As I mentioned in the last letter, the Bank's time in their first race was just one second off the Thames Cup course record. We learned very quickly the next day that they were not content with just that.

Here was the lineup for Thursday, July 5:

I'm finding it difficult to describe our race against the Bank.  We believe that our entire race—start, midsection and sprint—was the best we had rowed all season. But frankly, NPB was in a league unto itself. The Bank broke the records for both Barrier and Fawley, the same records they had just established the day before, and set a new Thames Cup course record (6' 37").  We finished 1 3/4 lengths behind the winners.

Here's a picture of the event, not too far from the finish. Unfortunately, the Bank was out of the picture to the left.

The Bank, of course, had three more races to win, which they did with ease, before claiming victory in the Thames Challenge Cup. It was only after their final race that we were able to put their victory over us into perspective. Here are a few conclusions:

NPB's race with MIT was their closest of the Regatta. Prior to leaving home, we had anticipated that our strongest competitor would be the crew from the Detroit Boat Club. NPB's victory over Detroit was 3 1/4 lengths.

Our time against the Bank (6' 43") was the third fastest of the Thames Cup competition, third only to NPB's times on their first two days of racing. The only conclusion that one could reach was that although we were eliminated in the second round, we were the second fastest crew in the competition.

Although disappointed in defeat, we departed Henley knowing that we had given it our very best. We also left there feeling nothing but respect for the athleticism and sportsmanship of the oarsmen of the National Provincial Bank. After our race, we tried to introduce these oarsmen to the American tradition of presenting the victors our rowing shirts. They refused, insisting on an even trade. We graciously accepted.

This is our final race at Henley, as recorded by the official Henley photographer: