THE SUNSET OF CONIBEAR Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges 1963 Eastern Sprints, Heat 1 Lake Quinsigamond 1 Cornell 6:52.5, 2 RC Ratzeburger 6:54.5, 3 Wisconsin 6:54.7 Princeton University. Unlike their Karlisch shell at home, the Pocock riggers could not be adjusted for spread. The Final According to the following year’s EARC Program, in the afternoon final “Ratzeburg started off at 41, jumped to a lead of half a length over Wisconsin and the Ithaca boat, in that order, and never let up. They went up, in fact, in their beat to 43 and never went below 41 for the distance. “At the 1,000 meter post, the Germans led by only a few feet, but right after that Cornell and the Badgers reversed places. The Stork Sanford-coached shell put on a sprint that passed Wisconsin, and, putting on the power for which they have been noted, began to creep up on the overseas visitors, too. “Ratzeburg was more than equal to the challenge, the Germans answering the threat with a breath-taking sprint.”4532 4532 1964 EARC Program, p. 45 John Nunn, member of the Cornell crew: “They were in Lane 7, and it was a ripping crosswind coming from their side, so for them it was like a mill pond while we were out in the middle.”4533 EARC Program: “At 600 meters from the finish line, Ratzeburg was almost a full length above Cornell, and despite gallant rowing, Cornell was unable to cut the advantage. In the excitement, Yale and Princeton passed Wisconsin, Brown finished sixth and Syracuse seventh.”4534 The Impact of Ratzeburg on American Rowing Sports Illustrated: “‘The success of the Germans – in borrowed boats, on strange waters and against some of the best competition we can furnish,’ said the coach of one of the crews Ratzeburg beat, ‘makes you wonder what is wrong with American rowing.’ 4533 Nunn, personal conversation, 2008 4534 1964 EARC Program, p. 45 1253
