July 2025

INTRO

🔥 Summer 2025 came in HOT — like, literally melting mode. We thought it couldn’t get any toastier, but Mother Nature said “hold my Celsius.” Temps were pushing 100, but the grind for Halifax regatta didn’t hit pause.

⛵ But wait — before we even peeped Halifax, Tuesday had us clocking in. Our crew stepped up big time: scrubbing boats like pros, getting under the riggers to clean those gunnels, swapping bolts, and fixing up parts like it was pit crew energy. No shortcuts, just full send.

👶 Then came Learn-to-Row Camp 2.0 — and it was a vibe. Laurel, Nokomis, and Sarasota kids pulled up, got their paddle board game on, tried rowing, and made some new water besties. Splash zone meets squad goals.

💪 Also, major shoutout to Jett — back in action after a rough patch. Fully healed, fully hyped, and ready to hit the water this fall. Let’s gooo.

🌊 And now, the main event: HALIFAX. Think hotel hangs, race mode activated, beach bar chillin’, pool dips, parent squad cheering, and yeah… more racing. It’s giving elite summer core.

Summer Camp 2

🌞 The second summer camp in July? Whew — it was a scorcher! We’re talking triple digits, folks. The kind of heat that makes you question your life choices and your deodorant. But the water? Oh, the water was glorious. Smooth as a Sinatra ballad, not a ripple in sight — unless you count the occasional motorboater who thinks the Intracoastal is the Daytona 500. (Easy there, Captain Speedy.)

🚣‍♂️ Starting out in a single shell is no joke. It’s a test of balance — boat balance, emotional balance, and whether that “yes I can swim” box you checked on the waiver was just wishful thinking. (Spoiler alert: everyone passed. No dog paddling required.)

🏖️ Even though half our crew was off gallivanting — probably somewhere with air conditioning — our year-round diehards showed up like champs. They teamed up with Coaches Stompo and Ray to help guide the newbies, finding just the right tone between “you got this” and “don’t fall in.”

👏 The coaching squad tips their visors to all who helped. After a week of early mornings, splashy starts, and steady progress, the team packed up Friday and headed off to conquer the Halifax Regatta (more on that below — it’s a doozy).

📸 Here are a few snapshots from camp, and a heartfelt thank-you to all the parents who entrusted us with their young rowers. You brought the kids, we brought the sunscreen and the stories. What a week!

Regatta Halifax 2025

🏖️ Halifax: A Scullers Tradition, Year Three It’s become a summer staple — like sunscreen, water bottles, and coach’s whistle echoing at sunrise. Right in the middle of our second summer camp, Coach Stompo circled the Halifax Regatta on the calendar and said, “Let’s go.” And go we did — heatwave and all.

🔥 After days of rowing, swimming, and paddle boarding in Sarasota’s 100+ degree sauna, you’d think we’d earned a break. But nope — Coach Stompo doubled down and entered the team in six (and more) races. And in true Scullers spirit, he extended the invitation to our Novice athletes. That’s how Kai and Connor, our “I’ve-rowed-for-five-days” rookies, found themselves packing up for their first regatta. Talk about diving into the deep end — with oars.

🌡️ And if we thought Sarasota was sizzling, Halifax/Daytona said “hold my humidity.” The heat was relentless, and the phrase “heel-tie” quickly became the least-loved word of the weekend. Normally, it’s a minor detail — one boat, one crew, one shoe swap. But when you’re sharing boats and switching shoes like a backstage costume change, it’s a logistical ballet. Coaches Eduardo and Bernhard must’ve nodded a hundred times — approving lineups, adjusting schedules, and keeping the whole show running.

🏨 Our home base, Fountain Beach Resort, was a dream. Beach views, a pool to cool off, and the Oasis Tiki Bar, where parents and athletes gathered each evening to unwind. Karaoke floated into the night air, laughter echoed from the pool deck, and the day’s races turned into stories shared under the stars.

🚣‍♀️ The racing schedule was no joke — 7:30 AM to 5 PM on Saturday, and 7:30 AM to 3 PM on Sunday. It was a marathon of motion. Parents and coaches found themselves wondering: is it easier to race or to be on-call support crew in full 24/7 mode? Either way, everyone gave it their all.

💖 And here’s the heart of it: seeing the joy, the pride, the sheer grit on every athlete’s face made it all worth it. Kai and Connor, your courage to race in singles after just five days of training — and not just in singles — was nothing short of inspiring. You showed up, you raced, and you reminded us all why we do this.

🎉 To our incredible parents — thank you. For the rides, the snacks, the cheers, the patience, and the karaoke. You are the backbone of this team, and Halifax wouldn’t be Halifax without you.

Parabéns to all — until next year, Halifax!

When you go to Halifax …. you will get some info about our team. Read our TEAM-BOOK

🍝 A Night to Remember in Daytona! 🎤🎶

After a long day of racking up medals like pros at a pasta-eating contest, the Sarasota Scullers crew—kids, parents, and coaches alike—wrapped up the victory lap with a feast fit for champions. The scene? Little Italy's Ristorante in Daytona, where carbs flowed freely and spirits soared even higher.

Thanks to the fabulous planning of our very own event maestro, Lilliane, the evening was a perfect blend of celebration and chaos (the good kind). Picture this: tables overflowing with pizza slices the size of your face, mountains of spaghetti, and enough of everything to fuel a small army. 🍕

Outside, the vibe was pure joy—music pumping, laughter echoing, and yes, karaoke that ranged from surprisingly good to gloriously off-key. Coaches, parents and Sage belted out 80s ballads, parents tried their hand at pop hits, and the kids? They laughed and enjoyed like no one was watching (but everyone definitely was).

It wasn’t just dinner—it was a full-blown Italian-style victory party. Grazie mille, Lilliane, for turning a great day into an unforgettable night. You officially earned the gold medal in party planning. 🏅💃🍷

You want to read the results …. open the file and be amazed :-)

Ongoing maintenance

The 2025 fall season has to be prepared. The Tuesday maintenance day is working greatly. While the team goes through footstretchers, wheels and other rowing words - coach spends his time in the afternoon and evening in his garden and 40+ sculling oars. Did you know that that No See Ums are living in the backyard of your coach.

Community outreach - Waters Edge Retirement home Bradenton

Big shoutout to Taylor from Water’s Edge for letting us crash your retirement community like it was Coachella for rowers. We rolled up at 2pm sharp — parents, HeadCoach, athletes, and a boatload of “snacks” (literally, they came out of the boats like treasure chests).

The room filled up faster than a TikTok trend, and Bernhard took the mic like a podcast host with zero time limit. He dropped tales of rowing, globetrotting, life changes, and just… stories on stories. Our athletes had to jump in as live translators — decoding his German-English like it was a Duolingo speedrun.

Suddenly, rowing was the main character. The Scullers became the talk of the town: “Where do y’all row?” “Is Ohio even rowable?” “Do oars float in retirement pools?” The questions were flying, and so was the laughter.

It was a wholesome crossover episode — juniors thanking the OGs, seniors vibing with the youth, and everyone soaking up the joy like SPF 100. We left with full hearts, empty snack bags, and a promise: next time, we’re bringing the Halifax 2025 victory saga. Stay tuned.

You want to see the presentation - please open the document below …. of course, the spoken word - which fill the many blanks - you have to imagine ….

also see their FACEBOOK POST

CALENDAR (2025)

• Summer Camp SCULLERS: August 11-15

• Benderson Chase: October 11-12

• Halloween Regatta: October 25

• Head of the Hooch: November 1-2

• Million Meter Day: December (beginning)

• Festivus (SSYRP): December

Thanks to