'Perfect water' for Diamond State regatta

It had been a few years since Wilmington Rowing Center's men quad team took first place at the Diamond State Masters Regatta.

But on Sunday, the four-man sculling boat were champs in the 1,000-meter race finishing in 3 minutes, 30 seconds.

"It's great, exhilarating," said Doug Green who was the two-man in the quad. "It's wonderful to be back."

Green was one of the more than 440 athletes who competed in the 24th Howard M. Smith Diamond State Masters Regatta this weekend on Noxontown Pond at St. Andrew's School near Middletown.

The two-day event, the brainchild of Wilmington Rowing Center board members John R. Schoonover and the late Howard Smith has become one of the nation's top competitions for adult rowers, drawing competitors from throughout the country.

Schoonover credits the regatta's organization and volunteers for helping make the event a spectacular one every year. But there's still something else, he said.

"I heard one of the rowers say this afternoon 'I come back here because everybody smiles,' " he said. "This is one of the best rowing venues in America. There's perfect water and people just love it."

Noxontown Pond was a picturesque body of water Sunday, surrounded by a coast of green lush trees and baby blue sky. The temperatures were just fine to be under the tree's multiple shades.

"We'll be back for the 25th next year," Schoonover said.

Fearing "pop-up thunderstorms" were on the way, organizers moved some of Sunday's race times up, even eliminating the lunch hour. The rain didn't develop, but there was still a good time had by many of the participants.

Gwen Linus of New Hope, Pennsylvania, who was with two teams – Carnegie Lake Women's Team and Swan Creek Men's Team – said this was her third time at this regatta.

"I love it," she said. "It's fun. It's a little bit crazy. I'm a coxswain, so when you are trying to row up to the river, it's very, very tight so it's difficult to maneuver all the turns. It's pretty challenging."

Coxswains sit facing other crew members helping to steer and coordinate their strokes during the race.

The regatta also draws plenty of spectators – from families and friends of the athletes to newcomers curious about the sport.

Kathy Martin, of Pasadena, Maryland, sat on a hill overlooking the pond, watching her daughter row for the Baltimore Rowing Club.

"Rowing is just a sport that doesn't get enough attention," Martin said. "It's a fabulous sport."

The location's seclusion also is something she enjoyed.

"You don't have to worry about the other boats coming in," she said. "The protectiveness of it makes it nice."

Contact Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299, eparra@delawareonline.com or Twitter @eparra3.