The Hull Lifesaving Museum’s Snow Row made a big splash on Saturday as the annual event returned with renewed fervor after a two-year, COVID-driven hiatus.
Just after moving to Hull in 2008, I stumbled upon this treasure of an outdoor spectacle and have never missed one since.
What appears at first to be organized chaos erupting on the shore just steps from the HLM’s Windmill Point Boathouse – a cacophony of colorful pilot gigs and other oared rowing boats, energetic crew members, passionate volunteers, spectators, camera enthusiasts, and media – in my mind is really a stage where the past and present coexist for a brief moment in the continuum of time.
Here, the energy of the wild race seems to transcend the present, as the crowd on the shore seems to embody the spirit of lifesavers and other seafaring stalwarts of Hull from generations long past.
Ed McCabe, who directs the maritime programs at the HLM, once again buoyed rowers with a rousing pre-race message during the coxswain meeting. From his perch high over the heads of his audience, McCabe, with his full white beard and piercing eyes, could perhaps be a descendant of famous Hull lifesaver Joshua James himself. I ask myself, how many times has this scene taken place on these shores over the decades?
This Snow Row is perhaps the most uniquely “Hull” event of the year, as it embodies the rich maritime tradition of this seaside community in a very real and meaningful way.
Held at the tail end of winter, the day’s weather runs the gamut – from mild with clear skies to frigid temps with snow falling over the scene – adding to the excitement and mystique of the race.
Saturday’s rowers – nearly 120 men and women – took to the water under clear skies and mild temperatures, making for a great day to race the open waters.
The Hull Lifesaving Museum is the place to immerse yourself in the past. Its events, exhibits, and programming are designed to bring the storied days of yore to life, and delivers on all counts.
The next time you’re in the Pemberton area in early March, remember to check in at the Snow Row, as you’ll not only be a part of history, you’ll witness the past unfold before your eyes.
It’s a magical experience.
