Ken Donovan, a retired educator and boat-builder, wants to find five high school students to spend the next five Tuesdays from 3 to 5 p.m. learning from him the art of bateau rowing. It's a sport close to Donovan's heart and a sport in which he competed himself while on the faculty of the Sound School. Now he wants to share his skills and his love of the sport with local young people.His goal is to spend the next month training a team of high school students-four rowers and a coxswain-with the goal of taking them to Hull, Massachusetts, on Saturday, Nov. 21 to compete as the Maritime Education Network's first rowing team in a major regional rowing competition called Icebreaker.

His goal is to spend the next month training a team of high school students-four rowers and a coxswain-with the goal of taking them to Hull, Massachusetts, on Saturday, Nov. 21 to compete as the Maritime Education Network's first rowing team in a major regional rowing competition called Icebreaker. "There will be 300 young people from as far away as Maine, Lake Champlain, New York City, and Philadelphia all competing in this youth recreational rowing championship," said Donovan.

"There will be 300 young people from as far away as Maine, Lake Champlain, New York City, and Philadelphia all competing in this youth recreational rowing championship," said Donovan.The rowers will meet-and train-out of the Pettipaug Yacht Club at 143 River Road, Essex. Both male and female high school rowers are welcome since the teams can be co-educational.

The rowers will meet-and train-out of the Pettipaug Yacht Club at 143 River Road, Essex. Both male and female high school rowers are welcome since the teams can be co-educational. Donovan said, though it would be helpful if the students he's seeking had rowing experience, it's not necessary. He explained that this sport differs from competitive crew-the tool of the recreational competitive rower is not a sleek racing skull, but a working rowboat similar to the one shown at left.

Donovan said, though it would be helpful if the students he's seeking had rowing experience, it's not necessary. He explained that this sport differs from competitive crew-the tool of the recreational competitive rower is not a sleek racing skull, but a working rowboat similar to the one shown at left. "This kind of rowing is traditional rowboat racing and has been around for centuries. While it is racing and competitive, it's much more recreational in scope. It's about recreation, fresh air and lots of fun," said Donovan. "People take it

"This kind of rowing is traditional rowboat racing and has been around for centuries. While it is racing and competitive, it's much more recreational in scope. It's about recreation, fresh air and lots of fun," said Donovan. "People take it Donovan, who taught boat-building and marine technology at the Sound School in New Haven before retiring recently, is just finishing converting the bateau boat built by Maritime Education Network students a few years ago into a racing rowboat for the new team to use. This is the first time the Maritime Education Network has offered this rowing program to students.

seriously, but not too seriously."

Donovan, who taught boat-building and marine technology at the Sound School in New Haven before retiring recently, is just finishing converting the bateau boat built by Maritime Education Network students a few years ago into a racing rowboat for the new team to use. This is the first time the Maritime Education Network has offered this rowing program to students.

Area high school students interested in joining the first Maritime Education Network rowing team should call the Maritime Education Network at 203 Ferry Road in Old Saybrook at 860-388-4180.