More tactics, spectacle in river tussle

Most of the Harvard University men's rowing eight were due to arrive in Hamilton today ready to contest The Great Race on the Waikato River under new rules.

Race director Rob Hamill said both Harvard and Waikato University, the Harry Mahon Trophy holders, would not only toss for starting lanes in next weekend's (September 8) annual event but also for finishing lanes in a bid to provide closer racing and more passing opportunities.

"In the past it has been a slight procession and we just don't want to have that happen again," Hamill said.

"We've had only one race where there's been genuine overtaking occur and that was in the second year."

Hamill said the organisers had put a lot of work into devising a way to counter the advantage that the winner of the toss for the favoured starting lane has mostly enjoyed in the past.

"From the testing we've done we think we know which lane is going to be faster at the finish," he said. "We can't say that absolutely until on the day because of the differing heights of the river and what-have-you . . ."

Whoever wins the first toss on the race morning will get to choose between having their choice of starting or finishing lanes. The loser will get first choice of whichever end the winner does not choose.

Crews will have to finish on the side of the river they have drawn and will have to be on that side from the start of the finishing straight, which will be marked by a buoy, meaning a leading crew could be forced to lose ground by crossing from one side of the river to the other.

" . . . we want to get crews thinking more about their strategies as well as create another passing lane towards the finish," Hamill said.

"We think it is going to be more of a thinking crews' race and more of a spectators' race as a result of these changes, because we believe there are going to be more passing lanes.

"The beauty is that even if you lose the toss you're still going to have to make a decision about lanes so you will have to do your homework."

Most of the Harvard party were due to arrive today and the rest tomorrow.

- © Fairfax NZ News