The sun is shining over the Eureka waterfront with seagulls strolling in the parking lot when suddenly there is a chorus of cheers streaming out of the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center.
The Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center is home to the Cal Poly Humboldt Rowing Teams. The crew of student athletes have came together for practice today dressed like each other and the coaches. After the laughter subsided the team circled together for a celebratory hand stack to begin practice.
The Cal Poly Humboldt Jacks warm up outside of the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center in Eureka 
The Cal Poly Humboldt Jacks rowing team warms up before practice. 
The Coaches watch the athletes warm up at the beginning of practice. Pictured Left to Right: Ashley Donnell Assistant Women’s Coach, Donnell’s dog Jack, Assistant Patrick Hyland, Head Coach of the women’s Team Matt Weise, forefront is Weise’s dog Rudi. 
The coaches and crew prepare for launch onto Humboldt Bay. Pictured left to right: Coach Matt Weiss, Coxswain Taylor Carrington and volunteer coach Lisa Weiss. 
The Cal Poly Humboldt Row Team prepares for training 
Oars hanging in the storage bay at the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center
Practice begins with warm up exercises outside with Humboldt Bay serving as a backdrop. The coaches gather to discuss the plan for the day while the two team dogs sit watching the students hustle to and fro.
Coxswain Lily Rich calls out directions to the novice team as they prepare for launch. 
The crew positions themselves and their craft to prepare for water entry. 
Athletes prepare to flip the craft into the Bay. 
The Cal Poly Humboldt Women’s Rowing Team gathers their oars and prepare for launch. 
The crew departs from the dock at the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center as Coach Donnell heads to the coaches boat.
The intensity and focus of the crew is evident as students prepare for water entry with an orchestrated cadence. The crews Coxswain working as a conductor to achieve a precision launch.
Once on the water the crew becomes one. All working in sync to achieve the desired goal. Coach Donnell uses a megaphone to communicate with the crew and the crews coxswain, as they work on increasing speed with the least amount of physical strain on the athlete. Donnell carefully watching the paddles and posture of the crew and instructing each as needed.
The Cal Poly Humboldt row team trains on Humboldt Bay in Eureka 
The Cal Poly Humboldt row team receives instruction from their coaches while on the water. 
The Cal Poly Humboldt row team crews practice racing each other on Humboldt Bay in Eureka. 
Coach Matt Weiss instructs the team from his coaches boat. 
Coxswain Taylor Carrington leads the varsity 4+ crew as it glides past the novice 8 person crew. 
Coxswain Lily Rich leads the 8 person novice crew across the Bay.
Towards the end of the session as the sun was setting over the bay all the crews gathered together to sprint against each other. The golden glow of the setting sun shining on the boats, the air becoming crisper, the teams powered through to the end. As dusk fell upon the bay the crews were putting away their gear for the day.
Featuring Humboldt 