ITHACA, N.Y. - With top crews traveling to N.J. this weekend for Knecht Cup, the development crews of the Ithaca College men's and women's rowing stayed home to face Nazareth in a morning of friendly duels on the Cayuga Inlet.
 
After two weekends of rough winds, racing was shifted 500m south of the usual racecourse to provide a more protected 2K. The weather was cold and drizzly throughout the morning, but this weekend's predicted gusts never materialized.
 
The novice women opened the regatta with a decisive victory over Nazareth, posting a 7:40.8 to their 8:15.1. 
 
Next up was an exhibition race, where Ithaca's varsity men's 4+ gradually inched ahead of their teammates in the women's 2V 8+. The men covered the course in 7:09.2 to the women's 7:22.4.
 
The closest race of the day came in the women's V4+. By the 1K mark, Ithaca had a boat of open water over Nazareth. The Golden Flyers wouldn't let go and took advantage of the bend in the course to mount an early sprint where they narrowed the gap in the final 500. In the end Ithaca prevailed in 8:24.0 to Nazareth's 8:29.8
 
All crews reported clean execution of their race plans and ability to incorporate their technical work from the prior week of practice. The Bombers top crews will compete in the Knecht Cup on Sunday as all of Saturday's races were postponed due to unsafe water conditions at the launch area.