Crimson Outrowed by Quaker Varsity; Both Trail World Champion Germans

PHILADELPHIA, May 11--West Germany's Ratzeburg rowing club, racing as usual with its high but incredibly smooth broke, swept over the Schuylkill's 2000-meter course in 5:53.8 this afternoon, beating Penn by about a length and Harvard by a length and a half. By finishing second, Penn became the first college crew to defeat Harvard this year.

Ratzeburg, which compared to most American crews uses a slightly shorter stroke with a much faster recovery near the front end, started the race at a 47 and rowed most of the course at approximately a 38. About a quarter mile from the finish, the Penn eight, rowing at a 42, drew even with the Germans. Ratzeburg thereupon raised its stroke to a 42 or 43, and while Penn fans cheered wildly, the two boats matched stroke for stroke over the next four or five lengths.

As the crews moved into the last hundred yards, however, the Ratzeburg boat edged steadily ahead, and the Penn eight for a moment seemed in danger of slipping to third place behind Harvard.

By beating out the Crimson eight, Penn won the highly-prized Adams Cup. Navy, which is the traditional third entry in the Adams race, finished far behind the other two shells, completing the course in 6:11.5. The Germans, who are the present world champions, rowed as guests of the regular Adams Cup boats and were not in contention for the trophy.

Harvard began the race well, moving off somewhat astern of the Germans but even with the other college crews. At the half-mile point, rowing at a 34, Harvard was behind both Navy and Penn. With half a mile to go, the Crimson took its stroke up to a 29, and quickly passed the midshipmen, though it could not catch the Penn eight.

In the JV race, Navy finished first, with a 6:09.6, Harvard was second with a 6:12.1, and Penn third with a 6:19.1. The Crimson won the freshman race.

Harvard will next race at the Eastern EARC sprint championships this Saturday at Worcester. The sprint distance is 2000 meters (20 feet less than a mile and a quarter), the same distance which Harvard raced over this afternoon.