Harvard will also gain speed as the boats adjust to the new lineups, as the strokes of both the first and second varsity boats were racing their first races as stroke. The Crimson has the next two weeks to settle into the new lineups as the boats prepare for the EARC Sprint Championships on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass.

“We only had one or two practices with the new lineups before this race,” Fallows said. “Now, we’ll have at least a week of practices with our lineups.”

Harvard’s program, with Coach Charley Butt, is known for gaining speed as the season progresses, peaking just in time for EARC Sprints and IRAs.

Last year, the Yale lightweight crew won both the Goldthwait Cup and the Eastern Sprints crown, only to watch Harvard win the national title by less than a second. The championship continued Harvard’s unusual streak of winning at IRAs every odd year since 1991. 2002 has come with no guarantees, but the Crimson rowers are making the adjustments to enjoy their time on the water—changes that will hopefully translate into speed.

“For the first time all racing season, people are starting to feel good about themselves,” Finelli said.

Harvard Men’s Lightweight Crew

at the Charles River

1st Varsity: Yale 6:28.6; Princeton 6:32.9; Harvard 6:37.4 2nd Varsity: Yale 6:42.3; Princeton 6:44.7; Harvard 6:59.3 1st Freshman: Yale 6:59.5; Princeton 7:02.7; Harvard 7:12.4 2nd Freshman: Harvard 7:16.4; Yale 7:27.5