Post Row. Santa Cruz to Waikiki by Angela 2013 06 18

Post Row. Santa Cruz to Waikiki

By Angela Madsen  06/18/13

At sea from 5:45 PM June 9 till 3:45 AM on June 17.Rowed a total of 172 miles

The row was scheduled to begin at noon but was delayed till June 9^th at 5:45PM due to weather and high surf caused by a low pressure system which was on its way out. New weather reports and forecasts looked promising all the way through June 20. I made my way out of the Santa Cruz channel at 5:45 PM with only mild onshore NW winds and a relatively flat sea. When describing wind they use the direction it is blowing from so NW winds flow SE.  

I saw my first dolphin in the first hour as the sun was setting. The seas and winds remained calm through the night and the sky was clear enough to see many stars. I rowed all through the night making about 26 miles and rowed through the morning. The winds had begun to pick up so I put out my parachute anchor at 1 pm to take a 2 hour nap. Sleep did not come in this rest period, partly me just being so excited and partly because the boat wasn’t setting well. I exited the cabin to the sounds of sea lions playing which was all good till I saw what they were playing with. They had collapsed my para anchor and were playing ball with the buoy I had attached to the rig. They saw me come out of the cabin and stopped first looking at each other, then at me and then at each other again like mischievous children. That would completely explain the oddities of the behavior of my boat on sea anchor that first time. I retrieved my para anchor and continued rowing increasing my distance from land and making the most miles west I would see the entire row. 

As the sun was setting another low pressure system was moving in producing increases in NW winds and in the size of the waves. It was as if the opportunity of good weather to begin my row was like the eye of the storm. I placed my sea anchor out when it became un row-able and thought about the day’s events and all of the marine life I had seen in just one day of rowing. It began with the sea lions and a killer whale charging toward my boat a short time later followed by many dolphins. Then as I was rowing a Blue whale and her calf surfaced right beside my boat. I had to pull in my oar to avoid contact. They left me and headed in closer to shore possibly to avoid the killer whales. Orcas like to go after the whale calves. I saw some interesting looking jellyfish floating by and thought about Diane Nyad who swims oceans and has encounters with jelly fish and I was visited by 3 black tip sharks. Only the killer whales exhibited aggressive behavior. I had seen 2 killer whales on the GB row that exhibited the same behavior. They charge toward the boat at rates of speed capable of pulling a water skier with their huge dorsal fins broaching the surface the entire time. They get just up to the boat like they will ram you and then disappear. 

The NOAA weather channel on the VHF radio described this new low pressure system and small craft and high wind and sea advisories. I set my sleep alarm for 2 hours so I could check for ship traffic knowing there was little chance I would be rowing again anytime soon. I checked traffic every two hours through the night and as promised the NW winds had reached 25 kts with 33-39 kt gusts. The seas were at about 15 ft with an additional 4-5 foot wind swell so sets topped off about 20-25 ft. I remained on sea anchor all day and another night. Checking the lines first light I noticed that the anchor bridal lines had chafed and broken and the only line holding my sea anchor on was the one retrieval line I had put on as an assistive device to help bring the bridal thimble or anchor line attachment point back to the boat. The retrieval line which runs all the way out to the parachute anchor had come undone. Guessing those playful sea lions had broken the bite on my Bolin knot and it came undone during the night. I had no way to collapse and retrieve my parachute anchor to repair the anchor line fixation points. This was serious as I was about to lose my 9 foot diameter parachute anchor which is an extremely important piece of storm kit.

I also brought a 6 ft diameter anchor with a much shorter line as a backup. I managed to get about 170 foot of line back in the boat and parachute within 15 foot of my boat but could get it no closer. I then took the small anchor and connected it to the rear of my boat deploying it with 50 ft of line. As it opened it swung my boat around to a point where I could reach the other anchor. I had successfully rescued my anchor but sacrificed the smaller less important one as I did not have time to place a retrieval line on it when I deployed it. Pulling a fully laden 1200 pound boat up to a 6 diameter parachute anchor in 25-30 mph winds would be easier than the larger diameter para anchor but I figured I would solve that problem later. The boat was riding ok on the smaller one for the time being. It did get calm enough for me to row again and I figured out how to collapse the chute by sending a carabineer down the anchor line that was bigger than the swivel shackle. It went over the connectors and worked its way down collapsing the chute. Then it came in easy. I had managed to save both anchors. In the process I had injured my right knee. It locked up and has swollen and will not straighten. It never got calm enough for me to repair the bridal or for me to crawl out onto the bow and make a connection with the bow tow eye located at the front of the boat. My thought was If I had too, in an emergency, I could use the one located at the rear as I could connect it from my cabin by accessing it through the hatch and that I could make these repairs as well as doing my personal admin and laundry when I got some better conditions at sea. 

