“[The boats] have been coming together nicely,” Skey said. “You’ve still got kinks to iron out. But generally they’ve come together well.”

While technique may take slightly longer than usual to polish, the additional time indoors has also increased the fitness of this year’s squad.

“I think we’re fitter and more powerful because of the extra work indoors,” McDaniel said.

That extra fitness has already played a role in Harvard’s victories thus far.

Though the Crimson boats dominated throughout, much of the distance between Harvard and the Bears was tacked on as the races drew to a close.

“[Harvard coach Harry Parker]’s been working us hard all year,” Skey said. “We’ve got the fitness to go the full 2000 meters and then some. We’ve got another gear for the end of the race.”

The men’s heavyweights head to No. 6 Princeton’s home course to square off against the Tigers and MIT next weekend in the Compton Cup at Lake Carnegie, N.J., where the Crimson seeks its first victory since 1993.

“It’s going to be a great race,” Skey said. “We just can’t get caught up in how the past history has gone. The trick is not to give them that little mental advantage.”

—Staff writer Timothy J. McGinn can be reached at mcginn@fas.harvard.edu.