Every parking spot at Beekman Beach was filled, so spectators parked and walked from lots at Roosevelt Park to attend last week's Long Island Frostbite Regatta.

The regatta featured competition for scholastic rowers competing in both sweep and sculling events. In sweep events, rowers each have one oar while a coxswain steers the boat and motivates the rowers. In sculling events, rowers each have two oars, and since there is no coxswain the boat is steered by the rower closest to the bow. Both men's and women's crews raced in eights and fours (sweep events), and quadruple, double, and single sculls (sculling events). Over 350 athletes from eight different schools participated in the regatta.

The four-kilometer race followed a buoyed course northward from Beekman Beach through the middle of the bay, arching toward the west shore. About 500 meters south of the Bayville Bridge, the course made an abrupt turn and the rowers followed the west shore back to Beekman Beach.

The buoy system that outlined the course was new this year and made possible by donations from ABI Research, Evolution Fitness, Ryan Beck Financial Services, and the Williams family. Sagamore Rowing Association, the host of the regatta, appreciates their support.

The girl's eight was one of the most exciting races to watch. The Crew Club of Oyster Bay eight caught up to the eight racing for Our Lady of Mercy Academy at approximately the half-way point. Nearly colliding at times, the two teams battled for first place over the final two kilometers. The Crew Club of Oyster Bay prevailed in the last 500 meters, kicking hard to beat Mercy's final surge of power.

The Crew Club of Oyster Bay, a composite crew of students who attend many high schools in our area, had a banner day at the regatta. In short, the Crew Club of Oyster Bay won gold medals in all but one of the events they entered. One race in particular, the boy's novice eight, proved that dedication and determination are two key ingredients to success. Rowing hard throughout the four kilometer race, the boy's novice eight from the Crew Club of Oyster Bay fended off their opponents and won with a 15 second lead.

The warm weather and clear skies, unusual for so late in the season, combined to make the Frostbite Regatta a pleasurable experience to participate in and to watch.