For all of my rowing, in the conditions I could make no west but could only go south. I expected to go a bit south and more SW and almost do a course that resembled a Nike swoosh but it was not to be. I had to take the foot stretchers out because of my knee and try to secure myself while rowing with my other leg. I looked at the course and how I could only go SE in these conditions, took into consideration my knee injury and my distance from land. I was 80.7 miles from land. I decided to Row to Los Angeles and reschedule the Hawaii row. I changed my course and was rowing SE. I did not know about the new forecast at this time. The seas once again were getting bigger and the winds were just howling. I looked at my last 2 hours rowing and had noticed I had gone more west while rowing SE. maybe current running west? Could I possibly make it to Hawaii if I now could somehow go west or had I gone too far south? What is the weather forecast? I turned on the VHF and listened to the forecasts of Gale Force winds for my location and heavy seas. This basically means conditions twice as big and bad as what I had been battling for the previous 5 days for the next 5 days. There is no question now, only the realization that I can neither row to Hawaii or LA in what is coming my way and staying on the boat will jeopardize myself or anyone who may have to be involved in a last minute rescue. I called the coast guard to apprise them of my situation and ask for their recommendation and then we coordinated rescue from that point forward.

A container ship MOT Mission was in my area and dispatched to pick me up. When the ship arrived they determined that they could not dispatch their little boat in the conditions and that they would attempt a direct pick up from the side bay door 15 ft up on the container ship and that this would occur while container ship was underway. He instructed me to get up on deck and I was in process of exiting the cabin when the massive container ship did a drive by along my port side while throwing life rings and lowering a basket while yelling jump JUMP. I could not jump and my bum knee that kept me half in the cabin and not on the deck in time to try to jump probably saved my life. The sounds of the voices yelling jump were no longer audible as the sounds of my antenna, navigation light and the side and top of my boat scraping along the hull of this huge vessel as it is being sucked underneath its hull at the stern was all I could here. I am looking up at the hull of the ship atop my little boat and across to the propeller and I get back in my cabin closing the hatch door to ride out what was coming next. Propeller wash. I was sucked up, run over by a container ship and spit out the back. Foamy and turbulent the water glowed a sea foam greenish color that seemed to give off its own amazing light. After the turbulent ride, darkness had settled and with no daylight left the giant spotlights on the ship were turned on and they were panning the sea looking for me. They contacted me on the radio about making another pass. After being at sea 7 days and battling bad weather for the last 5 while I was out on the deck waiting, hanging on, getting slammed by 54 degree water waves in 55 degree outside temps I thought about what I had just gone through and went back into my cabin. I hailed the ship on the radio and waved him off of any further rescue attempts. Anyone in my position would not have been physically capable of what was required. The ship’s Captain wanted to rescue me as much as I wanted to row to Hawaii so he was not happy to leave me in my little boat but I thought it best and I stuck to my guns. I thanked him for his time and effort and told both he and the coast guard that I was going to warm up, go to sleep and assess my situation further in the morning. I was going to sleep on it. At about 2:45 AM the Coast Guard called me and told me they would have a helicopter to my location in about an hour. They arrived and rescue swimmer was deployed. I made sure to leave the Sea me and navigation light on the Spirit of Orlando to aide in recovery of the boat. The swimmer got back in the water first then I joined him the water. He swam us over to the basket, he placed me in the basket and I was raised up into the Helicopter. It was a text book Sea rescue. I phoned Deb and told her I would be at the Santa Barbara Airport where she met me with some dry cloths and my wheelchair. We spent the rest of the day on the drive back stopping at vessel assist in Ventura who told us it would be impossible to go out and get the boat in the weather that was coming and know way to know where to look after the blow. We stopped at military installations and ports and harbors asking them to look out and contact us if they spot the boat.  We are on standby to recover the boat, once recovered, I will reschedule the row. 

