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We now have been to five of the six inhabited islands in the Marquesas and I am beginning to theorize on how the French came up with the sport of rowing, or crew as it is sometimes called. First of all, it is my understanding that the sport as we know it was developed by the French, although the long held annual regatta between Cambridge and Oxford had me thinking it was originally the British. But after being in French Polynesia, I am beginning to see the sport in a new light.
My theory is that the French were inspired by the outrigger canoe competitions that have been going on for centuries in all of Polynesia. Wherever we have anchored, the same thing occurs about an hour or two before sunset. Rowing practice. Every village has either a canoe club which shelters its outrigger canoes or a place along the shore where the boats are kept. T-Shirts on the locals often display a club name or regatta competition, and many decals on the 4 wheel trucks display a club or rowing symbol.
They come in singles, triples or six person canoes and paddle around the bays in what looks like a serious workout. While there is no petite coxswain facing the rowers, I can usually hear someone in the boat calling out the stroke or when to switch sides with their oars. 
Having watched our daughter Kate row for five years, the hard work and discipline I see here in the islands is impressive. The most intensive training I've witnessed was a six women team in Taipivai, Nuku Hiva. Jon actually tried to get their attention to ask them to carry some photos of children back to the village and they totally ignored him.....no time for socializing with the boaters.
Although the western sport does not have the outrigger and the rowers use one paddle that they alternate on the bow and the stern side, the two sports are very similar. They both take hard work and dedication. The both require intensive team work. And, they both seem to be very very competitive about whose team can row the fastest.
If anyone actually knows the origins of the sport, or if there is actually a link between it and the Polynesian outrigger canoe races, I would love to hear it. Until then, I will continue to entertain my theory. Thinking of you Kate,
Jennifer
3 comments:
We sure could have used these kids for the Spring Show!
Thinking of you too mom :)
I would imagine that rowing was pretty critical to the survival of the residents from the time that they first arrived. By the way when was that? Wikipedia talks about rowing on the egyptian and roman galleys but the origins of its modern incarnation is not clear. I say go with the theory.
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