Barnstable Crew's boats hold either four or eight rowers, and a coxswain. Everyone works together, and just one missing person can mean dropping out of a race. It's wicked emotional. You have to be tough physically and mentally. We're like a big family.
Tradition mandates that the coxswain be carried by teammates into the boat, avoiding getting wet.
However, if their boat wins the race, the rowers throw the coxswain into the water. Both were struggling with the large amount of money needed for equipment, coaches, and insurance. The equipment that Barnstable Crew uses, including the boats and rigging, comes from the masters' team. Parents of Barnstable Crew and Cape Cod Rowing members formed a board of directors and worked out issues like scheduling and fund-raising. They were faced with huge expenses.