Angela

Spirit of Orlando..Missing at Sea

 Call 562-505-4157 with Lat and Long last spotted at

 

Fear and Doubt = Motivation

Fear and Doubt=Motivation

April 14, 2013 by Angela

Have not blogged since my Occupy Department of Veterans Affairs participation.  That trip to DC that was well worth my time. Since that time Debs and I have Gone Back to New York to get married at the same quaint little bed & breakfast Debs and I stayed at when I was getting the boat and crew ready to row across the Atlantic on Big Blue. For those new to my adventurous life, Big Blue was the first ocean rowing catamaran and was built on Shelter Island.

I took delivery of the ocean rowing boat I will be rowing to Hawaii and have been working to prepare the boat and myself for my solo row to Hawaii. Do I have fears about weather I will be able to make such a journey? You Bet! I have fears and doubts every time I set out to row an ocean. I was speaking at an elementary school and one of the questions from a young girl was “Do you get scared?” I immediately responded No and I have regretted saying that ever since because it isn’t true. I certainly don’t want anyone to think I am afraid of anything but I also don’t want people getting the impression that people who accomplish what I accomplish have to be fearless. Fear & doubt is a big part of what motivates me to try and is normal. It helps drive me to succeed and makes me train and prepare to accomplish what most people consider impossible. I fear failure but am not afraid to do extremely difficult things. I simply train hard and prepare. I’ll make a 110% effort for a chance at either succeeding or failing while being scared shitless the entire time. Most people consider what I do crazy. People have a difficult time grasping the concept of the harshness of life at sea for so much time for anyone let alone a paraplegic with rods in her back. I will be 53 when I set off on this one and I feel every bit of those 53. 

This being my first solo will make it the most difficult physical and mental challenge since my hospitalization and surgeries. This row is taking place in the USA and not half way across the world so organizations in the USA such as Shared Adventures, The Northwest Regional Paralympic Sport clubs of Sacramento, Santa Cruz, Menlo Park and Monterey, the VA hospital and others are organizing the departure while I train and prepare the boat. I am rowing a solo but I have much more land support than I have ever had in my entire life, I am not alone on this one…many are interested, many will be following online and the departure will be amazing. The arrival in Hawaii may be the most significant celebration in the history of ocean rowing. I want to thank everyone for their support and for liking the dedicated Facebook page- Military & Veteran Tribute Row

Occupy the Department of Veteran's Affairs, Washington DC

Occupy the Department of Veteran's Affairs, Washington DC

Jan 8 2013 by Angela

Occupy the Department of Veteran's Affairs, Facebook Page

Ever feel compelled and driven to do something, to take some action or go experience or see something without knowing exactly why? When I found out there was an Occupy event at the Department of Veterans Affairs Building going on at 810 Vermont in NW Washington DC I had such a feeling. I didn’t know if it was a real event or if anyone would be there for sure. I took a chance, used my frequent flyer miles and headed to DC. My flight arrived at 1:15 Am so I spent the first night engaged in a conversation with a young girl who is an athletic trainer. We sat on a bench in the airport and I shared stories with her. It felt much like the bus bench scene in Forest Gump. Was I there to meet and help this person I wondered as she became teary eyed in the conversation describing herself as lost, unable or not having the courage to do the things she wants to do in her life? This was all of the advice I had to offer her. 

It is a switch in effort and focus from thinking about all we cannot or have not been able to do, overcoming doubt and moving forward with a new purpose and method to achieve personal goals or success. To be Able requires effort and action not complacency or stagnation. It requires dumping the behaviors that hold us back and learning new ones that move us positively forward. Its about being open to change and then making it happen for yourself not waiting or counting on someone else to do it for you. It seemed to be a message she needed to here and she left our meeting on a mission. She caught her bus and I hailed a cab and went on to the Occupy event.

I had been traveling and up all night. I know how difficult it can be sleeping on the street so I did not want to arrive in middle of the night. When I did arrive I took a space on the sidewalk at the end of a row. I rolled out my bag, placed all of my valuables inside my bag with me, I put a tarp over my chair and my head and went to sleep for two hours. I was woken up by a fellow named Mike who was looking for his blanket. Seems someone had taken one from him during the night. He was my first encounter with one of the occupiers. I asked him questions about the Occupy Department of Veterans Affairs event… It started at the big Occupy DC event last year during which a group of veterans got together and decided to go to the Department of Veterans affairs with some questions and some ideas on how to help veterans. The DVA said they would send someone out to speak with them and no one came out. That was October 4, 2012 and they have been there ever since. Born from the Larger Occupy Washington DC event it became Occupy the Department of Veterans Affairs event. They have no plans of quitting or leaving anytime soon and will be there as long as it takes. 

