THE WINDS OF CHANGE William R. Becklean 1956 Olympic Eights Trials Onondaga Lake, Syracuse There was a quartering headwind off the lake towards the camera. To the right of the barge, one can clearly see the waves beyond and the smooth water inside the log boom. There was a visible degradation of water conditions as one moved from Lanes 1 (Cornell) to Lane 2 (Yale) to Lane 3 (Navy), but this would have been true only for the last 300 meters. Prior to that, there was no log boom. For the first 1,700 meters, all crews would have been subject to the full force of waves rolling in from the lake, even if the wind moderated a bit for Lanes 5 and 6 closer to shore. Furthest out on the lake, the difference between Lanes 1 and 2 must have been negligible. and we were in control for the last 1,000 meters!”2596 Yale: “We took the lead at the midway point, rowing through the Navy Admirals and Washington, and then held it through the finish without even having to sprint!”2597 Yale: “Our plan was to row 32 for the first 1,200 meters. Cornell and Navy made spurts to try and take the lead. The University of Washington actually held the lead at this point, but our plan was to beat Cornell and then deal with the rest. “With 800 meters to go, Beck knocked on the side of the boat, and with a power-10 Bob Morey took us to 34, and we started to pull away from Cornell and the rest of the pack. We now had a couple of men on Cornell, who immediately went to 34 to match us, but they were still losing ground and had to raise it to 36 to try and bring us back. “We soon had half a length on Cornell, and they were rowing 2 over us. At 400-500 meters to go, we moved it up to 36 and 2596 Charlton, op. cit. 2597 Cooke, op. cit. 2598 Wailes, p. 5 2599 Gravink, op. cit. 2600 Esselstyn, personal correspondence, 2005 2601 Ibid. started to pull away again. At this point I knew that was all she wrote.”2598 Cornell: “The Olympic Trials were no walk in the park for Yale. They had to row their best race to beat us.”2599 Yale: “I think the Trials was the best technical race we ever rowed, at least after the first fifteen strokes. I’ve never had a boat feel so solid. Everybody was so exhilarated!2600 Essy: “That was my last race against these fine opponents. Today, the shirt I really treasure is that of Henry Proctor, the 6-man from the Navy Great Eight. I won it at the Trials, but the other was that of Clayt Chapman on the Cornell crew. I treasure them both.”2601 Cornell Stroke Phil Gravink wistfully (and graciously) recalls: “While I agree that Yale’s inside smooth water and our outside chop played a role, I have always felt that our loss was as much mental. 717
