24 January 2024

By William O’Chee

In a sport as beautiful and as brutal as rowing can be, it is rare to find a new, elegant and authentic voice. However, the sport may have a new siren in the work of recently graduated University of Texas women’s varsity eight coxswain, Rachel Rane, and her video: An Ode To Rowing – A Texas Rowing Documentary.

This video was Rane’s final year project at the University of Texas for a course taught in part by Matthew McConaughey. Pulling together the videography of Eamon Glavin, some deeply thoughtful explanations of the sport, and her own voice over, she has produced a wonderful short film.

It is made all the better for eloquent gems of prose like: “Watching a crew race, each mastering the stroke with precision and timing, operating as one with beauty and grace, one could easily describe this sport as an art.” Superb!

Rane is well qualified to speak. Her University of Texas crew brought their 2023 season to a close at Henley Royal Regatta, where they raced in the Remenham Challenge Cup and put out Hollandia Roeiclub in the first round before losing to Leander A in the semi-finals on Saturday. Leander’s time of 7:03 to take the race by one and a half lengths was the second fastest time by a women’s eight in the regatta that year, and proof on the quality of Rane’s crew.

Coincidentally, Hear The Boat Sing was fortunate enough to capture Rachel and her crewmates on Henley Bridge on qualifying day in this photo.

We wish Rachel and her crew all the best for their futures. I am sure we will see more of her skills as a producer before long.