While I was talking with Mike the tarp next to me started shuffling around and a head pops out and Steve introduced himself to me. He also volunteered to show me where the YMCA was in case I wanted a shower. They all told me I should look for Frosty the garden gnome and told me to go to the Starbucks just down the road and to the right so I rolled up my bag and grabbed all of my possessions which wasn’t much and set off to Starbucks to find Frosty. Inside the Starbucks, sitting by the window was a silver haired and long bearded older gentleman who looked like a garden gnome. Obviously this was Frosty. He told me the same story as Mike about how it all started and all of the things they have done to them to try and get rid of them but the DC police have defended the Veterans constitutional rights to peaceably gather and explained to the DVA that they are on public sidewalk and not on DVA property. Then the DVA began pressure washing the sidewalk on a daily basis but they have stopped as it did not work. They moved me from the outside edge to inside the doorway saying it was warmer but there is an order and protocol to homelessness and where you sleep in the group. I was hesitant at first because I did nothing to earn this upgrade and then I reminded myself I was a visitor and these were Veterans. It was very noble and hospitable gesture with hints of overprotectiveness. I did move to inside the doorway where anyone approaching could only come from one direction that I could defend easily. I felt much safer there. Under the cover of scaffolding it may have been warmer also but it was still damn cold! There is a place called the peace house that was used for the large occupy event where people could go use the internet but the ongoing services there are dwindling and it will probably be closing soon so now the surrounding coffee shops are the place to go to warm up, grab a cup of Jo and get online. The Veterans who are clean and organized have a good reputation with most of the businesses and they are supportive. None of us were denied entry or service because we were occupiers or homeless. The people who are in and out of the surrounding businesses and the locals know what is going on and the bad reviews about the Occupy Veterans being a bunch of homeless bums I found to be completely false. These could be complaints about the other homeless population that surround us or could be generated by the DVA people who are uncomfortable with the Veterans presence there. There is much to hide and I can’t imagine that everyone is happily accepting and administering the orders and policies that hurt our wounded warriors and veterans. These are things that both consciously and subconsciously affect most human beings negatively. They have been given the orders not to engage in conversations with the veterans and the threat of job loss and devaluation is evident in the tension. There seem to be many frightened people at the DVA who are conflicted and unhappy in their work and many others who seem to be hostile in mitigating their guilt. I had to stay on a workday just to witness this and see it for myself. My three days here have been a positive experience and what these veterans are trying to do, I see as being very important. Why continue to utilize a system and a method that is clearly broken beyond repair, 900,000 backlogged Veterans claims for benefits and growing.

There is a system of automatic denial and keywords and events are sought, created and expunged from medical records every day to generate a denial because denial counts as adjudication of the claim and earns the reward of a congressional mandated time stamp for adjudication of a Veterans claim which is now 125 days. Very few claims are properly and fairly adjudicated in 125 days. Don’t believe me, check the appeals rate. It is easier to deny and there are no physical or financial consequences of that action to the DVA or individual employees. There is a consequence to the Veteran and they do this without regard for human life. These increased suicides I view as casualties of this system.

What happens after first denial is that then the Veteran has to file an appeal of that decision this process can take time and usually leads to another denial. Any veteran eligible for medical or monetary assistance due to service related injury is ineligible for insurance and public assistance. They say it’s the government’s responsibility. More denials, can’t pay rent, can’t work, can’t get food stamps, can’t get appointments for care at VA, can’t get paperwork properly filed out and disability documented for claims because VA is a teaching hospital and all notes are entered by students who don’t use correct language or terminology. If the veteran has any resources left by this point or any hope then they will continue to fight. The DVA relies heavily on family and friends of the veteran to provide support financially and emotionally to the veteran and taxes those relationships to the full extent possible usually fracturing any sustainable connection the veteran has to those sources of support. The VA abuses counseling notes and personal information contained in medical records against the veterans in the adjudication process and in the system to discredit veterans so they are not to be trusted. Veterans often end up isolated and alone with no one to turn to for support and no hope. Years later after multiple hearings and denials a successful veteran will finally get through the process in 10-20 or like Frosty 37 years at no consequence to the Department of Veterans Affairs. How many have died trying? Too many! How many have given up? Too many! These losses are unacceptable! Fix the system for God’s sake; don’t just hire more adjudicators to do the job the same way, change the way the job is done. Properly and fairly adjudicate the claim in 125 days so lives don’t have to be needlessly destroyed while a soldier fights a battle that he is not trained for, never saw coming and should not have to fight “The struggle for benefits and the battle with the Department of Veterans Affairs”. 

