My LRM Regatta shell arrived on the 4th of July. I may christen it “The Spirit of 76”! I made my way over to the scenic Wyoming Big Horn Canyon National Monument (Yellowtail Dam) on Wed to launch the shell on its maiden voyage and enjoy a couple of days on the water.
Great boat! I spent a bit of time adjusting the foot stretcher and rigger to my preferred dimensions and was off.
I love the way it rows. It is a reasonably stable hull which will handle fairly choppy open water conditions - an important safety consideration for a solo rower - but on flat water it has a narrow hull footprint (for an open water shell) and is surprisingly speedy. On flat water, I was nearly as fast in this boat as a “pure” racing scull. Not that a 71 year old rower’s speed or stamina is going to raise any eye brows!
The 29 lb hull weight and quick attach aluminum rigger made it a breeze to unload from my truck racks by myself, rig and beach launch .Three screw knobs in the rigger and you’re in business. I was unloaded, rigged and on the water in less than 10 minutes.
BTW: Purist rowers will scoff at a padded scull seat - they claim “connection” between the rower and the shell suffers. But I assure you that this rower’s boney 71 year old ass thanks Little River Marine for this addition!