On an uncharacteristically calm day in North Andover, the Middlesex boys had a strong showing against Brooks and Nobles on Lake Cochichewick.

The day started with the 1^st boats.  With flat water and a slight headwind, all three crews got off to a dead even start off the line.  For the first 700 meters there appeared to be no movement – the coxswains kept the crews' blades only feet apart as the rowers battled stroke for stroke down the course.  At the half way point, Nobles started to move out on the other two boats and Brooks took a move to take 2 seat lead on Middlesex.  While Nobles continued to move out, Middlesex responded to Brooks, and with 500m left, the two boats were again even.  With about 300 meters left Brooks started their sprint, which took a seat on Middlesex, and then went Middlesex picked up the pace, they started to move back up, unfortunately a touch too late, as Brooks came across the line ½ a second ahead of Middlesex.  Nobles finished 4 seconds ahead of Brooks.  
 
The 2^nd boat race was no less exciting, with all three crews hot off the line.  Within 300 meters though Middlesex had taken a boat length on Nobles and more on Brooks.  Throughout the remainder of the first half of the race, Middlesex opened up some water between their stern deck and Nobles' bowball.  As the crews came through the 1,000, Middlesex shifted up, but so did Nobles, and Middlesex started to lose some of their lead.  As it came into the sprint, Middlesex still had ½ a boat length, but had to fight a determined Nobles boat back as they raced through the last 250.  Middlesex held them off, coming across the line ½ a second ahead of Nobles and 5 seconds ahead of Brooks. 
 
In the 3^rd boat race, Brooks flew off the line and never looked back – rowing low and long for the duration of the race.  Middlesex and Nobles on the other hand were left to fight it out in the rear.  Although Nobles took the lead over Middlesex for the first half of the race, Middlesex picked up the rating and started moving through them in the last 500 meters, resulting in a second place finish – 10 seconds behind Brooks, but 1.5 seconds ahead of Nobles. 
 
The Brooks 4^th boat also got ahead of the pack early, and although Middlesex and Nobles had overlap for the first 400 meters, Middlesex started to fall back as Nobles remained steady and led by open water at the 750.  By the finish Brooks had taken an impressive lead, with a 18 second lead over Nobles, and a 30 second lead over Middlesex. 
 
The Middlesex 5^th boat was out for its second race of the season, under slightly better weather conditions than the previous Wednesday on the Charles.  Off the line the eager Middlesex novices nearly hit 50spm, and only came below a 40 when the stroke seat caught an over-the-head crab at the 250m mark.  Brooks was kind enough to restart the race back at the line, where the boys for a second time went off the line high – somewhere in the 45spm range, but with some trouble keeping the timing connected between 3 and 4 seats.  After 300 meters, the boys found a more sustainable rate in the mid thirties, and held steady down the rest of the race course to finish second. 
 
A great day all around, with some remarkable shows of determination by all crews.Thanks to Brooks for hosting.