The 2nd Regatta of the 2008 State Rowing Championship, held on Sunday morning (27/4), at Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, had some detrimental absences for the red-black crews. Vasco was crowned the Regatta champion and remains in the lead of the Championship, with a total of 164 points; 37 points more than Flamengo, in second place, with 127 points.

The final and most traditional event, the Eight-man event, lacked its usual brilliance. The red-and-black team went down with only six rowers, handing the victory to their rival. According to Raul Bagattini, vice-president of rowing at Clube da Gávea, the absence was a form of protest. "We don't have enough rowers to replace the two that Vasco took with them."

For Marcos Amorim, coach and the main person responsible for the rowers' strong performance, the issue goes further. "We train the athletes, give them the foundation, and Vasco comes and buys them. This makes it easy to win. We requested the postponement of the events that would compromise Flamengo due to the absences, but the Federation did not accept our request, leaving us in an unfavorable and delicate situation."

Flamengo won a total of four of the 12 events held this morning (2 Under-23s, Single Skiff for Children, Double Skiff Junior A and Four Skiff Junior A).

Two of the most exciting and revealing events were the U2 23-Com and Junior A Four Skiff, won by Flamengo. With rowers making their debut in the category, the red-and-black team secured first place in the 2-Com event over Vasco, which had top rowers who competed in last year's Pan American Games in Rio. In the other event, Flamengo came from behind to win, after holding second place until the final meters.

Photo: Archive