World Masters 2026 Day 2
Lake Bled Day 2: Rain, Thunder, Gold Medals, and Night-Vision Racing!
If Day 1 at the World Rowing Masters Regatta gave us picture-perfect Slovenian views, Day 2 decided to remind us that Mother Nature is firmly in charge of the regatta timetable!
The morning opened with a torrential downpour accompanied by rolling thunder and sharp flashes of lightning across the mountains. While Monmouth rowers are no strangers to getting a bit wet on the Wye, lightning triggers strict safety protocols. The result? A racing delay of over three hours while everyone hunkered down waiting for the storm to pass.
Sheltering, Tea & Sandwiches 🥪☕
Naturally, the MRC squad responded the only way rowers know how: by cramming together into our little club tent.
The rain continued for most of the day even after racing commenced, but the atmosphere inside the tent was top-tier. Everyone pulled together, keeping morale high with endless steaming mugs of hot tea, a mountain of sandwiches, and plenty of shared laughs.
Mixed Fortunes on the Water 🚣♂️
The massive three-hour delay caused a major scheduling scramble, and unfortunately, several later races had to be cancelled entirely to save time.
The biggest disappointment of the day fell on our Men’s F4+, who were forced to sit out their race when it was cut from the programme. The boys had been primed, focused, and ready to take on the field, so having the race called off after weeks of hard preparation was a tough pill to swallow—though at least their kit stayed relatively dry!
When racing did happen, however, Monmouth delivered stellar performances across the board:
GOLD in the Men’s F2x! 🏅
The highlight of the day came courtesy of Simon L and Mark W, who powered through the heavy water in our new boat to bag another brilliant Gold medal for MRC! A magnificent row in tough conditions.
A Hard-Fought 3rd for the Father & Son Pair! 🥉
John and Tom put in an absolute warrior effort in their pair. Facing off against a fierce field in a very young C category, they battled every inch of the course to secure a fantastic 3rd place.
John and Tom are in the nearest lane to the camera Fantastic 2nd for the Women’s F4+! 🥈
Before their evening drama, the women’s crew of Kate, Shelagh, Sue, and Liz (coxed by Bonita) took to the water in the F4+ category, putting in a brilliant performance to cross the line in a superb 2nd place!
MRC crossing the line in second place 😁
Racing into the Virtual Dark 🌙
The craziest story of the day belonged to that same women's crew—this time competing as the Women’s D4+.
With the race schedule pushed back farther and farther into the evening, their race was finally called after 7:00 PM. By the time Bonita guided the boat onto the water, the light over Lake Bled had all but disappeared.
Rowing eight-lane abreast in what felt like virtual dark was an experience none of them will ever forget. Guided by grit, instinct, and Bonita’s sharp navigation from the bow, the crew battled through the twilight to finish an unforgettable day of racing!
Onwards to Day 3! ☀️
It’s challenging days like today—stuck under a soaked canvas, sharing food, cheering through the rain, and racing in the dark—that build true team camaraderie and unforgettable memories. (Though it’s fair to say most of the squad agreed that the absolute best part of the day was finally getting back for a scalding hot shower and a massive plate of delicious chicken curry!)
We are praying for clearer skies and a bit more sunshine tomorrow. Bring on Day 3! 🚣♀️✨
Comments