Launches

Almost everyone who had participated in organized rowing has develop as awareness of the presence of a nearby eyes looking at you individually. The natural result was to try a little harder to do what was expected, add little oomph to the effort and hope for the approbation that rarely came. So the launch has been the symbol of coaching and training.

But even at the late date of M.I.T. entering the rowing fraternity launches not a common presence, even for the "first" crews let alone those of lesser importance.

The first coaching was accomplished either from the float or dock, sometimes from a nearby point of shore where the coach could view a shell coming and going using a megaphone for instruction followed by a critique session after practice. This was the practice of William O'Leary, Pat Manning and Artie Stevens. It is not known whether on either side of the Charles there were any stretches where the English practice of following a crew on a bicycle was possible, at least the fact has not been mentioned anywhere. But O'Leary at Union and Stevens at BAA were competent scullers and as such could stay with a crew at a moderate stroke although the attention afforded and the competence of the coaching might be questioned. Being in a suitable position for coaching might be questioned. Being in a suitable position for coaching on the water on the water has always been a difficult problem that was only particularly solved by the development of powered craft. It was a fortunate crew that had a coach close by for on-the-spot supervision rather that after-the-fact reflection.

The first powered craft were steam launches and quite beyond the financial reach of any except the more affluent organizations and not a part of the earliest Tech rowing experience. Marine Internal Combustion engines were wither small "one lungers" or in larger sizes very heavy and slow speed for their power output. The first launch at Tech was a low powered tub borrowed by Artie Stevens and must have been of very limited value although it did provide a viewing position on the water. Then a student, H.L. Dallas '24 made available his family's launch for a stint at the job.

In 1922 Henry Morse '93 provided a launch to round out the growing inventory of rowing facilities, probably the "Wolf", the first real qualified coaching launch which was perhaps better suited to that work than many others used up to the present time. At least in embodied many of the features best suited to its purpose, -- long and wide enough to be maneuverable and speed to overtake a shell. It had a cockpit forward of the engine where a coach could, while seated, rest his elbows and megaphone on the deck and devote his full attention to his work. With the engine, a six cylinder automotive type but made for marine performance, located behind him he was free of some of the interfering noise. A driver behind the engine could see all around him in full control of his boat and yet get all directions from the coach. In the stern was an open cockpit large enough to carry several dignitaries, spare oarsmen, spare oars or anything else that might be needed for the occasion, even to a girlfriend once in a while. This launch was operated for most of its Tech life by a good friend of the sport Charlie Peterson, a member of the Institute maintenance staff assigned to the boathouse for as much time as required and the driver and maintenance charged to the Athletic Association.

In 1925, a second launch was hired, and later acquired, which was named the "Spirit" but more commonly referred to as the Wolf Pup. In contrast to the Wolf, it was a far less desirable craft, lacking many of the features that made the Wolf so superior, not having a forward cockpit or room for passengers and was narrow and unstable. But it could overtake a crew if its load was light and enabled another an assistant coach a working platform.