Shell Games Rivalry to begin at 8:00 am on Saturday
Marina del Rey, CA: On Saturday morning the Trojan Navy will race bow to bow against cross-town rivals UCLA in a series of boat races from Ballona Creek to Marina del Rey.

The Trojans won the Varsity Eight event at Shell Games in 2002 and 2004. UCLA forfeited the races in 2003.

RACE TIMES:
Varsity Eight: 8:00am
First Freshman Eight: 8:15am
2nd Freshman Eight: 8:30am

The 3 1/4 mile race is one of college rowing’s most unique in the United States. The crews will be aligned at the east end of Ballona Creek and race west toward the ocean. The racecourse is dead straight for the first 2,800 meters until the crews must navigate a 180-degree turn around the breakwater from the creek into the Marina. The course is then straight for another 1700 meters until an almost 90 degree left turn sends the crews into the final straight to the finish line buoy at Jane Bove Boathouse, home of the USC Men’s Fleet.


Shell Games Course

“This is a race to be won or lost by the coxswains,” said Trojan freshman coxswain Amy Rutherford. “Racing around the horn is the most difficult part of the race and the outcome of the race could be determined just by a crew’s ability to navigate the sharp turn.”

After opening its Fall season with wins at the San Diego Row for the Cure, the 2005 National Collegiate Club Championships and a respectable second place result at the Newport Autumn Rowing Festival, USC is highly favored to win the varsity eight event on Saturday morning. The varsity crew will race in their state-of-the-art Resolute Racing shell called AshleySierra, purchased for the team by crew alumnus Andrew Westhem ’55, named in honor of his two granddaughters.

The Freshman Eight events should also favor USC, based on higher orders of finish at the Newport Autumn Rowing Festival. But the Trojans are not taking the Bruins lightly, according to freshman team captain Luke Monroe. “This is going to be a tough race for us. We have never raced head to head against another crew and UCLA’s frosh squad is twice our size in number. We expect a tough battle.”

The Freshman squad will be racing in the shell Spirit of 1954, named in honor the oarsmen who represented USC in that year.

“The Spirit of ‘54 was also purchased for the team by Andrew Westhem,” says Board chairman Jack Schumacher ’54. “Andrew bought this shell in 2002 to honor his crewmates who were part of a string of 23 consecutive victories over UCLA that spanned eight years. As a member of the Crew that year I am proud of his choice of name and appreciative of his support of the Trojan Navy.”

Alumni, parents and friends of the Trojan Navy are invited down to watch the races. Parking is available in Fisherman’s Village and spectators are recommended to walk to UCLA boathouse at the end of Fiji Way where they can watch the racing action in both the creek and the Marina.

Directions: 405 Fwy North or South to 90 Fwy, the Marina del Rey Fwy. Take 90 WEST to Mindinao. Left onto Mindinao to Admiralty. Left to Fiji. Right on Fiji. Fiji runs into the marina, bends along Fisherman’s Village, then circles back onto itself.

As Fiji Way just begins to bend left, look for the first driveway/entrance to Fisherman’s Village. Turn right into this entrance. After going through the parking gate, turn to the right and look for parking. Jane Bove Boathouse is just down off the promenade walkway towards your right. UCLA Boathouse is at the end of Fiji Way to the left.