweep for the third consecutive year. The Cup traditionally features appearances by one domestic crew and one international crew, but this year sponsors determined that the inclusion of Dartmouth and Cornell would constitute the best possible field.
“We want to encourage the very best teams to come race in the Pacific Northwest and Windermere’s sponsorship has allowed us to do that,” said men’s head coach Michael Callahan. “We’re really excited to have two storied programs coming to race us.”
“Over the years, it’s always been the goal of the Windermere Company and the University of Washington to get the best level of competition here,” said rowing director and women’s coach Bob Ernst. “It’s been our quest the last few years to get good Ivy League competition to come out, so to have two of their best come on the same year is really going to make this event special.”
Another wrinkle to the 2013 format is that the UW women will also race against Dartmouth and Cornell. Traditionally, the UW women race against different schools or clubs than the men.
“Both the men’s and women’s programs at Dartmouth and Cornell have been competitive on the national level,” said Ernst. “It’s first-rate competition, so it’s a big honor to have them come.”
The races began with the world champion Soviet Union crews in 1987 as part of the community’s effort to highlight the unique racing venue of the Montlake Cut.