There was no way to quickly and easily summarize what the process is like so I apologize for the lengthy blog. This information is a compilation of shared stories over my 33 years of service to Veterans in the Disabled American Veterans and the Paralyzed Veterans of America as well as my own personal struggle. I am one veteran with an all too common story.

The Occupy the Department of Veterans Affairs is taking place at 810 Vermont NW Washington DC, they have a fb page and anyone who is for the cause is welcome to join in. Homeless experience helpful but not required. They will take good care of you there. Street rating ***** 5 star

The Spirit of Orlando

Paralympics and Then a Little Row to Hawaii 

by Angela

August 8, 2012

It’s been said and I have to agree….I am pretty intense! I do what I say I will. I do not wait for things to happen, I make the necessary things happen and go all in, doing everything I need to do to reach my goals. I don't allow situation and circumstance provide excuses for failure.

In just about one years’ time!

Paralympics...

Angela Madsen aka Msparasurfer We leave for Royal Air Base Lakenheath Suffolk, England on the 17th for a camp and then move from there to the village on the 26th. Shot Put on Sept 1st around 1:45pm pacific time and in Javelin on Sept 5th around 11am Pacific Time. Really focused on what I need to do in London, My goal and what to look for from me in London is a Gold medal and a new WR in Shot-put. I will throw Javelin and hope to do well at it, we will see. After the competitions I have some other exciting plans.

My Row... Is defiantly and definitely on!

I have managed without financial sponsors to purchase my solo ocean rowing boat. A couple of donations here and there and some prize money from Track & Field and just diligently saving and there you have it BAMB!  The row will go on! After Paralympics I am headed over to Ireland to facilitate the shipping.  Just getting to the start of these rowing projects is extreme. I have undergone phenomenal challenges to make both of these things happen. Some would say, In the way of finances and commitment one would seemingly jeopardize the other, and for some people this could be true, just not for me.  

Thank you to all of the people who have contributed so far. The remaining fundraising efforts are for boat shipping, expedition food, weather and routing, port fees and taxes and shipping the boat back to California. Still looking for sponsors but still and always will have plan B “ME”…There are other ways to support my efforts to be the only paraplegic to row such a long and treacherous bit of water. You can follow my row online and share my story!

Angela Madsen

What is against me will always serve to make it all the more interesting!

SUNfiltered | Five Paralympic athletes pushing their way to London

SUNfiltered | Five Paralympic athletes pushing their way to London

Paralympics! Return to London! by Angela

 Paralympics! Return to London! 

by Angela July 9, 2012

I am super excited to be returning to London to compete in the 2012 Paralympics. I rowed in the Beijing 2008 Paralympics, rowed across the Atlantic in 2007, Indian Ocean in 2009 and in 2010. I have a great history and have made history in London. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10724714

I circumnavigated Great Britain with three other British women. An awesome challenge rowing 2010 miles around GB without touching land that took 51 days. We rowed from London Tower Bridge, down the Thames & back to London tower Bridge. I am returning to London to compete at the Paralympics in Track & field as a thrower. I went from rowing to throwing last year. I still row across oceans and plan to row from California to Hawaii solo in 2013 as tribute to GB Royal Marine, adventurer and friend Orlando Rogers who was tragically killed in an accident last May.

