Welcome to the world of American collegiate crew.

Parity? Hardly.

Competition? Definitely.

The Harvard men's heavyweight crew program embarks on its 1989 season with one goal in mind-"one for the thumb." The Crimson will be trying to claim its fifth national championship in the decade--third-in-a-row--adding to its list of titles from 1983, 1985, 1987 and last year.

Without a doubt, much of the Crimson's dominance can be traced to a program built by and maintained at peak efficiency by Coach Harry Parker, who has led the heavies to 13 undefeated seasons in 27 years as Harvard's coach.

And Parker can expect little dropoff this year, despite the loss of seven rowers from last year's first two varsity boats.

Returning from Harvard's national-champion heavyweight boat are John Amory, John Bernstein, Donald Fawcett, Olympian Jack Rusher, Phil Schuller and Peter Sharis. Sharis, who had never rowed before coming to Harvard, was the only sophomore member of last year's first boat.

Seven members of national-champion boats are among those vying for the top slots in the first two boats during the dreaded March seatracing period. Parker is still early in the selection process, which will probably not be concluded until the first weekend in April.

But Parker's main concern now is getting his squads accustomed to rowing in the water since poor weather has kept the crews indoors until recently.

"We have to make the smooth transition into the water," said Harvard Captain Joe Harvey, who rowed seven-seat on the JV boat last season. "It's important that we move smoothly from rowing to stay at a number [on the ergs and in the indoor tanks] to moving a boat in the water. We're on the water pretty late this year, so we're trying to get as much water time as possible."

Parker has an abundance of national-championship experience to work with, but the 28th-year coach's main challenge is to fill out his boats with strong, but inexperienced rowers who can adjust to the powerful cadence of his top boats.

"It's important for people moving up into the top boats that they have a sense of the boat-moving capability," Harvey said. "We have some very strong guys and it's a matter of being quick enough to contribute in a boat with these guys."

Several sophomores from the first two freshman boats are trying to make such an adjustment while fighting for the few open spots in the first two heavyweight boats.

Prior to the Easterns in May, the Crimson will be rowing against Brown April 8, at the Redwood Shores Regatta April 15 and 16, at Princeton and MIT April 22, against Navy and Penn April 29 and against Northeastern May 6.

The Crimson will be trying to avenge its only defeat last season when it rows against Navy and Penn on the Charles River for the elusive Adams Cup title, which Harvard hasn't won in the last four years.