Word: flags
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Dates: during 1880-1889
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...time fixed for the race was 6.30 on Thursday, June 30th. The course for the two-mile races at New London is the last half of the four-mile course-that is to say, the stretch between the Navy Yard and the finish flag opposite Winthrop's Point. The weather was beautiful and the water was comparatively smooth. The Columbia men were rather smaller than the Harvard Freshmen, and it was generally supposed that the latter would win easily...
Columbia started with 38 strokes to the minute, while Harvard pulled about 36. At the half-mile Columbia had about two lengths of open water, and began to take matters rather more easily. Columbia reached the mile flag in 5m. 29s., Harvard being thirteen seconds later. The New York boys were rowing in excellent form, and seemed perfectly fresh. Harvard on the other hand, as was natural, was rowing very raggedly, and several of the crew seemed much exhausted...
...half-mile flag, Columbia, if anything, had the advantage, although from the steamboats the boats appeared to be literally neck and neck. At this point both crews were in excellent rowing form. Harvard's work seemed somewhat steadier, however, and to an observer they hardly seemed to be making as much exertion as were their blue and white antagonists...
Harvard passed the mile flag first in 4.59, Columbia being but two seconds behind. From this point Storrow let the stroke down to 33, while Columbia still stuck to 37 or 38. The boats were now approaching the dreaded eel-grass, and it was hoped that here Harvard would shake off her rivals, which she immediately proceeded to do. Columbia's work here seemed a little ragged. No. 7 was losing form and No. 3 was badly out of time. Harvard, however, seemed in excellent condition, their body-work being especially fine...
...11/2 mile flag Columbia was over three lengths behind, and the gap between the two boats was widening at every stroke. The eel-grass certainly was having an effect which urged Harvard on to greater efforts. To those who have never seen the course, it may be of interest to know that it is not eel-grass itself that causes all the trouble. The grass does not get caught in the oars and clog the course of the boat, but it deadens the water, making the tide much weaker than it is in the west side in the channel...