The weather on April 22, 2006 didn’t make for the best conditions for being outside all day, but it didn’t stop the Anacostia Community Boathouse Association’s inaugural collegiate regatta – the AU Anacostia Knockout, sponsored by American University Crew – from being a success.

Nearly 100 athletes from American University, Catholic University and North Carolina State University convened at the Anacostia Community Boathouse – located at 1115 O Street, SE – to compete in the first scheduled collegiate regatta on the Anacostia River.

The regatta was designed to follow a two-lane, 2000-meter course in the exciting “knockout” racing format of Britain’s Henley Royal Regatta. The “knockout” style of racing pairs boats in each event into brackets – the winner of each two-boat race advances to the next round, while the defeated crew moves to a consolation bracket. To accommodate an odd number of entries in each event this year, racing format was modified to include preliminary heats at a 1500-meter distance, followed by two-boat finals at 2000 meters.

The day began with “the Draw”—a random selection of match-ups and lane assignments for each of the ten events, followed by a coaches’ and coxswains’ safety meeting. The morning’s main event, however, was the dedication of the Anacostia Community Boathouse 2000-meter course, named “the Eagle”. The course was measured and plotted in 2000 by geometry students from Ballou Senior High School – then designed, constructed and tested by American University Crew and the Anacostia Community Boathouse Association (ACBA).  The 2000-meter Eagle Course joins ACBA’s existing 1500-meter Scholastic Rowing Course, 1000-meter Masters Rowing Course, and 250- and 500-meter Dragon Boat Courses – making the Anacostia Community Boathouse the Washington area’s premier racing venue for rowing and paddling.

While racing was interrupted briefly by a rain delay after the first three events, the regatta resumed with a mild tailwind – perfect for a fast day of racing.

At the end of the day, American crews showed a distinct home-field advantage, crossing the line first in eight of ten events. NC State made strong first-place finishes in the Novice Mens’ 4 and Lightweight Womens’ 4 events.

“The history and style of this race are important to the ACBA mission, and we look forward to the growth of collegiate rowing on the Anacostia,” said Scott Sandusky, AU’s head coach and regatta organizer.

Inaugural AU Anacostia Knockout Regatta – Results

Men's Racing

Varsity 4:

American
7:30.9

Catholic
7:42.5

Varsity Ltwt 4:

American
7:26.0

NC State
7:40.6

Varsity 8:

American
6:21.6

NC State
6:43.9

Novice 8:

American
7:52.4

NC State
8:00.0

Novice 4:

NC State
7:47.0

Catholic
7:32.3

Women's Racing

Varsity 4:

American
9:00.2

Catholic
9:10.0

Varsity 8:

American
7:15.4

NC State
7:20.2

Ltwt/JV 4:

NC State (ltwt)
8:34.2

Catholic (JV)
8:56.5

Novice 4:

American (A)
6:53.8

American (B)
7:02.4

NC State
7:20.2

Catholic
7:41.5

Novice 8:

American
8:51.9

NC State
9:26.1

The presence of spirited recreational users on the Anacostia River isn’t the result of a recent focus on development along the waterfront; grassroots efforts have been working to build a community of river users for decades. In the 1980s, a group of local citizens, calling themselves the Organization for Anacostia Rowing and Sculling, or “OARS,” began sponsoring a variety of programs to introduce the sport of rowing to local children and adults. The group also began seeking cooperation from the city to allow outdoor storage of boats at the current ACBA site.

Capital Rowing Club brought increased presence and momentum when it moved to the Anacostia from its former home on the Potomac in the early 1990s, storing its equipment under the 11th Street Bridge – even as its fleet and membership swelled – for nearly a decade. When the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) offered access to a warehouse at the site in 2002, the boats were moved inside and additional clubs and schools were able to join the effort.

Last year, DDOT leased a second building to the Anacostia Community Boathouse Association and granted the association $300,000 in Transportation Enhancement Funding. This funding allows ACBA to execute a plan to enhance its ability to serve as a community center and destination for pedestrian and bicycle users of the Anacostia Riverwalk and Trail; to provide meeting areas for use by DDOT and community groups; and to expand facilities to the hundreds of rowing and paddlesport enthusiasts who use the river on a regular basis.

On any given day, the Anacostia Community Boathouse is alive with activity. Every weekday morning – before dawn – collegiate and adult rowers meet for practice. Afternoons see scores of paddlers, high school and adult rowers honing their skills and enjoying the view.

In the months of April and May alone, ACBA programs will bring thousands of users and spectators to the Anacostia River. The National Capital Area Women’s Paddling Association is training more than 700 novices in preparation of the Annual Dragonboat Festival on the Potomac, while Capital Rowing Club is training its first class of novices.

On May 6, the Anacostia Community Boathouse will be the site of a National Capital Area Scholastic Rowing Association (NCASRA) regatta, which organizers expect will attract some 800 high school athletes from throughout the region to compete on ACBA’s 1500-meter racecourse. No doubt, the high school students will be bringing parents and siblings, as well.

Elsewhere along the river, the Anacostia Watershed Society, also an ACBA member, will host a clean-up on Watts Branch. AWS’s Earth Day Clean-up – held at a locations all along the Anacostia – attracted more than 1000 volunteers who removed several tons of garbage from the watershed.

On May 12, ACBA member organizations will participate in the Anacostia River Environmental Fair, which brings some 500 school children to the river each year to learn about the environment and recreation.

Without a doubt, the Anacostia Community Boathouse is a living landmark, a community treasure – and a dynamic, and integral part of the Anacostia waterfront landscape. We look forward to seeing you on the water.

For more information about rowing and paddling on the Anacostia River, visit www.anacostiaboathouse.org