Water in her blood

Each year around June, Laurie Hartt's life is taken over by a need to be on the water.

She is a veteran rower in the Labrador West Regatta with 17 years under her belt and there's not much sign of things slowing down for her.

"I just adore it," she said of her favourite sport. "I live and breathe rowing from the moment regatta season opens. The sooner in June [it starts], the better for me. It's just a passion for me, there's no other way to describe it. It takes over my life for a month and a half and when it's over I will be depressed. I love getting up in the mornings and sticking those oars in the water and the synchronization with the rowers is just heaven. I could scream to the top of my lungs when I am out there."

Hartt's enthusiasm and dedication for rowing in the regatta had her weighing some heavy options this year though.

"Normally every year my husband and I go vacation in August, so it never interferes with my rowing, but this year (with the shutdown at IOC) it's different," she explained. "So, what happened was, we planned a trip to New Brunswick. I felt bad for him, so I said I would go at first. Then, when I had time to think about it, I knew I just had to stay for regatta. I would just be so sad on Regatta Day if I wasn't here."

So, her better half will be in New Brunswick alone while she's cutting her oars through Jean Lake on Friday, but she found a way to compromise.

"Oh, I am going to join him when the regatta is over," she said with a smile. "I know I drive my husband nuts, but he knows I just have to row."

Though she takes a bit of a heckling for being the most senior rower of the whole lot, the 50 plus rower, takes it all in stride and takes pride in the title.

"I hope I can row until I am 60," she said. "And, maybe even past that. I am able to do it, so, I might as well and every year there is more passion in it for me.

I feel like I am 18 years old when I am out there. It is rigorous but the more the cox asks for, I give it all I got and I can do it just as well as any 18 year old if not better."

The past 17 years have allowed her many triumphs-from coming in third the second year she rowed, to holding the record for masters ladies-it's all been a joy for Hartt.

Keeping her motivated to stay in good shape is just an added bonus to the wonderful camaraderie she shares with her boating buddies, she says.

"We have so much fun together here on the lake, I hate it when it's over," she added. "Every year I am probably in better shape than I ever was. I don't complain about aches and pains. I have to stretch in mornings, but my knees, legs, everything is fine. There's a few older women who took it up just a few years ago and I think a lot of them feel the way I do, they got the bug like I do and these ladies, who've never rowed before, just take it up and love it."