BY Glenda Gephart Phoenix
FINGER LAKES–Sixty feet of memories for Calvin Coffey landed at the Finger Lakes Boating Museum on Thursday, March 12.
Coffey, a medalist in Olympic rowing and builder of custom rowing shells and machines, was among a group of volunteers welcoming the arrival of the Corsair, a 60-foot rowing shell owned by Northeastern University in Boston.
“It certainly brings back memories,” said Coffey, a Schuyler County resident who rowed in the Corsair as a sophomore and junior, winning all races in the 1972 and 1973 collegiate seasons, as well as those years at the Eastern Sprints in Worcester, Mass.
In the summers of 1972 and 1973, the Corsair was transported to Henley, England, where the Northeastern undergrads raced in the Grand Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta, finishing second both years to the USSR National Team.
The Italian-made, wooden boat hasn’t raced since 1976, and Coffey will now lead a crew of volunteers to restore it in one of the Boating Museum’s workshops.
“I’ve seen the restoration work they do here,” Coffey said. “It’s awesome. We’ll be assessing the Corsair closely to find out what it needs.”
“Project Corsair” is a component of the FLBM’s ongoing effort to honor the history of competitive and recreational rowing in the region and the people actively involved today.
“We’re learning a lot about rowing in the Finger Lakes that most people in the area didn’t know existed,” said Nancy Wightman, FLBM administrator of operations and planning.
She said that between Buffalo and Syracuse, there are more than 40 rowing programs in community clubs, high schools, colleges and universities. Upwards of 20 Olympian rowers live in the Finger Lakes, including three-time Olympian Olivia Coffey, daughter of Calvin and Maggie Coffey.
Maggie Coffey, an FLBM board trustee, member of the “Project Corsair” committee and former competitive rower, is excited about the partnership with Northeastern that has brought the Corsair and its rich racing history to the museum for a “new lease on life.”
“Calvin will be working along with Ed Wightman (an FLBM founder and key boat builder) and many other highly skilled craftsmen who volunteer their time at the museum,” Maggie Coffey said. “Northeastern rowing alums are making arrangements to help, along with other local interested parties. The Corsair renovation activities will be a living exhibit highlighting the craftsmanship, skills and community involvement that is so much a part of our life in the Finger Lakes.”
Board President David Bornholdt agreed that the Corsair work will enhance the museum’s long history of dedicated volunteers restoring vintage boats.
“This is a great opportunity. The Corsair is a gem. We’re looking forward to this,” he said, noting that volunteers have worked on runabouts, trout boats, row boats and the museum’s signature tour boat, Pat II. Working on a racing shell is something new.
“One of the most attractive things for museum visitors is stopping in at any time and seeing work in progress. It’s much more interesting than just walking by a boat on display,” Bornholdt said.
The Corsair was built in the 1960s by the Italian company Cantiere Navale Donoratico. It is a wooden eight-oared shell and may be the only Donoratico from that era remaining in the United States, according to the Northeastern University Rowing Association, sponsor of the restoration.
The partnership between the museum and the university was initiated by Calvin Coffey and fellow Northeastern rower Bill Strobel, who lives in North Carolina, after they saw the Corsair on a rack at the school’s boathouse last September. They were there for a celebration of 60 years of men’s rowing at NU.
“Because Cal rowed this particular shell and won races in it, it’s appropriate that he’s leading the restoration,” said Nancy Wightman, who is chairing the endeavor to celebrate rowing in the Finger Lakes.
The Corsair was trailered to the museum by Rich Whelan, program director and head coach at the Gentle Giant Rowing Club in Sommerville, Mass. He faced a few challenges during his 10-hour drive, and the waiting volunteers had their own challenge: how to get the 60-foot craft into the assigned workshop.
After several minutes of relocating equipment, measuring spaces and removing the bow and stern, the group of nine men and women gently lifted, flipped and carried the Corsair, finally settling it into canvas cradles.
“The rowing coach in me was so nervous,” Whelan said about the transfer from the specialized, long-haul trailer to the Corsair’s new home for the next several months.
But, as Whelan was getting ready to turn around and head back to Boston, he added, “The excitement and enthusiasm that I’ve seen here make it all worth it.”