I am better known as a rower in the Olympic/Paralympic world. It has been a whirlwind Track & Field Odyssey constantly moving the throws farther and farther almost giving up after Para Pan American games when the National A team standard was raised to 8.76. Higher than the World record of 8.61 at that time so I thought it nearly impossible to achieve as I was only throwing high in the sixes then. Coach Cathy Sellers and Coach Erica Wheeler convinced me to stick with it. I am not the type to give up, I did however go through what I needed to go through at the time. I tend to go all in when I want something and if I don’t get there I admit I am emotional and disappointed. I am after all “A Delicate little flower” I still did what I needed to do to reach and even exceed my goals and expectations. What I did after Para Pans was find and hire my own private Track & Field throws coach Aaron Volkoff. Then I hired a personal trainer all on my own dime since I lost all my National Team financial support when I failed to make the new standard. I attended throws camps at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista. I dug in and did what I needed to do. I went to San Clemente to Ed Axton and had him build me a new throwing chair to the customized specifications that I believed would help me throw farther. I purchased implements, 6 javelins and 6 shot puts so my coach would not have to make as many trips into the field to retrieve them. I suffered a grade two shoulder separation throwing Javelin before I went to the last throws camp and before my Hawaii vacation. So the VA issued a motorized wheelchair to use till it healed. I had to borrow a scooter to use in Hawaii where I had to do one of the most difficult things I could do in my training, NOTHING! I sat across from my favorite surf beach in Hawaii and watched the waves, the surfers and the sunsets.

When I got back from Hawaii they did an MRI and found torn rotator cuff tears, fraying and bursitis in my throwing shoulder as well as the separation. I had to change a few things about how I train. Javelin seems to irritate it and shot put is unaffected so my coach and I have been focusing more on shot put and I have been constantly applying Ice and resting more before competitions. I have had to quit carrying boats and volunteering at the California Adaptive Rowing Program that I founded in 1998 deeming it too risky and sadly I have not surfed in months. It has been worth it as the German thrower and I have been playing ping pong with the world record. Her last meet she brought it up to 8.92

At Track & Field Trials in Indianapolis I broke her World Record in Women's class 56 Shot put with a 9.30 meter throw and was named to the 2012 Paralympic Team. This world record, not yet recorded, will be official! I am still off the radar and remain unknown as a Track & Field Athlete.

Angela Madsen

Article:http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/01/4600715/angela-madsen-helps-veterans-heal.html

Video: http://www.hlntv.com/video/2012/05/30/breakthrough-women-angela-madsen-california-adaptive-rowing-program

OOPPS! Anti Doping FAIL. by Angela

The world record for Women’s class 56 is back to German thrower temporarily. A change in my prescribed pain meds caused a doping violation with the World Anti-Doping agency so my last 2 meets have been sanctioned. I have resolved all my USADA issues and am good to go for Paralympic trials June 28-July 1 in Indianapolis Indiana. 

So my friends please don’t be getting panties twisted or cry fowl. Ultimately it is the athlete responsibility to make sure all of the required paperwork is done promptly and properly. If I or any athlete has difficulty reading and understanding something because of poor vision or like me with my Myasthenia Gravis and does not completely understand it they/ I should ask for help. It’s not like I am surrounded by illiterate people. Most of the reason why I am successful at what I do is because I take responsibility for my actions or inactions. The process of filing for a Therapeutic Use Exemption form which allows athletes to take prescribed medications was rushed through for me before Para Pan American Games so what I did not understand was that it would not cover any changes made until after I received the violation. The Punishment fit the violation and it is done.

Now I am all squared away and ready to compete again. 

Not all doping violations are trying to cheat or enhance performance and some are just honest mistakes with real life issues for athletes with disabilities. Most people do not know that Paralympics is the top level and world stage for athletes with disabilities just like the Olympics. We all train and work hard and we all blog and talk about our achievements and not some of the other aspects of sport at that level. So FYI we go through the same testing and reporting procedures as athletes fill out all of the same paper work and have all of the same responsibilities and duties as Olympic athletes. When we get to London we compete in the same venues, stay in the same athlete housing and compete against all the same nations top athletes. It is the world stage and it is a great honor to represent the USA at both the Paralympic and Olympic level. 

Olympic day is coming up on June 23 so I just received my video and speakers information pack for some events I am attending and I am realizing that I have made another mistake. At Parapans I did not shake a few people’s hands including an official because I had something on my hand. After watching the Kick boxing I now realized that I could have easily bowed. It never occurred to me at the time that I could have issued a respectful bow instead. I always teach in rowing “it is not about not making mistakes; it is about recovering from them gracefully”, Next time I will bow. 52 and still learning!