The Radcliffe crew team christened two new boats Saturday afternoon after winning a home race against Dartmouth College and Syracuse University.

The "Stella II," for the varsity heavyweight team, and the "Geanne Prince," for the novice crew, were formally inducted into the rowing ranks in a ceremony by the Weld boathouse, said Amy Constable '92, the varsity heavyweight co-captain.

According to Constable, both boats were named in honor of their donor families. The Stella II was named after the original Stella I, which the same family donated about 10 years ago, Constable said.

The team has been using the boats throughoutthe spring racing season but the officialchristening was delayed until Saturday because thecoaches likely wanted to hold the ceremony after ahome race, said Tilda Hajek '94, a member of thevarsity heavyweight team.

In addition to the team, many crew alumni andmembers of the donor families were present at theceremony. The boats were set on the docks andchampagne was poured over them, Hajeck said.

"It's a really great boat," said KristiStoddard '92, co-captain of heavyweight varsity."We're fortunate that we have the best equipmentaround. It's probably the best boat collegiatecrews are rowing in right now."

The Stella II and the Geanne Prince are VespoliD hulls. And according to Stoddard, the D hull "isthe top of the line racing shell right now."

Hake said the lightness of the boat is anotherreason why it is an improvement over the old one.

"It's definitely noticeable lighter.Psychologically it's fun, too; it feels fast,"Hake said.

Constable said another way the boats are"distinctive" is that they are not white, likemost of the team's other boats, Stella II is red,and the Geanne Prince is black with black oars.

Constable said that the boats were animpressive sit in the water. "It's quite aspectacle," she said