FINGER LAKES–Sixty feet of memories for Calvin Coffey landed at the Finger Lakes Boating Museum on Thursday, March 12.
Coffey, a medalist in Olympic rowing and builder of custom rowing shells and machines, was among a group of volunteers welcoming the arrival of the Corsair, a 60-foot rowing shell owned by Northeastern University in Boston.
“It certainly brings back memories,” said Coffey, a Schuyler County resident who rowed in the Corsair as a sophomore and junior, winning all races in the 1972 and 1973 collegiate seasons, as well as those years at the Eastern Sprints in Worcester, Mass.
In the summers of 1972 and 1973, the Corsair was transported to Henley, England, where the Northeastern undergrads raced in the Grand Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta, finishing second both years to the USSR National Team.
The Italian-made, wooden boat hasn’t raced since 1976, and Coffey will now lead a crew of volunteers to restore it in one of the Boating Museum’s workshops.
“I’ve seen the restoration work they do here,” Coffey said. “It’s awesome. We’ll be assessing the Corsair closely to find out what it needs.”
“Project Corsair” is a component of the FLBM’s ongoing effort to honor the history of competitive and recreational rowing in the region and the people actively involved today.
“We’re learning a lot about rowing in the Finger Lakes that most people in the area didn’t know existed,” said Nancy Wightman, FLBM administrator of operations and planning.
She said that between Buffalo and Syracuse, there are more than 40 rowing programs in community clubs, high schools, colleges and universities. Upwards of 20 Olympian rowers live in the Finger Lakes, including three-time Olympian Olivia Coffey, daughter of Calvin and Maggie Coffey.
Maggie Coffey, an FLBM board trustee, member of the “Project Corsair” committee and former competitive rower, is excited about the partnership with Northeastern that has brought the Corsair and its rich racing history to the museum for a “new lease on life.”
“Calvin will be working along with Ed Wightman (an FLBM founder and key boat builder) and many other highly skilled craftsmen who volunteer their time at the museum,” Maggie Coffey said. “Northeastern rowing alums are making arrangements to help, along with other local interested parties. The Corsair renovation activities will be a living exhibit highlighting the craftsmanship, skills and community involvement that is so much a part of our life in the Finger Lakes.”
Board President David Bornholdt agreed that the Corsair work will enhance the museum’s long history of dedicated volunteers restoring vintage boats.
“This is a great opportunity. The Corsair is a gem. We’re looking forward to this,” he said, noting that volunteers have worked on runabouts, trout boats, row boats and the museum’s signature tour boat, Pat II. Working on a racing shell is something new.
“One of the most attractive things for museum visitors is stopping in at any time and seeing work in progress. It’s much more interesting than just walking by a boat on display,” Bornholdt said.
The Corsair was built in the 1960s by the Italian company Cantiere Navale Donoratico. It is a wooden eight-oared shell and may be the only Donoratico from that era remaining in the United States, according to the Northeastern University Rowing Association, sponsor of the restoration.
The partnership between the museum and the university was initiated by Calvin Coffey and fellow Northeastern rower Bill Strobel, who lives in North Carolina, after they saw the Corsair on a rack at the school’s boathouse last September. They were there for a celebration of 60 years of men’s rowing at NU.
“Because Cal rowed this particular shell and won races in it, it’s appropriate that he’s leading the restoration,” said Nancy Wightman, who is chairing the endeavor to celebrate rowing in the Finger Lakes.
The Corsair was trailered to the museum by Rich Whelan, program director and head coach at the Gentle Giant Rowing Club in Sommerville, Mass. He faced a few challenges during his 10-hour drive, and the waiting volunteers had their own challenge: how to get the 60-foot craft into the assigned workshop.
After several minutes of relocating equipment, measuring spaces and removing the bow and stern, the group of nine men and women gently lifted, flipped and carried the Corsair, finally settling it into canvas cradles.
“The rowing coach in me was so nervous,” Whelan said about the transfer from the specialized, long-haul trailer to the Corsair’s new home for the next several months.
But, as Whelan was getting ready to turn around and head back to Boston, he added, “The excitement and enthusiasm that I’ve seen here make it all worth it.”
