Chile’s earthquake destroys rowing club

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11/03/2010 23:54 CET

A tsunami following the earthquake that struck near Chile’s capital of Santiago completely destroyed the rowing club of the Maule River Rowing Association. The earthquake that measured 8.8 on the Richter Scale struck on 27 February and 8-12 metre high waves followed.
The tsunami waves travelled up the Maule River wiping out the boat house. This happened just a week after the annual regatta that celebrates “Semana Maulina”, Maule’s Week which signifies the end of the summer holidays.
The Maule River clubhouse, which is located in the middle of the town of Constitución, and all of the boats in the clubhouse were destroyed by the waves. Currently it is impossible for club members to row. Fortunately for the rowers, the earthquake struck at 3:43am and the tsunami hit an hour later, so no one was on the water or at the clubhouse.
The Chilean rowing season is in preparation for the Chilean National Championships that are to be raced at the end of April. But as the championships are to be held in Concepcion, the centre of earthquake damage, the Chilean Rowing Federation is reviewing the schedule.
The Chilean Rowing Federation President, Oscar Pizarro has sent out a plea for help to re-establish the club. Clubs in Concepcion and Valdivia also suffered damage, but to lesser degrees.
Pizarro stated, “For Chilean rowing, it has been very painful. We’ve lost a large number of boats in the cities of Constitución and Talcahuano, all produced by the earthquake (that measuered 8.8 on the Richter Scale) and the tsunami that followed. This has left the rowers in these cities without the ability to practice rowing.
“We as the Chilean Rowing Federation, turn to your solidarity and ask for your help to rebuild this fleet of boats of our affected clubs.”
If you can be of any assistance in donating boats, please contact Oscar Pizarro, opizarr@yahoo.com
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